Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hi all and Good Morning,

I arrived in Edmonton Alberta in July 2013 to work as a truck driver hauling fuel out of the Sherwood Park refineries ... I came in from the UK with my wife and three small children and started work as a temporary foreign worker via the LMO/Work Permit route.

I believe it is only fair to say, I was treated very very badly pretty much from day one by my new employer which resulted in myself walking away from that company earlier this year after I could no longer tolerate "the treatment" as they call it :(

I found myself another job depending on successful application of a new LMO which I was delighted to accept. However ... this new company applied for an LMO for me just before the government applied it's moratorium ... Then when the subsequent new rules came in from the government (LMIA). This new company abandoned my application process after being frustrated out of it as the LMO's office applied their stringent new rules.

This has left myself and my family in Canada ... with no job and no income :(

Does anybody know what I can do ... I am in now in no-mans land and this chance of a lifetime has turned into an utter car crash ... after giving up a good job, house and selling all our possessions to come out here ... We now find ourselves in a very bad financial situation and see no way out ... Can anyone help ... Please ... I have no idea which way to turn anymore. Thank you.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

I am really sorry to hear that. I assume that you have not started an application for Permanent Residence?

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

I'm sorry to hear that too. Does your wife work? If so, she can continue to do so until her SOWP expires, so could you use her job to apply for PR?

If not, then your only option really is to try and find another job offer and TWP, best of luck with it. If you'd be prepared to relocate within Canada you may stand more of a chance, maybe asking on the trucking forum to see if they know of any firms currently taking on foreign workers? You can stay in Canada until the expiry date on your TWP, how long does that give you?

And sorry to use you as an example, but for any newbies reading, this is why you should *never* give up everything in the UK for a Temp Work Permit! As it says, it's only temporary, so best not to sell a house etc, until you've got PR and know you can stay in Canada.

I wish you the best of luck, fingers crossed you can find another job soon.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your replies ... My work permit expires in July 2015 and while that may seem plenty of time ... I'm coming to realize that time moves at a different speed in Alberta :( Although to be honest I believe financial pressures will force us out of Canada long before any work permits expire.

I have been trying all the other companies that I knew of that were using the old LMO system ... But everyone en bloc appears to have ditched it now because the government have made the regulations so demanding.

Trucking companies are simply saying well we have thirty drivers we will work with that ... once those guys are booked out that's it. There is now no room for growth within this industry things simply won't get transported. The Industry will be choked from this angle now ... But that's not really my concern at this stage.

My wife is looking for work and is having interview after interview and while very employable ... I fear the wages she can bring home will only delay the inevitable. While that's great advise also for Newbies who find this site prior to coming to Canada ... I didn't know about it ... oddly enough ... until I got out here :(

Thanks guys ... It looks like I'm stuffed :(

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

What does she do? It may be worth mentioning in case somebody can point you in the direction of a job. Presumably she's got an open work permit so doesn't need anybody else to go through the cost/hassle of a LMIA app for her? That should make it easier at least.

Fingers crossed, hope that one of you finds something very soon. :fingerscrossed:

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hi New start, where abouts are you.. Edmonton? There are plenty of companies that have apps in for lmias...are you willing to relocate...? There's a company in Winnipeg that has lmias (trucking)

How many companies have you approached?

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

To be honest kate8kate0

If I have to relocate anywhere it will be home, my finances have been destroyed to such a degree by this move to Canada that I can't afford to relocate, and CIC aren't interested in helping. I have been to see my local MP and he has basically confirmed to me I'm stuffed. I was brought here on a lie ... I'm not the first sure I won't be the last ... But I'm just about done now I no longer care either ... I will make sure I tell everyone back in the UK exactly what it's like over here. Work all the hours in the worst driving conditions known to man for next to no pay, while your very existence here means your handcuffed to a company taking full advantage of the temporary foreign workers ... No ... if this is Canada ... You guys are welcome to it ... I Don't mean to be rude ... It's Just the opinion of a broken man. thank you for your replies and good luck to all.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Ok newstart I will have a look at my list and come back to you, I'll help as much as I can speak soon mate.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hi,

Have you tried the ice road companies now that it is approaching the season ?

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hi

Sounds like we are in the same boat buddy. Im a stonemason currently getting shafted. But im staying with them woth the hope I can find somethong else. Im spending weeks away from my family for bad pay with a few montha of shut down heading our way. My wife is looking for work. But like you say, very employable just nobody wants to know. I hope something comes up for you. Keep trying.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hi Chris

I'm in Regina at the moment and in construction. Things are bad alround. Have you tried coram as they are hiring and are working at the stadium. Pm me if you want more information.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Thanks. Iv pm'd you

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Can't pm until I post 3 times .where are you from and how long hove you been over here working?

