Canada has resumed processing certain low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment applications in eight census metropolitan areas, including Halifax, Winnipeg and Regina.
The changes took effect on July 10, 2026, following the federal government’s quarterly update to the unemployment rates used under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton, Drummondville, Kingston, St. Catharines–Niagara, Winnipeg and Regina were removed from the low-wage LMIA processing restriction after their applicable unemployment rates fell below 6%.
At the same time, Saskatoon, Red Deer, Kamloops and Chilliwack were added to the restriction because their unemployment rates increased to 6% or higher.
The changes do not mean that every LMIA application in the newly eligible regions will be approved. Employers must still satisfy all wage, recruitment, workforce-cap, business-legitimacy and worker-protection requirements.
Quick Answer
From July 10 to October 8, 2026, low-wage LMIA applications may once again be processed in eight regions whose unemployment rates have fallen below 6%.
| Region | Previous rate | New rate |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
The unemployment-rate table is updated every three months. The next scheduled update is October 9, 2026.
Low-Wage LMIA Processing Resumes in Eight Regions
The federal government uses unemployment rates for census metropolitan areas to determine where certain low-wage LMIA applications can be processed.
When a CMA’s applicable unemployment rate falls below 6%, the regional refusal-to-process measure generally no longer applies during that quarterly assessment period.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax’s applicable unemployment rate declined from 6.1% to 5.9%. Employers may therefore submit qualifying low-wage LMIA applications during the current period.
Saint John and Fredericton, New Brunswick
Saint John’s unemployment rate declined from 6.0% to 5.9%, while Fredericton’s rate declined from 6.5% to 5.3%.
Moncton remains restricted because its applicable rate increased to 8.1%.
Drummondville, Quebec
Drummondville’s rate declined from 7.3% to 5.7%, removing it from the quarterly CMA restriction.
Employers in Quebec must still follow applicable federal and provincial LMIA requirements, including any separate measures affecting particular economic regions.
Kingston and St. Catharines–Niagara, Ontario
Kingston’s applicable rate declined from 6.2% to 5.3%. St. Catharines–Niagara declined from 7.2% to 5.8%.
Several other Ontario CMAs, including Toronto, Hamilton, London and Windsor, remain subject to the processing restriction.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg’s rate declined from 6.0% to 5.6%, permitting the processing of qualifying low-wage applications during the current quarter.
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina’s rate declined from 6.4% to 5.9%. Saskatoon moved in the opposite direction and is now restricted.
Four Regions Newly Added to the Processing Restriction
Four CMAs crossed the 6% threshold and became subject to the refusal-to- process measure beginning July 10.
| Region | Previous rate | New rate |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Employers in these locations should not assume that an application prepared before July 10 remains eligible. The unemployment rate in effect on the LMIA submission date is relevant.
Applications for exempt occupations may still be processed despite the regional unemployment rate.
Full List of CMAs Subject to the Restriction
For applications submitted from July 10 to October 8, 2026, qualifying low-wage LMIA applications generally will not be processed in the following 26 CMAs.
| Province | Census metropolitan area | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | St. John’s | 7.3% |
| New Brunswick | Moncton | 8.1% |
| Quebec | Montréal | 6.8% |
| Ontario/Quebec | Ottawa–Gatineau | 6.7% |
| Ontario | Belleville–Quinte West | 6.7% |
| Ontario | Peterborough | 7.0% |
| Ontario | Oshawa | 8.5% |
| Ontario | Toronto | 7.3% |
| Ontario | Hamilton | 6.9% |
| Ontario | Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 8.1% |
| Ontario | Brantford | 6.2% |
| Ontario | Guelph | 7.4% |
| Ontario | London | 7.8% |
| Ontario | Windsor | 7.9% |
| Ontario | Barrie | 7.9% |
| Ontario | Greater Sudbury | 6.2% |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatoon | 6.5% |
| Alberta | Calgary | 7.0% |
| Alberta | Red Deer | 7.2% |
| Alberta | Edmonton | 7.2% |
| British Columbia | Kelowna | 7.5% |
| British Columbia | Kamloops | 7.0% |
| British Columbia | Chilliwack | 7.9% |
| British Columbia | Abbotsford–Mission | 8.0% |
| British Columbia | Vancouver | 6.7% |
| British Columbia | Nanaimo | 6.5% |
A work location outside a CMA, or within a census agglomeration rather than a CMA, is not automatically subject to this particular regional restriction.
How Does the Low-Wage LMIA Processing Restriction Work?
The regional refusal-to-process measure generally applies when both of the following conditions are present:
- The wage offered is below the applicable provincial or territorial hourly wage threshold; and
- The work location is inside a CMA whose applicable unemployment rate is 6% or higher on the LMIA submission date.
If only one of these conditions is present, this specific CMA restriction may not apply.
The offered wage determines the stream
An employer compares the guaranteed wage offered in the LMIA application with the applicable provincial or territorial threshold.
- A wage below the threshold generally places the position in the low-wage stream.
- A wage at or above the threshold generally places the position in the high-wage stream.
Employers must also satisfy the prevailing-wage requirement for the occupation and work location.
Artificially increasing a wage only to avoid a low-wage program requirement may lead to a negative LMIA decision. Any wage adjustment should reflect the genuine position, comparable employee wages and the prevailing wage.
Which Positions Are Exempt from the CMA Restriction?
Certain occupations and sectors may continue to qualify for processing even when the work location is in a CMA with unemployment of 6% or higher.
Exemptions can include:
- Occupations in primary agriculture;
- Construction positions under NAICS 23;
- Food-manufacturing positions under NAICS 311;
- Hospital positions under NAICS 622;
- Nursing and residential-care positions under NAICS 623;
- Specified in-home caregiver positions under eligible NOC codes;
- Positions supporting permanent residence only, where no work permit is requested;
- Certain truly temporary or highly mobile positions generally lasting 120 calendar days or less.
