Canada’s low‑wage work‑permit freeze has been extended to six additional labour markets, bringing the total of affected regions to 30. The new restrictions apply from 9 October 2026 until 7 January 2027 and cover employers who wish to hire or renew work permits for non‑exempt jobs that pay less than 120 % of the provincial or territorial median wage.
Newly added and lifted regions
- Added to the freeze: Halifax (NS), Fredericton (NB), Kingston (ON), St. Catharines‑Niagara (ON), Regina (SK), Lethbridge (AB)
- Removed from the freeze: Kamloops (BC) and Chilliwack (BC)
The next review of the affected census metropolitan areas (CMAs) is scheduled for 8 January 2027.
CMAs subject to the low‑wage LMIA freeze (unemployment ≥ 6 %)
| CMA | Unemployment % |
|---|---|
| St. John’s (NL) | 6.4 |
| Halifax (NS) | 6.1 |
| Moncton (NB) | 8.1 |
| Fredericton (NB) | 6.2 |
| Montréal (QC) | 7.2 |
| Ottawa‑Gatineau (ON) | 7.9 |
| Kingston (ON) | 6.3 |
| Belleville‑Quinte West (ON) | 6.4 |
| Peterborough (ON) | 6.3 |
| Oshawa (ON) | 9.8 |
| Toronto (ON) | 7.5 |
| Hamilton (ON) | 7.4 |
| St. Catharines‑Niagara (ON) | 6.5 |
| Kitchener‑Cambridge‑Waterloo (ON) | 7.6 |
| Brantford (ON) | 6.3 |
| Guelph (ON) | 7.5 |
| London (ON) | 9.1 |
| Windsor (ON) | 7.9 |
| Barrie (ON) | 6.2 |
| Greater Sudbury (ON) | 6.2 |
| Regina (SK) | 6.7 |
| Saskatoon (SK) | 6.5 |
| Lethbridge (AB) | 6.0 |
| Calgary (AB) | 6.4 |
| Red Deer (AB) | 6.9 |
| Edmonton (AB) | 7.6 |
| Kelowna (BC) | 8.6 |
| Abbotsford‑Mission (BC) | 7.6 |
| Vancouver (BC) | 7.0 |
| Nanaimo (BC) | 6.6 |
Low‑wage wage thresholds (hourly)
| Province/Territory | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $37.50 |
| British Columbia | $38.40 |
| Manitoba | $31.33 |
| New Brunswick | $31.73 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $33.60 |
| Northwest Territories | $48.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $31.96 |
| Nunavut | $45.00 |
| Ontario | $36.92 |
| Prince Edward Island | $31.20 |
| Quebec | $36.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $34.62 |
| Yukon | $45.60 |
These thresholds apply to Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) received on or after 17 July 2026 and are based on Job Bank data.
Exemptions from the freeze
The freeze does not apply to positions in:
- Primary agriculture
- Construction
- Food manufacturing
- Hospitals
- Nursing and residential care facilities
Additional exemptions:
- Private households hiring nurses, childcare providers, or personal support workers as in‑home caregivers.
- Case‑specific exemptions may be granted for temporary, highly mobile jobs (e.g., workers for concerts, carnivals, fairs) upon employer request.
LMIA and work‑permit process
- A positive or neutral LMIA is required for a foreign national to obtain or renew a work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
- LMIAs are issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and must be attached to the work‑permit application submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- For workers already in Canada with permits nearing expiry, IRCC extended the concurrent‑processing grace period from 30 days to 60 days on 21 August 2026. Applicants who submit an extension before their current permit expires retain maintained status, allowing them to continue working under the conditions of the expired permit while the application is processed.
Practical considerations for employers
- Verify whether the job location falls within an affected CMA and whether the wage offered meets the 120 % median‑wage threshold.
- Determine if the position qualifies for one of the listed exemptions; if so, the freeze does not apply.
- For non‑exempt, low‑wage roles, consider applying for a case‑specific exemption well in advance of the hiring date.
- Monitor the upcoming update on 8 January 2027, as the list of affected CMAs may change.
Employers who fail to comply with the freeze restrictions risk LMIA denial, which would prevent the issuance or renewal of the associated work permit.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
