These workers are helping small towns and rural areas with labor and economy.

The department will help workers who already have work permits and have applied for permanent residency.

Workers who have lived in rural areas for at least two years and have applied through certain programs can be helped.

The plan aims to give permanent residency to 20,000 people in 2026 and the rest in 2027.

Canada's immigration minister says the plan will help rural areas with labor shortages and economic growth.

The minister says giving permanent residency to temporary residents will help local economies grow and be stable.

The program will also help reduce delays in immigration processing, and international students currently wait nearly 250 days for work permits.

Canada is a top destination for international students, with nearly 700,000 new study permits issued last year.