Canada Expands LMIA Freeze to 30 Regions, Including Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax

Starting April 10, the Canadian federal government has expanded its restriction on low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing to 30 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs), up from 24 in the previous quarter.

Major cities now affected include Vancouver (6.5% unemployment), Winnipeg (6.0%), and Halifax (6.1%). In these regions, low-wage LMIA applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will not be processed until July 9, 2026.

Regions Removed from the Freeze

Some cities have been removed from the restriction list after their unemployment rates dropped below 6%, including:

• Lethbridge, Alberta: 7.2% → 5.9%
• Red Deer, Alberta: 8.9% → 5.9%
• Kamloops, British Columbia: 6.6% → 5.2%
• Chilliwack, British Columbia: 7.3% → 5.7%

Employers in these regions can now resume low-wage LMIA applications.

Newly Added Regions

The following CMAs were added due to rising unemployment rates above the 6% threshold:

• Halifax, Nova Scotia: 5.2% → 6.1%
• Moncton, New Brunswick: 5.5% → 7.4%
• Fredericton, New Brunswick: 5.2% → 6.5%
• Montréal, Quebec: 5.5% → 6.8%
• Kingston, Ontario: 5.6% → 6.2%
• Peterborough, Ontario: 5.3% → 6.3%
• Vancouver, British Columbia: 5.9% → 6.5%
• Winnipeg, Manitoba: 5.7% → 6.0%

Full List Highlights (Q2 2026)

Some of the highest unemployment rates among affected CMAs include:

• London, Ontario: 9.3%
• Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ontario: 9.1%
• Windsor, Ontario: 8.8%
• Barrie, Ontario: 8.8%
• Toronto, Ontario: 7.9%

All 30 listed CMAs will remain under the low-wage LMIA processing freeze for this quarter.

Wage Thresholds for High-Wage Stream (CAD)

To bypass restrictions, employers may offer wages under the high-wage stream:

• Ontario: $36.00
• British Columbia: $36.60
• Alberta: $36.00
• Quebec: $34.62
• Manitoba: $30.16
• Saskatchewan: $33.60

What This Means

• Low-wage LMIA applications will not be processed in CMAs with unemployment rates of 6% or higher.
• Employers may switch to the high-wage stream to remain eligible.
• Foreign workers may need to wait for the July 10 update or target other regions.

Exemptions Still Apply

The restriction does not apply to certain sectors, including:

• Agriculture
• Construction
• Food manufacturing
• Healthcare and caregiving
• Short-term roles (under 120 days)

Additionally, rural employers (outside CMAs) can now hire up to 15% low-wage foreign workers, offering more opportunities in non-urban areas.

Why Canada Is Doing This

This policy, introduced in August 2024, aims to align immigration with local labour market conditions by prioritizing job opportunities for Canadian citizens and permanent residents in regions with higher unemployment.

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