The government has updated its list of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) where Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) from the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme (TFWP) will not be processed.
Since September 26, 2024, certain LMIA applications won’t be processed. Those with:
- a wage below the provincial or territorial wage threshold, and
- a work location in a CMA with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher at the time of LMIA submission.
LMIAs will not be processed in 32 CMAs during this quarter, an increase from 26 in the previous quarter. The following CMAs were added to the list:
- Guelph, Ontario
- Greater Sudbury, Ontario
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- Lethbridge, Alberta
- Red Deer, Alberta
- Kelowna, British Columbia
Peterborough, Ontario was removed from the list.
Low-wage applications submitted to fill certain occupations in the following sectors and subsectors will continue to be eligible for processing even in the high-unemployment CMAs:
- Occupations under primary agriculture;
- Positions in construction;
- Positions in food manufacturing;
- Positions in hospitals;
- Positions in nursing and residential care facilities;
- Specific in-home caregiver positions;
- Positions in support of permanent residency only (no application for work permit);
- Certain short-duration positions generally of 120 calendar days or less in duration.
Employers wishing to hire a foreign worker under the TFWP of a CMA with an unemployment rate 6% or higher can increase the wage, so that the position falls under the high wage stream of the TFWP.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.