July 2025 Canadian Immigration Update: New Wage Rates, New Opportunities
First up, some exciting news from our own backyard.It’s official: we’ve legally changed our name from OFAS (Online Form Automation Systems Inc.) operating as Immigrate to FillaRole Technologies Inc.
Why the change? Because our new name finally says what we’ve been doing all along, helping businesses fill roles with skilled people.
In addition to that, we’ve also launched FillaRole Enterprise. Businesses, schools, and government agencies can now build their own, white-labelled, fully-loaded FillaRole platform. If you're the kind of team that prefers to manage hiring and immigration in-house, we’ve built the Canada’s #1 AI hiring platform to help you do just that, smarter, faster and more effectively. Fully branded, fully yours.
As for the immigration changes, there’s been a lot.
New High Wage rates were announced on June 27th and it has increased the amount that businesses need to pay to keep their workers in refuse to process regions.
Nunavut stays the same, Alberta only increased by 60 cents. BC is now the highest outside of Nunavut and the Yukon at 36.60. Ontario had the biggest jump from 34.07 to 36 per hour.
Funny thing, if your business advertises a high wage position and the medium rate is much less, be ready for a call from Job Bank as they are cracking down on ads to poach local workers with high wages that can lead to high wage LMIAs. Best of luck justifying it and keeping your ads running. But if you need help, we have figured it out.
Job Bank now has resumes that you can download when you post jobs. Don’t forget to download all the resumes or risk getting your ad pulled down if you do not download them. The fun part is that you can not tell which you have already downloaded so be ready for duplicates.
LMA processing times have decreased on the website but have they really? The permanent resident stream is still roughly 1 year to get a decision, even though the website says 235 business days. Low wage and high wage applications are taking 50 business days which is a decrease from 61 days last month. Agriculture and Tech continue to be lightning fast, at under 3 weeks to get a decision.
Francophone leads the way! Canada’s commitment to Bilingual Canada is the best path to getting workers and has a high chance of approval of work permits. This program allows businesses to get any skilled worker that has a CLB 5 in French language with only a job offer and a
EFC payment receipt.
If you are a worker in Canada and you want to stay but your options are limited, this is your ticket, learn French and win.
Express Entry - Draws are happening again for Canadian Experience Class, 3 draws in May and June for 6500 Invitations with 521 being the low score. PNP has had 4 draws in the same time frame with a total of 1416 Invitations for all provinces with a huge draw of 125 on June 10th.
To all the students out there, if you’re looking to find your way to Canada, are you open to change course? A new list of fields you can study in were added, where others were removed.
Here is the full list of fields of study.
If you need further help, please reach out to the team at FillaRole.
Canada’s labour market is under immense pressure, with talent shortages affecting nearly every sector. Employers across the country, from Quebec to British Columbia, are struggling to find local candidates who meet the needs of skilled roles outlined in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) . As recruitment timelines drag and key roles go unfilled, Fill a Role steps in with cutting-edge talent-matching tools and strategies that ensure organizations don’t just hire faster—they hire smarter.One often-overlooked but highly effective solution to this crisis is the Francophone Mobility Work Permit . Designed to facilitate the hiring of French-speaking foreign nationals outside of Quebec, this immigration program supports employers looking to recruit skilled talent without going through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). 🙌 What Is the Francophone Mobility Work Permit? The Francophone Mobility Program is part of Canada’s International Mobility Program , offering an LMIA exemption under exemption code C16 . It allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers who have French language proficiency , even if the job doesn't require French. This open work permit offers flexible employment options for eligible foreign nationals and provides a faster, smoother work permit application process for both the employer and employee. It’s especially advantageous for employers outside Quebec, helping them tap into international Francophone communities with strong skills and a desire to contribute to Canada’s economic growth. 💼 Why It Matters for Employers For organizations using platforms like Fill a Role to streamline hiring and fill urgent roles, the Francophone Mobility Work Permit offers an additional advantage. By leveraging this pathway, Canadian employers can bypass the often-lengthy LMIA process, reduce processing times , and still maintain compliance through the Employer Portal . Employers simply submit an offer of employment , pay the employer compliance fee , and ensure the candidate meets eligibility requirements , including demonstrating French language ability via TCF, TEF , or other approved tests aligning with NCLC (Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens) scores. 