Temporary workers in major Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal will not be eligible for Canada’s new TR to PR pathway, according to Immigration Minister Lena Diab. The program excludes all Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs), which encompass Canada’s largest urban centers.

Diab mentioned that the full selection criteria for the TR to PR pathway will be revealed in the upcoming weeks.

In a recent interview, Diab stated that the pathway had already been launched, with more details set to be disclosed in April. Foreign nationals interested in the program can refer to relevant documents to prepare for its launch.

Understanding Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs)

Statistics Canada defines a CMA as one or more neighboring municipalities centered around an urban core with a minimum total population of 100,000, of which at least 50,000 reside in the core. Canada has 41 CMAs, housing approximately 84% of the country’s population as per the 2021 census.

Aside from the mentioned cities, other CMAs in Canada include Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ottawa-Gatineau, Winnipeg, and Quebec City. You can verify if your area is classified as a CMA using Statistics Canada’s complete list.

About the TR to PR Pathway

The TR to PR pathway is a federal initiative that aims to grant permanent residence to 33,000 temporary workers between 2026 and 2027. Launched quietly in March, the program targets temporary foreign workers already residing and working in Canada, particularly those in rural areas.

A previous TR-to-PR pathway, initiated in April 2021, reached its application cap within months of its launch.