Soaring Fines! Increased Risks in Employer Sponsored Immigration – Are There Still Safe Paths to Canada？

Recently, the Canadian federal government imposed a fine of over C$110,000 on a Toronto tire franchise owner for serious violations of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW), including arbitrarily reducing foreign workers' wages and forcing them to perform work inconsistent with their hired positions. This incident is not isolated. With foreign workers' legal status deeply tied to their employers, seeking justice often means losing their jobs, leading to persistent exploitation.

Source:https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canadian-tire-franchisee-fined-temporary-foreign-worker-program/

According to the Toronto Star, violations in the employer-sponsored immigration sector are worsening. In the first 9 months of 2025, the federal government issued 214 fines for foreign worker program violations, with an average amount of C$31,971 – nearly double the average of C$13,860 in 2023. Beyond fines, non-compliant employers face bans on hiring foreign workers for months or even years, which also means the immigration process for these foreign workers is forcibly interrupted, potentially leading to loss of legal status.

Source:https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/violations-of-canadas-temporary-foreign-worker-program-cost-employers-more-than-6-8-million-in/article_4144773c-611c-487e-b588-78bce4a2be8e.html

Furthermore, the practical difficulties of employer-sponsored immigration continue to increase:

1. Questions about Employer Eligibility and Job Authenticity: Employer eligibility is the primary screening point. Many applications are rejected because the employer company is newly established, has limited scale, or is performing poorly. Furthermore, shell companies colluding with agencies to defraud applicants of fees before disappearing cause losses and can even lead to entry restrictions for applicants due to document issues.

2. Significantly Higher LMIA Approval Threshold: The standards for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approval have noticeably tightened. Low-wage positions have little chance of approval, and salary requirements in some provinces far exceed market levels. Many applicants reluctantly opt for "Payroll Placement," bearing the burden of covering the wage difference and corresponding taxes, creating a heavy financial strain.

3. Frequent Policy Changes and Long Processing Times: Frequent policy shifts, quota adjustments, and updates to eligible occupation lists create significant uncertainty. Processing times generally extend over three years, with some applicants facing even longer waits due to background checks.

The practice of "buying employer offers" is even more inadvisable. It not only violates immigration regulations but, due to involvement in document fraud, can lead to serious consequences like refusal and a five-year entry ban. When the dependent path of "employer sponsorship" is fraught with thorns, taking control of one's own destiny through "business immigration" becomes the key to breaking through. Among the options, the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Program stands out with its unique advantages of "low cost, low threshold, and high success rate."

The Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Program: The Perfect Combination of Low Threshold and Certainty

Compared to the uncertainties of employer sponsorship, applicants to the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Program become their own employers, free from reliance on others. The immigration path is clear and defined, offering the stability of self-control. Its core advantages include:

● Very Low Investment, Simple Business Requirements: Requires only C$100,000 to start a small business and hire one full-time employee for 6 months. There are no requirements for business revenue or profit, minimizing entrepreneurial pressure. Eligible business types are primarily retail-based, easy to establish, with simple and flexible operational models.

● Liberal Application Conditions, Stable and Friendly Policy: Requires only a high school diploma and IELTS level 4 to apply. There's no need to compete in the intense points race of skilled immigration. The program is currently in a favorable policy period where "eligible EOIs receive invitations," policy change risk is low, and the success rate is high.

● Clear and Efficient Process, Smooth Status Transition: From application to obtaining a work permit takes about 10 months. The principal applicant lands to start the business, the spouse receives an open work permit, and children can access free, quality education. After operating the business for 12 months, the family can apply for permanent residence. The entire process ensures a smooth and secure status transition.

Applying Now = Seizing the Advantage! Three Key Windows Are Closing

Why is now the best time to apply for the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Program? Because three critical windows of opportunity are counting down. Missing them could mean facing higher barriers and increased costs:

● Quota Window: Each participating community has a limited capacity for new businesses, and business types must be unique. Spots for easily operated, well-located small businesses are highly sought after – delay risks missing out.

● Policy Window: Currently, the program does not use a points system; meeting the basic conditions in the EOI is sufficient to be selected, locking in current policies. However, as applicant numbers increase, it is highly likely to transition to a points-based selection system, which would significantly raise the application bar.

● Convenience Window: Globevisa has secured spots allowing exemption from the landing exploration trip, saving applicants time and costs. However, this convenient online exploration channel could be cancelled at any time.

Globevisa: Professional Empowerment, Safeguarding Your Immigration Journey

Choosing an experienced immigration firm is key when applying for the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Program. Globevisa as a leader in the industry, safeguards applicants' journeys with three core advantages:

1. Exclusive Government Resources, Green Channel Access: As one of the few domestic institutions with deep cooperative relationships with Alberta community governments, Globevisa regularly holds official immigration promotion events, having accumulated over 30 sessions. At these events, Alberta officials directly issue community support letters, creating a green channel for clients.

2. Leading Success Cases, Rich Practical Experience: Since the program's inception, Globevisa has accumulated a large number of successful cases at all stages, covering key steps like obtaining support letters, EOI selection, and work permit approval. We have assisted numerous applicants in successfully landing and starting their businesses, possessing extensive practical experience.

3. Professional Legal Team, One-Stop Service Assurance: Globevisa has a legal team in Canada, providing one-stop services from business exploration trips and business plan writing to landing settlement and business coaching. The lawyers are familiar with immigration officers' key review points, can efficiently handle requests for additional documents and communication, effectively boosting the approval rate.

The policy advantage period for the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Immigration stream continues, but the window is narrowing. Only by acting early can one seize the opportunity. If you wish to learn more about whether the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Program is suitable for you, please contact us for a free, one-on-one assessment.