🔍 Eligibility Requirements and Application Process To qualify for the Francophone Mobility Program: The job offer must be for a skilled worker position (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to the NOC). The foreign national must plan to work in a province or territory outside Quebec . The applicant must demonstrate French language proficiency (CLB/NCLC level 7 or higher). The role must support the worker's path to permanent residence under federal or PNP immigration programs . Once eligibility is confirmed, the work permit application can be submitted online through IRCC’s portal. The processing fee and application fee are paid, and if approved, the worker can start employment relatively quickly compared to traditional LMIA-based pathways. ✈️ A Gateway to Permanent Residency The Francophone Mobility Work Permit is more than just a quick fix for staffing shortages. It’s a stepping stone to permanent residence . Workers employed under this program often become eligible to apply for Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) , or other pathways that recognize their work experience and language abilities. This is particularly beneficial for employers using Fill a Role to build a long-term talent strategy. By recruiting French speakers under Mobilité Francophone, you’re investing in team members who are more likely to stay, integrate, and grow with your organization. 🎓 Family and Partner Inclusion Another bonus? The Francophone Mobility Program allows applicants to include dependent children and a common-law partner or spouse in their application. Spouses may be eligible for an open work permit , while children can receive study permits to access Canadian education. This family-friendly aspect enhances job satisfactio n and strengthens worker retention. 🤖 How Fill a Role Helps You Recruit Francophone Talent Navigating Canada immigration rules can be complex. That’s why Fill a Role offers tools and resources tailored to help Canadian employers identify candidates who meet both skill-level and language test criteria. With access to a growing international database, Fill a Role filters applicants based on language skills , work experience , and NOC code compatibility. Additionally, the platform connects you with certified Canadian immigration consultants (CRC) who can advise on work permit processing, application process support, and post-hire integration strategies. 🏢 Going Beyond Quebec: Serving Francophone Communities Nationwide Contrary to popular belief, Francophone talent isn’t limited to Quebec. Canada has vibrant Francophone communities in Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Alberta. Mobilité Francophone is designed to spread French language influence across the nation. Whether your company is based in tech-friendly Toronto or in a rural town with limited access to skilled labor, this program offers an underutilized solution. With Fill a Role , you can reach this diverse talent pool and match with candidates who are both qualified and ready to relocate. ⚡ The Fill a Role Advantage: From Search to Success Here’s how Fill a Role enhances your hiring journey: Real-time matching with pre-vetted Francophone candidates Smart filtering based on NOC, CLB/NCLC scores, and TEER Employer compliance tracking for IRCC guidelines Access to immigration support via certified partners End-to-end support for job offer documentation and work permit application steps From sourcing to onboarding, Fill a Role simplifies the process—so you can focus on growing your team, not navigating bureaucracy. 🔹 Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait for Talent to Come to You Canada’s skilled workers shortage isn’t going away anytime soon. But thanks to innovative immigration programs like the Francophone Mobility Work Permit and platforms like Fill a Role , employers have access to high-potential international talent who are ready to contribute, integrate, and thrive. So if you can’t find local talent, don’t wait. Go global. Think Francophone. And let FillaRole help you fill your role—faster, smarter, and beyond borders. 👤 About the Author Natasha Antionette Cooke is a global Talent Acquisition Leader with a passion for helping businesses solve hiring challenges through strategic innovation and human-centred design. With a background in international recruitment and digital transformation, Natasha empowers employers to navigate complex talent markets using tools like Fill a Role and sustainable immigration strategies. Connect with Natasha on LinkedIn
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries across the globe, and hiring is no exception. From automation of repetitive tasks to intelligent decision-making , AI technology is transforming how companies identify, engage, and hire top talent . At the forefront of this shift are platforms like Fill a Role , which combine the power of AI-driven tools with real-world hiring expertise to streamline the hiring process while preserving the human touch . This blog explores which jobs and hiring tools are most impacted by AI, how AI systems are improving efficiency, and what hiring professionals can do to stay relevant in an ever-evolving landscape. The Rise of AI in Talent Acquisition: The integration of AI capabilities in hiring isn’t just a trend—it’s a fundamental shift. From resume screening to scheduling interviews , AI is automating time-consuming tasks once handled manually by human talent sourcing. Solutions like Fill a Role harness AI-powered hiring tools and natural language processing to deliver faster, smarter hiring outcomes. These platforms leverage AI algorithms to scan thousands of job descriptions and candidate profiles in seconds, providing a shortlist of best-fit candidates with minimal effort. By using AI effectively, hiring managers can optimize workflows, reduce bias, and create a more scalable, efficient candidate experience . Which Jobs and Tools Will AI Replace? 1. Administrative HR Functions Tasks such as interview coordination, onboarding paperwork, and scheduling meetings are ripe for automation . AI chatbots and AI-assisted platforms can handle these effortlessly, freeing up human resources for more strategic tasks. Fill a Role , for example, uses automation to take care of scheduling interviews and candidate follow-ups, so talent seeker experts can focus on building relationships. 