Emergency service/repair personnel
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An emergency is defined as an urgent and critical situation of a temporary nature that:
- is of such proportions or nature as to exceed the capacity or authority of a province or municipality to deal with it;
- is caused by an actual or imminent:
- fire, flood, drought, storm, earthquake or other natural phenomenon;
- disease in human beings, animals or plants;
- accident or pollution;
- act of sabotage or terrorism; and
- results or may result in:
- danger to the lives, health or safety of individuals;
- danger to property;
- social disruption;
- a breakdown in the flow of essential goods, services or resources.
Definitions
- Emergency service personnel
- are persons entering Canada as a provider of emergency services, including medical services, for the protection or preservation of life or property. They are exempt from requiring a work permit under subsection 186(t) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
- Emergency repair personnel
- are persons whose admission is required in Canada to carry out emergency repairs to industrial or commercial equipment in order to prevent disruption of employment. They require a work permit and are exempt from requiring a labour market opinion under subsection 205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
To facilitate crossing the border, it is recommended that emergency service/repair personnel have the following documents upon their arrival:
- 1. A copy of the requesting company letter on company letterhead, including:
- Requesting company’s name/address;
- Company’s ICON/logo;
- Reason for responding to company to help requesting company; and
- Requesting company’s 24-hour contact number.
- 2. Completed roster of all individuals that will be present including the following information:
- Birth date;
- Valid identification – passport (preferred) or valid driver’s licence or proof of citizenship; and
- Valid vehicle licence plate number.
- 3. Work Permit Information (required for emergency repair personnel only).
Additional information
- Goods imported by emergency personnel may qualify for duty-free entry under the Temporary Importation Regulations and are GST/HST exempt under the Goods for Emergency Use Remission Order, and must be exported when they are no longer required.
- Imported goods consumed or destroyed within Canada in response to an emergency are duty and GST/HST exempt, and may qualify to have the requirement to provide proof of export waived.
Responding companies should send workers who are admissible into Canada and should not have:
- any security issues (e.g. engaging in terrorism, organized crime, including membership in an organization that takes part in criminal activity, etc.);
- been involved in any human or international rights violation;
- any criminality (convicted of an offence that, if committed in Canada would constitute an indictable offence under an Act of Parliament, e.g. driving under the influence, narcotic offence, assault, etc.).
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