Commencing July 10, the federal government will initiate the processing of low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications in eight regions across Canada, including Halifax, Winnipeg, and Regina.
Conversely, regions such as Saskatoon and Kamloops are no longer eligible for low-wage LMIA processing until at least October 9.
From July 10 to October 9, low-wage LMIAs will not be processed in a total of 26 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) due to high unemployment rates—four fewer than the previous quarter.
The federal government exclusively processes low-wage LMIAs in CMAs where the unemployment rate is below 6%.
An employer must secure a positive or neutral LMIA before a foreign worker can receive a work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Every quarter, the federal government announces a list of CMAs in Canada where low-wage LMIAs will not be processed. The next update is scheduled for October 10.
Which CMAs were removed from the processing freeze, starting July 10?
- Halifax, Nova Scotia: 6.1 → 5.9
- Saint John, New Brunswick: 6.0 → 5.9
- Fredericton, New Brunswick: 6.5 → 5.3
- Drummondville, Quebec: 7.3 → 5.7
- Kingston, Ontario: 6.2 → 5.3
- St. Catharines-Niagara, Ontario: 7.2 → 5.8
- Winnipeg, Manitoba: 6.0 → 5.6
- Regina, Saskatchewan: 6.4 → 5.9
Which CMAs were added to the processing freeze, starting July 10?
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: 5.5 → 6.5
- Red Deer, Alberta: 5.9 → 7.2
- Kamloops, British Columbia: 5.2 → 7.0
- Chilliwack, British Columbia: 5.7 → 7.9
The full list of ineligible CMAs as of July 10
Low-wage LMIAs will not be processed in the following CMAs until October 9 at the earliest:
| Census metropolitan area | Unemployment rate (%) |
|---|---|
| St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador | 7.3 |
| Moncton, New Brunswick | 8.1 |
| Montréal, Quebec | 6.8 |
| Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario/Quebec | 6.7 |