2. Resume Screening AI hiring tools have made it possible to screen thousands of resumes in minutes using data sets , AI algorithms , and pattern recognition. These tools can match qualifications, skills, and experiences to open roles more accurately than traditional manual screening. This is particularly useful for high-volume hiring, where human review of each application is no longer scalable. Fill a Role’s AI helps hiring teams filter through applicants efficiently without compromising on quality. 3. Sourcing Candidates Platforms like LinkedIn remain dominant, but AI-powered tools now automate outreach, track engagement, and recommend ideal candidates based on behaviour, skills, and preferences. Fill a Role uses generative AI to write personalized messages, identify passive candidates, and target the right talent pools, turning social media sourcing into a science. 4. Initial Candidate Screening AI can handle early-stage evaluations through chatbots and video interviews . Some tools even analyze facial expressions and voice tone to predict candidate fit, though this should be supplemented with human judgment to avoid biases. With Fill a Role , early screening is streamlined through customizable AI workflows that ensure only the best-fit candidates move forward. Hiring Tools That Leverage AI Technology Today’s most effective hiring strategies incorporate AI-powered tools that enhance the role of human talent seeker rather than replace them. Leading solutions include: ChatGPT: Ideal for content creation like job descriptions , interview questions, and candidate communication. AI Agents: Automate interactions, FAQs, and follow-ups. Generative AI: Create branded job posts, social media content, and employer branding materials. Fill a Role: Offers an all-in-one solution that combines these features to simplify sourcing, screening, and hiring workflows. With platforms like Fill a Role , hiring teams benefit from real-time metrics, reduced hiring time, and increased quality of hire—all while enhancing the candidate experience . What AI Can’t Replace: Human Insight Despite the impressive AI capabilities , there are aspects of hiring that still require human interaction. These include: Assessing soft skills Making nuanced hiring decisions Delivering personalized candidate experiences Exercising empathy and emotional intelligence Navigating complex team dynamics AI may be able to streamline workflows , but it cannot truly understand cultural fit, long-term potential, and candidate motivation. This is where human interaction remains essential. Fill a Role recognizes this balance by enabling AI to handle the technical tasks, while letting people focus on what they do best—engaging with people. How to Future-Proof Your Role in the Age of AI To remain competitive in the age of AI hiring , HR professionals should focus on: 1. Upskilling Learning how to use AI tools , interpret metrics, and integrate automation into your daily tasks is no longer optional—it’s critical. 2. Strategic Thinking As AI handles more repetitive tasks , professionals must shift toward data analysis, candidate engagement, and long-term workforce planning. 3. Collaboration with AI Rather than fearing AI, embrace it as a tool to optimize performance. Platforms like FillaRole are designed to empower hiring, not replace them. 4. Ethics and Oversight AI is only as unbiased as the data it's trained on. Human oversight ensures fairness, diversity, and ethical decision-making in hiring practices. The Broader Impact of AI on the Workforce Beyond hiring, AI will impact roles across healthcare , logistics, finance, and more. Jobs that involve pattern recognition, data sets, and routine procedures are especially vulnerable to automation. However, roles requiring human interaction , creativity, and adaptability will continue to grow. This creates a unique opportunity for job seekers and employers to upskill , pivot, and prepare for the future of work. Startups and growing companies using Fil la Role are already seeing these benefits—cutting hiring times in half while improving the quality of hires through smart, AI-assisted workflows. The Role of AI in Enhancing—Not Replacing—hiring Ultimately, AI’s role is not to remove humans from hiring but to eliminate inefficiencies and improve outcomes. Tools like Fill a Role are leading this transformation by offering AI-powered hiring solutions that support real people doing meaningful work. The benefits of AI are most powerful when combined with human oversight and strategic insight. With platforms like Fill a Role , hiring becomes not only faster but also more thoughtful, inclusive, and aligned with long-term goals. Final Thoughts AI is undeniably transforming the world of hiring. It’s replacing outdated methods, reducing manual effort, and enhancing speed, consistency, and accuracy. But the heart of hiring—the part that understands passion, potential, and purpose—remains human. Solutions like Fill a Role embody the best of both worlds: AI technology that simplifies the hiring process, and the human intelligence that ensures every hire is the right one. If you're ready to future-proof your hiring strategy, it's time to embrace AI. But do it with a partner who values both efficiency and empathy. About the Author Natasha Antionette Cooke is a global talent acquisition expert with a passion for integrating innovation and empathy into the hiring process. With extensive experience leading sourcing and hiring teams across multiple regions, Natasha specializes in transforming hiring through smart tools, strategic insights, and a people-first approach. Follow her journey and connect on LinkedIn .