Winter Olympics 2

Q. I am a sports fan and at this time of the year I am fascinated by the Winter Olympics hosted by Canada in the beautiful city of Vancouver. As I sit watching the games, I am wondering whether the reporters that came for the games to transmit their news for various news networks around the world need work permits or not. Can you shed some light on this, please?

A. Immigration regulations make reference to the “employees of a foreign news company” who enter Canada “for the purpose of reporting on events in Canada”. These reporters may enter Canada and report the news without the need for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) or a work permit. There are a few exceptions that we will not mention here. On the flip side, media crews that enter Canada to produce documentaries or promotional travel material including travelogues require work permits. There are special provisions for media crews from North America and for those who are from elsewhere, regarding the duration of their assignment and other conditions. These individuals are all subject to very strict security checks and credentialing. What an incredible reflection on the diligent work of immigration authorities that these games were without an immigration or security incident. Although you will not hear of these persons being officially acknowledged, I will do so here – job well done! In so many respects, we are very proud Canadians today. Congratulations Canada!