
Foreign nationals may qualify for an LMIA-exempt work permit if they are hired by one of eight Canadian companies, primarily within the tech industry.
Earlier this month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a new work permit under the Innovation Stream.
The Innovation Stream is one of the key pillars of Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy, aimed at driving economic growth by attracting top talent to the country.
Below are eight companies eligible for LMIA-exempt, employer-specific work permits, as of October 16. These companies, primarily within the tech sector, are hiring across Canada.
Company | Headquarters | Hiring in | Glassdoor Rating |
Ada Support Inc. | Toronto | Toronto, remote | 3.1 |
AlayaCare | Montreal | Montreal, Toronto | 3.5 |
CellCarta | Montreal | Montreal, remote | 2.2 |
Clarius Mobile Health | Vancouver | Vancouver | 4.3 |
Clio | Burnaby | Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, remote | 3.9 |
Lightspeed Commerce | Montreal | Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, remote | 3.7 |
Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group | Montreal | Not currently hiring in Canada | 3.4 |
Vive Crop Protection | Mississauga | Not currently hiring in Canada | 4.5 |
Here’s a closer look at the six companies actively hiring and their available job opportunities:
Ada Support Inc.
Headquartered in Toronto, Ada was founded in 2016 to transform customer service through AI. The company offers AI-powered customer support across various channels and languages. Ada operates remotely but requires some candidates to be based in specific provinces.
Perks: Work-from-abroad option, stock options, unlimited vacation, home office budget.
Open Positions:
HR Generalist (Toronto)
Staff Software Engineer, Solutions (Remote – Canada)
DevOps Engineer (Remote – Canada)
Senior Technical Writer (Remote – Canada)
Manager, Sales Development (Toronto)
AlayaCare
Based in Montreal, AlayaCare focuses on healthcare technology, particularly for home care, using AI to simplify tasks such as scheduling and billing. It employs over 550 people across four countries.
Perks: Flexible work environment, inclusive company culture.
Open Positions:
Bilingual Senior Technical Services Specialist (Montreal)
Implementation Specialist (Toronto)
Senior DevOps Analyst (Montreal)
Senior Developer, Scheduling (Montreal)
Engineering Manager – SRE (Montreal)
CellCarta
A Montreal-based company, CellCarta uses advanced research and technology to map cells and tissues, enabling more targeted therapies.
Perks: Global presence, opportunities for international collaboration.
Open Positions:
Global Technology Architecture Manager (Montreal)
Global Revenue Accounting Manager (Remote)
Clarius Mobile Health
Clarius, founded in Vancouver in 2014, aims to make affordable ultrasound tools available to healthcare professionals. The company holds a Great Place To Work® certification.
Perks: Hybrid work model, professional development opportunities, team events.
Open Positions:
Manufacturing Technician (Vancouver)
Clio
Clio, based in Burnaby, provides cloud-based legal tech solutions for lawyers, including tools for client management, billing, and more.
Perks: RRSP matching, flexible paid time off, health benefits, and parental leave.
Open Positions:
Account Executive, Customer Sales (Vancouver, Calgary)
Account Executive, Mid-Market (Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver)
Business Development Representative (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto)
Customer Onboarding Specialist (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto)
Data Scientist (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto – Remote option)
Director, Product Research (Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver – Remote option)
Lightspeed Commerce
Founded in Montreal in 2005, Lightspeed Commerce helps businesses manage and scale operations through its platform.
Perks: Diverse team, opportunities for professional growth.
Open Positions:
Team Lead, Software Development (Montreal)
Staff Software Developer (Ottawa)
Software Development Manager (Toronto)
Senior Strategic Pricing Specialist (Montreal)
Senior Site Reliability Engineer (Ottawa)
Senior Product Manager, Payment Processing (Montreal)
Companies Not Currently Hiring in Canada (But May in the Future)
Vive Crop Protection
This ag-tech company, based in Mississauga, specializes in crop protection and delivery systems for farmers. Currently, there are no Canadian vacancies, but the company invites qualified candidates to inquire.
Perks: Innovation-driven, with a focus on sustainable agriculture.
Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG)This Montreal-based pharmaceutical company specializes in developing new medicines for better patient health. While not hiring in Canada at the moment, it offers hybrid work and flexible hours.
Perks: Hybrid teleworking and flexible summer hours.
How Are Companies Selected for Employer-Specific Work Permits under the Innovation Stream?
The Innovation Stream grants LMIA-exempt work permits to companies that are part of the Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP). The Canadian government initiated GHP to help innovative Canadian companies scale, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth. The companies listed above were chosen as industry leaders and innovators, recognized for their potential to drive change in their respective sectors.
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