Most people feel they are better off by going direct. The agencies pay a little more,but then their guys do NOT get the 13th month pay each year. They don't get per diem and some other things that are paid.
I also have heard that not all people's contracts are renewed either.
90%+ of the people are direct hire from what I see in the ex-pat group.
There are classes in January and March and interviewing continues. It will be interesting to see how many of the Canandian guys get offered a job and how many take it.