Canada has expanded its freeze on processing low-wage work permits to six additional regions, tightening access to employer-sponsored jobs for foreign workers.
The new restrictions affect Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines–Niagara, Regina and Lethbridge. The freeze remains in place in 24 previously affected regions, while Kamloops and Chilliwack have been removed from the list.
The policy runs from October 9, 2026, to January 7, 2027, and applies to Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) under the low-wage stream of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Under the rules, processing is restricted in designated regions where unemployment is at least six per cent. Employers in affected areas cannot initiate recruitment or renewals for non-exempt positions paying below 120 per cent of the applicable provincial or territorial median wage.
However, exemptions remain available for jobs in primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities.
Private households employing nurses, childcare providers and personal support workers as in-home caregivers are also exempt.
Employers may also request case-specific exemptions for temporary, highly mobile jobs linked to events such as concerts, carnivals and fairs.
The expansion reflects the federal government’s continued focus on prioritising employment opportunities for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It could also create additional recruitment challenges for businesses that depend on foreign workers to fill vacancies.
An LMIA is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada to determine whether an employer has been unable to find a suitable Canadian citizen or permanent resident for a job.
A positive or neutral assessment is generally required before an eligible foreign national can apply for or renew a work permit under the TFWP.
The revised rules also impose higher wage requirements on employers seeking LMIA processing for eligible positions.
The minimum hourly thresholds vary across provinces and territories, ranging from $31.20 in Prince Edward Island to $48 in the Northwest Territories.
Ontario’s threshold is $36.92, while British Columbia’s is $38.40 and Alberta’s is $37.50.
The rates apply to LMIAs received from July 17, 2026, under the thresholds in force at the time of the announcement.
The federal government raised the low-wage threshold to 120 per cent of the provincial or territorial median wage on November 8, 2024.
The broader freeze on processing low-wage LMIAs in designated high-unemployment regions began on September 26, 2024.
For foreign workers already in Canada, the rules on expiring permits remain important. On August 21, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada extended the period for eligible workers to submit work permit applications alongside an LMIA from 30 to 60 days.
Workers who apply to extend their permits before they expire may also qualify for maintained status, allowing them to continue working under the conditions of their previous permits while their applications are being processed.
This depends on their remaining in Canada and meeting the applicable requirements.