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Manitoulin have an Edmonton depot. Very big & know the system well. Have some great routes too. All up into the territories.
Give em a try?

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

If you decide to stay SK or MB are the places to go,they treat you a wee bit better than AB .I can give you a contact in Winnipeg who may be able to help you with work.Im guessing it was Westcan Bulk who you worked for?

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

My oh spoke with a guy in MB last week who said that trucking companies in MB weren't allowed to hire foreign drivers until 1st July '15. Have you heard anything like that? No other company in MB that he's spoke to have said anything of the sort.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

No I havent heard anything like that.There is a 30% cap on foreign workers in companies and that will reduce to 20% in july 2015 and 10% in july 2016,maybe there some confusion.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

I still cannot believe how anti immigration Canada is, this country was built with migrants too wasn't it? So interesting :(

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

200,000+ people granted PR last year, and over a million temp visas issued, and you think Canada is anti-immigrant?! :blink:

CIC may have tightened things up recently but I still think Canada has got a pretty open immigration system that most can qualify for. And if they can't quality for it, then Canada doesn't want/need them, and that's fair enough imo.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

The government is trying to make things BETTER for foreign workers, not worse with the recent changes. To make sure employers don't take advantage of their position & the worker is paid & treated fairly.

My main concern is that pressure from employers will mean they get relaxed or not properly enforced.

Canada is most certainly NOT anti immigration.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

On any immigration article, there are hundreds on thousands of anti-immigrant comments. This is a country which seems to resent immigrants, YES

I think the Government is balancing these political opinions with its recognition that yes, Canada needs immigration. Not an easy job.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

I think the canadian government has to take alot of the blame for the twp abuses.They should have had more control in the first place and not have companies and 'recruitment consultants' abusing the program i.e. selling LMOs.It will be interesting to see how the new changes pan out as they is a big shortage of truck drivers ,looks like it will be more difficult for drivers from UK to come to Canada.As for the OP ,your best bet is to try SK or MB ,your not the only one that I have heard of being messed about in AB

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Good/fair point, Neil, I don't know the history of this so much so it could be a factor, I have been surprised at the hundreds of comments directing vitriol at immigrants and that they 'are all stealing decent citizens' jobs' and 'they should all be deported immediately'

Intelligent debate, yes, but the level of discussion was surprising to me tis all, and a bit disappointing

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Where did you find the comments?

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hi all I m new here plz anybody let me know how can I get lmia I'm live in uk as a truck driver.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

You may want to look in the Canada jobs section.

:)

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Your a trucker in UK ... Stay !

Do not go any further, no matter how bad you think things are here in the UK. I give you my word ... they are not as bad as the situation you will find yourself in, If you successfully get a company to get you an LMIA.

Right now Canada are not issuing LMIA to international drivers, they are addressing their truck driver shortage by training up and employing a home grown labour force. It's over in Canada for the foreseeable future for truckers trying to get to Out there ... And trust me that's a god send for unsuspecting brits looking at a life in Canada through Rose tinted glasses. Canada is not the picture of perfection they would have you think it is ... It's a very tough place to go and try to make a future for yourself as a driver simply because the companies in Canada who hire international drivers do so to exploit them ... And they have mastered the art of stiffing you ... Legally !!!

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Did you happen to look at the Canada Jobs section? There's a couple of LMIA's available for truck drivers in Manitoba.

:)

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

There are no LMIA's available ... Anywhere !!!

It doesn't work that way anymore ... A company has to apply to CIC for an LMIA and each case is assessed on a case by case basis at that time. Ring CIC ... they will tell you this themselves directly. There are no longer open LMO's for companies it's complete non-sense to say companies have LMIA's.

Please don't guess .. If you don't know the facts ... don't say anything, it's completely mis-leading to people who are trying to find there way through a very complicated immigration set-up (smh) ... Manitoba ... Pfffffffff !

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Oh, I'm sorry - I guess this post is a figment of my imagination then.

My bad.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/canad...driver-859943/

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

So you didn't read the section Siouxie suggested then? :lol:

CIC have nothing to do with it, so I'm not sure why you'd suggest anybody rings them. LMIA's are administered and issued by ESDC.

Except that they are possible, they're called unnamed LMIA's and here's the info on how to apply for them from the ESDC website - Unnamed LMIA | ESDC

Yes, isn't it annoying when people give out the wrong information? ;):D

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

No it's not a figment of your imagination ???

It's a figment of somebody else's imagination, your just the unfortunate soul who read it and believed it to be real !!!

