More than 8,000 undocumented foreign health care workers and their families were allowed to remain in Canada under a temporary amnesty program launched by the federal government in 2020, says a briefing note by the immigration department.
“Over 8,500 individuals have received permanent residence through this pathway which includes family members,” said the Nov. 9 note, obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter, referring to the “Guardian Angel” program.
The program was introduced on Dec. 14, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in a bid to fill up shortages of “orderlies, nurses’ aides, nurses, assistant orderlies, and certain home support workers” experienced in the health care sector across the country at the time….