Beginning July 10, 2024 the Government of Canada will resume processing low‑wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications in eight census metropolitan areas (CMAs) while 26 other CMAs remain ineligible for LMIA processing until at least October 9. The eligibility is tied to the unemployment rate in each CMA—only CMAs with an unemployment rate below 6 percent are permitted to receive low‑wage LMIA applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
CMAs where the processing freeze was lifted (effective July 10)
| CMA – Province | Unemployment rate (previous → current) |
|---|---|
| Halifax, NS | 6.1 % → 5.9 % |
| Saint John, NB | 6.0 % → 5.9 % |
| Fredericton, NB | 6.5 % → 5.3 % |
| Drummondville, QC | 7.3 % → 5.7 % |
| Kingston, ON | 6.2 % → 5.3 % |
| St. Catharines‑Niagara, ON | 7.2 % → 5.8 % |
| Winnipeg, MB | 6.0 % → 5.6 % |
| Regina, SK | 6.4 % → 5.9 % |
CMAs added to the processing freeze (effective July 10)
| CMA – Province | Unemployment rate (previous → current) |
|---|---|
| Saskatoon, SK | 5.5 % → 6.5 % |
| Red Deer, AB | 5.9 % → 7.2 % |
| Kamloops, BC | 5.2 % → 7.0 % |
| Chilliwack, BC | 5.7 % → 7.9 % |
Full list of CMAs ineligible for low‑wage LMIA processing (July 10 – Oct 9)
| CMA – Province | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| St. John’s, NL | 7.3 % |
| Moncton, NB | 8.1 % |
| Montréal, QC | 6.8 % |
| Ottawa‑Gatineau, ON/QC | 6.7 % |
| Belleville–Quinte West, ON | 6.7 % |
| Peterborough, ON | 7.0 % |
| Oshawa, ON | 8.5 % |
| Toronto, ON | 7.3 % |
| Hamilton, ON | 6.9 % |
| Kitchener‑Cambridge‑Waterloo, ON | 8.1 % |
| Brantford, ON | 6.2 % |
| Guelph, ON | 7.4 % |
| London, ON | 7.8 % |
| Windsor, ON | 7.9 % |
| Barrie, ON | 7.9 % |
| Greater Sudbury, ON | 6.2 % |
| Saskatoon, SK | 6.5 % |
| Calgary, AB | 7.0 % |
| Red Deer, AB | 7.2 % |
| Edmonton, AB | 7.2 % |
| Kelowna, BC | 7.5 % |
| Kamloops, BC | 7.0 % |
| Chilliwack, BC | 7.9 % |
| Abbotsford‑Mission, BC | 8.0 % |
| Vancouver, BC | 6.7 % |
| Nanaimo, BC | 6.5 % |
Occupations exempt from the processing restriction
Low‑wage LMIA applications for the following categories are not subject to the unemployment‑rate restriction:
- Primary agriculture occupations
- Construction positions
- Food‑manufacturing roles
- Hospital jobs
- Nursing and residential‑care facilities
- Specified in‑home caregiver positions
- Positions that support permanent‑residence applications only (no work‑permit component)
- Short‑duration positions (120 calendar days or less) that meet defined criteria
Details on exemptions are available on the Government of Canada’s “Refusal to process a Labour Market Impact Assessment application” page.
Provincial/territorial hourly wage thresholds (CAD)
| Province/Territory | Before July 16 | July 17 onward |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $36.00 | $37.50 |
| British Columbia | $36.60 | $38.40 |
| Manitoba | $30.16 | $31.33 |
| New Brunswick | $30.00 | $31.73 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $32.40 | $33.60 |
| Northwest Territories | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.00 | $31.96 |
| Nunavut | $42.00 | $45.00 |
| Ontario | $36.00 | $36.92 |
| Prince Edward Island | $30.00 | $31.20 |
| Quebec | $34.62 | $36.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $33.60 | $34.62 |
| Yukon | $44.40 | $45.60 |
Positions paying below the provincial/territorial threshold fall under the low‑wage stream and are subject to the CMA restrictions. Positions at or above the threshold are processed under the high‑wage stream, which is not limited by unemployment rates.
Practical steps for employers and foreign workers
- Verify the CMA unemployment rate for the job location before submitting an LMIA. The Government of Canada’s Census of Population website can be used to confirm the CMA designation by entering the full postal code.
- If the CMA is ineligible, consider raising the offered wage above the provincial low‑wage threshold to move the application into the high‑wage stream.
- Monitor quarterly updates (next scheduled for October 10) to see whether a previously ineligible CMA falls below the 6 % threshold.
- Foreign workers whose permits expire during the restriction period should either secure a new eligible LMIA, transition to a visitor status by applying for a visitor record, or explore other exempt occupations.
- Employers outside CMAs may take advantage of a temporary public policy allowing low‑wage TFWP workers to comprise up to 15 % of the workforce (instead of the usual 10 %) in participating provinces, potentially expanding opportunities in rural areas.
Employers must obtain a positive or neutral LMIA before a foreign worker can be issued a work permit, whether for a new permit or an extension. The LMIA requirement applies uniformly across all streams of the TFWP.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