An exemption from the CMA restriction does not create automatic LMIA approval. All remaining program requirements continue to apply.
Employers requesting a short-duration or highly mobile exemption may need to provide a written explanation and supporting documents with the LMIA application.
What Does the Update Mean for Canadian Employers?
Employers in the eight reopened CMAs have regained access to low-wage LMIA processing, but they must complete the full Temporary Foreign Worker Program process.
Before applying, an employer should:
- Confirm the exact work location. Use the complete postal code rather than the employer’s head-office address.
- Determine whether the worksite is in a CMA. A nearby municipality may belong to a different census region.
- Check the unemployment rate in effect. Use the table covering the actual LMIA submission date.
- Confirm the correct wage stream. Compare the offered wage with the provincial or territorial threshold.
- Review the prevailing wage. The offered wage must remain consistent with the occupation and region.
- Complete the required recruitment. Employers must demonstrate reasonable efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents.
- Calculate the workforce cap. The general low-wage cap is normally 10%, with different rules for certain designated sectors.
- Prepare business-legitimacy documents. The employer must demonstrate that the business and job offer are genuine.
The standard LMIA processing fee is generally $1,000 for each position requested. The employer cannot recover this fee or prohibited recruitment costs from the foreign worker.
What Does the Update Mean for Temporary Foreign Workers?
A worker with a job offer in one of the eight reopened regions may now have a potential LMIA-supported work permit pathway, provided the employer qualifies and receives a positive or neutral LMIA.
A positive LMIA does not automatically grant a work permit. The worker must submit a separate application and meet all applicable eligibility, identity, medical, criminal and admissibility requirements.
Workers with expiring permits
A worker should not continue working after their authorization expires unless they have valid maintained status or another legal authorization to work.
An LMIA application submitted by the employer does not, by itself, extend the worker’s immigration status or permission to work.
Workers who cannot submit an eligible work permit extension before expiry may need to examine another status option, such as applying to remain in Canada as a visitor.
Avoid employment and LMIA scams
Temporary foreign workers should not pay an employer or recruiter for an LMIA, a job offer or guaranteed work permit approval.
Workers should verify the employer’s identity, job duties, wage, work location and employment agreement before relying on an offer.
How to Check Whether a Job Is in a Restricted CMA
- Obtain the complete postal code of the actual work location.
- Search the postal code through Statistics Canada’s Census of Population geography search.
- Review the result under “Census metropolitan area / Census agglomeration.”
- If the result identifies a CMA, compare it with the government’s current unemployment-rate table.
- If the CMA has an applicable rate of 6% or higher, determine whether the occupation qualifies for an exemption.
Employers with multiple worksites should review every location included in the LMIA application.
The relevant unemployment-rate period is based on the date Service Canada receives the application.
How Always Canada Group Can Help
Always Canada Group is a Canadian immigration consultancy led by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants.
Our work permit and LMIA-related services may include:
- Reviewing low-wage or high-wage stream classification;
- Checking the applicable CMA unemployment rate;
- Reviewing whether an occupational exemption may apply;
- Assessing the correct NOC and NAICS classifications;
- Reviewing prevailing-wage requirements;
- Reviewing recruitment and advertising evidence;
- Assessing low-wage workforce-cap calculations;
- Preparing employer-specific work permit applications;
- Preparing eligible work permit extensions;
- Reviewing previous LMIA or work permit refusals.
Always Canada Group cannot guarantee a positive LMIA or an approved work permit.
LMIA decisions remain with Employment and Social Development Canada and Service Canada. Work permit decisions remain with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Book a work permit consultation with Always Canada Group to review the employer, work location, wage and available options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which regions became eligible for low-wage LMIA processing?
Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton, Drummondville, Kingston, St. Catharines–Niagara, Winnipeg and Regina were removed from the regional restriction beginning July 10, 2026.
Which regions were newly added to the restriction?
Saskatoon, Red Deer, Kamloops and Chilliwack were newly added after their applicable unemployment rates rose to 6% or higher.
How long will the current unemployment-rate table apply?
The current rates apply to applications submitted from July 10 to October 8, 2026. The next scheduled update is October 9, 2026.
Are all LMIAs banned in a CMA with 6% unemployment?
No. The measure generally targets positions below the applicable wage threshold. High-wage applications and specified exempt occupations may still qualify for processing.
Are construction and healthcare positions exempt?
Certain construction, hospital, nursing, residential-care and caregiver positions are exempt, but the employer must still meet all other LMIA requirements.
Does an eligible region guarantee LMIA approval?
No. It only means that the regional unemployment restriction does not prevent processing. The employer must still meet every applicable program requirement.
Does a positive LMIA guarantee a work permit?
No. The worker must submit a separate work permit application and satisfy all immigration and admissibility requirements.
Can a worker pay the employer’s LMIA fee?
No. The employer cannot recover the LMIA processing fee or prohibited recruitment costs from the temporary foreign worker.
Final Takeaway
Canada resumed low-wage LMIA processing in eight regions on July 10, 2026, after their applicable unemployment rates fell below 6%.
Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton, Drummondville, Kingston, St. Catharines–Niagara, Winnipeg and Regina are now eligible for processing under this regional rule.
Saskatoon, Red Deer, Kamloops and Chilliwack were added to the restriction, while 26 CMAs remain affected during the current quarterly period.
Employers should verify the exact worksite, wage stream, prevailing wage, unemployment rate, occupational exemptions and recruitment requirements before submitting an application.
Book a consultation with Always Canada Group to review a Canadian LMIA or employer-specific work permit application.
