Canada has expanded its restrictions on low-wage work permits to six additional labour markets: Halifax and Fredericton, Kingston and St. Catharines–Niagara, Regina, and Lethbridge. The new restrictions took effect on October 9, 2026, and will remain in place until January 7, 2027.
The policy affects the low-wage stream of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Employers in affected regions generally cannot obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for eligible low-wage positions when the unemployment rate is 6% or higher and the offered wage is below 120% of the provincial or territorial median wage.
The freeze now covers 30 census metropolitan areas across Canada. Some occupations such as those in agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities, are exempt from this restriction.
Finding employer-sponsored jobs may become more difficult in affected cities for positions covered by the restrictions. The freeze does not mean that all Canadian work permits are suspended. Applicants should check the job location, wage requirements, and also the applicable exemptions before proceeding.
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