Due to the serious shortage of workers, it is possible that Canada will grant immigrant visas to foreign workers in the coming years. This is according to Peter Sutherland, the Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines.

An estimate of 450,000 Filipinos currently resides in Canada. From the 500 OFWs deployed in 2006, the number rose to 3600 by 2006. For the first six months of 2007, almost 3900 OFWs went with a two to three year work contracts.