could smeone give me some adise please i am desperate.i have just been layed off i only have a work permit and its for the company who layed me off.i need a cheap removals company to get my stuff back home also i need to get the cat back dont want to leave him he has been everywhere with us and my wife would be devastated.really disapointed how a company can treat you like this never known anything like it i would be grateful for some help please

Oh that sucks. Layoffs seem to be a common tool for canadian businesses, we often scale the workforce to the available work

Before you start to pack the cat is this definitely a permanent deal or is it likely to be a temporary lay off (as many here are).

I know other people in that unfortunate position have managed to leverage their "canadian work experience" into new jobs and get the paperwork / LMO etc sorted.

Good Luck.

i am a bricklayer anyone know of any work for a few weeks to get some money to get home.

Where are you...that might help too.

There is still all sorts of construction going on around here, a decent brickie should be able to find something I would think, but whether it would be possible to get the LMO and do it above board right now I dont know. (and of course that takes time too)

i still need to work the work permit i have is for that company only and the lmo havnt got much behind me because didnt expect this so must make plans quick.

i am in calgary.

Yeah but if you have the work permit, then brickies must be able to get LMOs right (at least, back when it was issued), so you still may have a chance to stay that way if you find a willing employer.

In some cases if its a recently issued LMO service canada may consider that the market has not changed significantly, so can cut a few corners. Otherwise there are plenty of "cash in hand no questions asked" types in the construction industry to keep you afloat, as long as the jobs are out there. Not sure how Calgary is in that regard.

Good Luck...dont rush into anything, a few days wont change anything in the big picture.

thanks for that.

Did the employer give any indication whether it was a permanent layoff, or whether they would take you back in a while if the situation turns around?

As I said, we lay off production workers if the order book cant support them, they claim EI for a bit, then come back a week or a month later when things pick up... On the other hand Ive been laid off permanently in the past (no fun at all...I can sympathise)....but then after a few years away I am back working for the same business again now anyway...

it is going to be all winter cant claim ei on work permit.

This is very common - my uncle has been here 30+ years and the same happens every year

Yes construction jobs are very seasonal unfortunately.

As you are in Calgary has your wife considered applying for a job in the fast food industry (no i'm not being funny) but seriously Timmies and so on have lmo's (I think) so she may be able to get something to help you guys get by.

You also may be able to get an open work permit on the back of it enabling you to work for anyone.

At least it would give you some breathing space to seriously rethink

Best wishes x

The Open work permit is only available to skill level O A and B - more of a "Skilled" job.

Why are LMO's and TWP's issued for what is notoriously a seasonal job then? I'm curious. If someone is offered this kind of job, should they be told not to move their whole life over here .... just in case.

Sounds bonkers to me ...

To the OP - how long have you been here? Did you work over the last winter?

Mandy's suggestion for Timmies or similar sounds a good solution if you could make that work.

Good luck

If the good lady wife could prove some sort of management experience (even as a shift manager at Tims) then i'm sure that comes under either O or A - so could work?

That would also allow you to apply after 2 years under the Canadian Experience class for PR.

Its a pain but it is some hope and then you won't have to leave