Employers seeking a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for a specialized foreign worker under Category A of the Global Talent Stream (GTS) now have fewer designated referral partners to obtain the mandatory referral. On 15 September 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) reduced the list from 58 to 41 partners, a 29 % cut.
Removed referral partners
Seventeen organizations were taken off the list, most of them in Ontario. The removals, grouped by region, are:
- British Columbia: Kootenay Association for Science & Technology
- Manitoba: Launch Academy, Tech Manitoba
- New Brunswick: Ignite Fredericton
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Venn Innovation, Genesis
- Nova Scotia: Cape Breton Partnership
- Ontario: Burlington Economic Development Corporation, Communitech Corporation, Government of Ontario – Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade (Ontario Investment Office), Invest Brampton, Regional Municipality of Niagara, Sarnia‑Lambton Economic Partnership, Toronto Business Development Centre, Town of Oakville
- Pan‑Canadian: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Industry Skills Directorate, TECHNATION
Employers in the affected regions must now obtain a referral from another designated partner, either a regional organization or one of the remaining pan‑Canadian partners.
Current designated referral partners (41)
The remaining partners are organized by province/territory and pan‑Canadian scope:
- Alberta: Calgary Economic Development; Edmonton Metropolitan Region Economic Development Company (Edmonton Global); Government of Alberta
- Atlantic Canada: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (multiple locations)
- British Columbia: Accelerate Okanagan; BC Tech Association; Metro Vancouver Regional District/Invest Vancouver; Venture Kamloops
- Manitoba: Economic Development Winnipeg; Government of Manitoba – Labour and Immigration, Employer Services
- New Brunswick: Government of New Brunswick – Department of Post‑Secondary Education, Training and Labour
- Northwest Territories: Government of the Northwest Territories – Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment
- Nova Scotia: Invest Nova Scotia, Canada; Halifax Partnership
- Ontario: City of Mississauga; Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario; Government of Ontario – Labour, Training and Skills Development (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program); Invest in Hamilton; Invest Ottawa; Invest Sudbury; Invest Windsor‑Essex; Kingston Economic Development Corporation; London Economic Development Corporation; MaRS Discovery District; Ontario East Economic Development Commission; Regional Municipality of York; Toronto Global; Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
- Pan‑Canadian: Business Development Bank of Canada; Council of Canadian Innovators; Global Affairs Canada – Trade Commissioner Service; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated Growth Service; Invest in Canada; National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC‑IRAP); Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
- Prince Edward Island: Government of Prince Edward Island – Island Investment Development Inc.
- Quebec: Canadian Economic Development for Quebec regions (including Association québécoise des technologies, Québec International, Investissement Québec – all MIFI‑designated)
- Saskatchewan: Government of Saskatchewan – Ministry of Immigration and Career Training
There are no specific designated partners listed for Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, or Yukon. Employers in these jurisdictions may use a pan‑Canadian partner for a referral; Newfoundland and Labrador employers can also contact the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Category A of the Global Talent Stream
Category A is intended for employers hiring a foreign national for a “unique and specialized” position. Key eligibility criteria include:
- Salary: Annual base salary of at least $80,000 CAD, or the prevailing wage for the occupation if higher.
- Skill level: Advanced knowledge of the industry and either an advanced degree in a relevant field or a minimum of five years of specialized experience.
- Employer requirements: Must be operating in Canada, demonstrate a focus on innovation, have capacity and willingness to grow, and be hiring for a unique, specialized role.
To apply, an employer must first obtain a referral from a designated partner, confirming both the employer’s eligibility and the identification of a qualified foreign worker. The employer then submits an LMIA application to ESDC together with the referral form for each worker. After a positive LMIA is issued, the worker uses the LMIA decision letter to apply for a work permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Processing timelines
- LMIA: ESDC aims to process GTS‑aligned LMIA applications within 10 business days in 80 % of cases.
- Work permit: Once a positive LMIA is received, IRCC targets the same 10‑business‑day service standard for the work‑permit application.
Category B distinction
Category B of the GTS, which covers occupations on the Global Talent Occupations List, does not require a designated referral partner, offering a simpler pathway for those roles.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