Before I returned to the UK ... I explored many of these such job adverts only to find out there was no such LMO or LMIA available ... companies were simply not up to date with the changes. They think they can still obtain an LMO or LMIA because they had been once able to, all be it before the Moratorium of 2014, but they continue to post these jobs adverts stating they can ... despite being massively out of date.

Just because it's posted on a website doesn't mean it's real ... Especially in Canada and on the likes of Canada's job bank which is uncensored job postings by subscribed companies.

Remember expats is meant to be of help to others who are unsure, who try to call upon the experience and knowledge of others who have been through their system ... It's unfair to new users when they are given red herrings to chase and dead ends to explore, it simply frustrates the life out of them, leading them into guessing at decisions because they cannot find out the facts. This is why I have spoken up !

Fact ... No companies have LMIA's sitting around waiting for drivers to drop into ... It just doesn't operate like that anymore. If a company wants to hire an international driver they have to go through a lengthy process to convince the government they have failed to recruit Canadians and pay a fee of $1000 CAD per person per application ... That candidate is then assessed by CIC on a case by case basis as part of their application process and therefore from scratch ... No LMIA is issued without the candidate first being assessed and processed by CIC and therefore no LMIA's are just sitting their open and available.

Still doubt me ... ? Call bison or one of the other big haulage companies over there they will tell you exactly what I have because they have been battling CIC and service Canada for these LMIA's now for well ver a year and still can't get them, despite once being the biggest players in the hiring of international drivers or temporary foreign workers !

This is not a case of shooting you down ... This is a case of ensuring this website continues to correctly inform it's would be users of facts, maybe helping them understand the process in Canada, as well as the pros and cons of moving to or working in Canada. This is often a lifeline for expats in really bad situations like I once found myself in, and in desperate need of a little guidance.

Now I have to go as I can't spare anymore time to this ... I know you haven't intentionally tried to mis-lead anyone here, and I hope my experience can better serve the original user with his enquiry ... Either way I hope you all have a great day and good luck in everything you all do ... Nice and sunny here in the UK TODAY ;))

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

You may have given up, but as evidenced by threads in the truckers forum, there are LMIA's out there for truckers. Granted, they're far rarer than LMO's were, but they do exist. We have a trucking recruiter that posts on this forum and he mentioned some being available last week (can't remember the name of the company now, but a quick search will find his post).

Yes, we know exactly what the process is (years of working in immigration will kind of do that to you), but we also know that your info is about 3 months out of date as companies are starting to hire truckers on LMIA's again, albeit in much smaller number than before.

Indeed, as moderators that's exactly what Siouxie and I are trying to do. Sorry, but you gave incorrect info in your post such as telling people to phone CIC and telling them that unnamed LMIA's don't exist - so we are 'ensuring this website continues to correct informal it's [sic] would be users of facts'.

Indeed it is. I'm just about to walk the kids to school and it's beautiful out there. :)

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

H&R had a limited # of LMIA's available to existing drivers in Canada a couple of weeks ago and so did TransX.
There is the odd company with them including a couple of companies in NS.
Newstart, I read this thread when you started and very sorry to hear of your experience but there are thousands of us drivers here that have gone through the process relatively unscathed and remain here having a great life.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hmmm ... I'll just leave it to users to decide if what I've said is indeed fact or fiction, as for being around 3 months out of date ... The recruitment consultants acting on behalf of one of the big players, trying to get an LMIA for a very close friend of mine who is still in Canada, are proverbially still bashing their heads against a brick wall, and have several applications refused as Service Canada do not believe their are no Canadians available to fill the posts. That is across Canada and not just at provincial level !

Companies do not have LMIA's or even the promise of an LMIA which they can simply offer up to a driver, as was once possible under the LMO SYSTEM. Now a company has to submit an individual application for every candidate and then justify every appointment at the cost of $1000 per person per application. No company can offer up an LMIA up front ... As they first have to apply for and then go through the extremely strict application process having first satisfied Service Canada that they have done everything possible to hire a Canadian First (Hence the Governments Canadian's First labour Policy). Once the company has successfully satisfied Service Canada that they have unsuccessfully tried everything possible to fill the post (ie Broad ranging job adverts etc as well contacting local community groups etc to establish if the required skilled labour is available) The company is permitted to submit an application pack for the candidate showing relevant experience and qualifications and then Service Canada decides whether or not to approve the application.

The only LMIA's currently being passed in Canada are Supervisor level Drivers better known as the driver trainers, and this is only in keeping with Canada's current policy to sort out the truck driver shortage in house from within its own labour pool. Driver trainers are still seen as required by Canada to train up their own people to fill the truck driving vacancies.

