The Hon. Thomas Dohm

Foreign workers currently residing or soon-to-reside in British Columbia (BC), who work for one of two select companies, can facilitate work permits for their spouses or partners—regardless of their compensation or seniority at the company. As of March 23, 2026, eligible spouses and common-law partners of all foreign workers at these two companies (which have been identified by the federal government as “significant investment projects”) qualify for an open work permit. That means that the spouses or common-law partners will be free to work for most employers in most industries across Canada. Foreign workers do not have to wait to formally begin their role before applying for an open work permit for their spouse or partner, if they have provisional approval for a position at one of the two companies, supported by a letter of introduction.