They are your facts my friend ... The original post wasn't looking for an LMIA for a Driver Trainers position ... He was asking how to get an LMIA for a trucking driving post ... And I answered. Unfortunately your colleague answered suggesting he/she could get an LMIA if they replied to the adverts currently posted in Manitoba. I explained why they are wrong.

Now if anyone wants to go through this process ... Feel free ... I wish all who try ... every success ... However do not be disappointed by the outcome if in the coming months if you are first told ... "There seems to be a delay" ... Followed by a ... "I'm very sorry but the government aren't issuing LMIA's at this time" ... Because this is standard right now and not three months out of date as you would have the readers of this thread believe.

All I'll say to anyone is this ... First call the big players ... Bison etc ... Ask them if they have been issued with any LMIA's recently ... See what they say ???

As for your "hear say and rumours" you moderators can quote them as much as you like ... Doesn't mean any of them are true ... Ring the companies ... and watch the above process unfold before your eyes, then feel free to tell me I'm wrong ... I'm more than happy for that to be the case to be honest, but please don't mis-lead guys who come here seeking a little guidance and help if you don't know what your talking about ... It's grossly unfair on them.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

If it's for 'one of the big players' then that's only one company. So a sweeping generalisation if you're applying that across the whole industry.

Again, we all know exactly what the process for a LMIA is. Unlike you, we've actually been through it, either personally or doing it for others as part of a daily job.

You've already been shown a link to disprove your statements that unnamed LMIA's aren't possible, but for some reason you're doggedly sticking to your own ideas rather than believing the information on the ESDC website.

They're really not. They are what you think are facts, but three of us now have corrected you and you've not been gracious enough to take that on board.

Nobody said Bison had LMIA's, but you have been told of 3 companies now that DO have them. Again, you're ignoring that to suit your own view of things though.

It is, and I'm afraid that is what you are doing by telling people to phone CIC to speak to them about LMIA's, that there is no such thing as unnamed LMIA's anymore, that there are absolutely no LMIA's for truckers across the whole of Canada etc, when we all know that your statements are incorrect.

I'm sorry, but you're the one giving erroneous information here based on your own limited job hunting experiences. Please don't assume that's the case across the whole of Canada or pooh pooh others attempts to be helpful when they know of LMIA's that do exist for truckers.

And if you're still job hunting, why not message the lady advertising for truckers in the link given to you by Siouxie above, Gladstone Transfer in MB who have LMIA's available?

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Hi again Neil,

Hope your ok mate ;)

Yes I fully appreciate that many drivers have gone to Canada over the years, and have gone onto have a wonderful life there, for them I am truly happy. I completely agree with that my friend ... But generally speaking that was the generation that went out there 12 to 6 yrs ago when the PR process was much quicker and easier and when the companies paid for most things and treated their TFW's with a little more respect.

These days everything is very different and much harder my friend, companies since that early generation have learned to abuse the TFW program to the point the government had to change the rules. The the process too, is much longer and far stricter, leaving foreigners exposed to much worse treatment for far longer periods while negotiating their way to the holy grail of PR. I hope the new rules do work to protect the new guys that will venture across the pond to follow in your footsteps.

I have no axe to grind with anyone my friend, I am working back in the UK and all is well in my life ... Unlike the hardship I had to endure in my time in Canada, my purpose was to make it known that while many of that golden generation went on to have great lives ... Many didn't ... and over the years that percentage has decreased quite significantly.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

Ha Ha ... So now I have an agenda lol

Ok guys you try it ... You listen to guys living in a bubble. But I did try last year to get an LMIA with several companies before calling it a day.

I have been through that process you claim you know.

Good luck everyone .. My threads are posted read and proceed with caution or ignore them ... It's completely your call.

Me ... I'm ok guys ;))

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

I know the company you was with and you were not the first or last that got ****ed over and not only drivers.
It's a shame you couldn't find another company at the time, the LMIA's H&R and TransX have/had, are/were for drivers exactly in the position you were in and other drivers who's LMO's/LMIA's have run out and their companies not being able to or not willing to renew them.
But they were available as are Gladstone Transfer and a couple of companies in NS.
All the best to you.

Re: Please Help ! Truck driver needs LMO/LMIA
 

It's not that bad for us, sorry you seemed to be working for a company that's not looking after you.

We came over on an lmia in January, been treated well by our company, my husband is the only income for now, but we're doing ok, renting a nice house in calgary, pr papers going through.

lmias are absolutely harder to come by for sure, it seems only some more rural companies are getting them, because they're the one that need them and get them.