Major LMIA Update: Eight Regions Are Back on the List — Is Your City One of Them?
If you are a foreign worker or a Canadian employer navigating the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), the quarterly LMIA update is one of the most important announcements you need to track. Effective July 10, 2026, the federal government has lifted low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing restrictions in eight Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) across Canada — including Halifax, Winnipeg, and Regina.
At the same time, four other regions have been added to the processing freeze, meaning low-wage LMIA applications in those areas will not be processed until at least October 9, 2026.
At Visarete Immigration Services, we break down every quarter’s update so that employers and foreign workers always know exactly where they stand. Here is everything you need to know about the July 10 changes.
What Is a Low-Wage LMIA and Why Does This Matter?
Before diving into which regions are affected, it is worth understanding the stakes.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that an employer must obtain before hiring a foreign worker through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The LMIA confirms that there is a genuine need for the foreign worker and that no Canadian citizen limaor permanent resident is available to fill the position.
The TFWP is divided into two streams based on wages. The low-wage stream applies to positions where the offered wage falls below the median hourly wage for the province or territory in which the job is located. The high-wage stream applies to positions at or above that median.
Since August 2024, the federal government has enforced a rule that low-wage LMIAs will not be processed in Census Metropolitan Areas where the local unemployment rate is 6% or higher. The logic is straightforward: in regions where unemployment is elevated, Canadian citizens and permanent residents should be given priority access to available job opportunities before foreign workers are brought in through the TFWP.
Every quarter, ESDC reviews the unemployment rates of all CMAs across the country and updates the list accordingly. The July 10, 2026 update is the most recent quarterly revision.
Which 8 Regions Were Removed from the Freeze?
The following eight CMAs have seen their unemployment rates fall below the 6% threshold and are now eligible for low-wage LMIA processing effective July 10, 2026:
| 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% |
For employers and foreign workers in these cities, this is excellent news. Low-wage LMIA applications can now be submitted and processed in these regions, reopening a pathway that had been blocked for the previous quarter.
Which 4 Regions Were Added to the Freeze?
On the other side of the coin, four CMAs have seen their unemployment rates rise above the 6% threshold and are now subject to the low-wage LMIA processing freeze:
| 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 regions who were counting on submitting a low-wage LMIA application this quarter will need to reconsider their options until at least October 10, 2026, when the next quarterly update is scheduled.
The Full List of Ineligible CMAs as of July 10, 2026
A total of 26 Census Metropolitan Areas are currently ineligible for low-wage LMIA processing — four fewer than in the previous quarter. These regions will remain frozen until at least October 9, 2026. The full list includes:
St. John’s (Newfoundland), Moncton (New Brunswick), Montreal (Quebec), Ottawa-Gatineau (Ontario/Quebec), Belleville-Quinte West (Ontario), Peterborough (Ontario), Oshawa (Ontario), Toronto (Ontario), Hamilton (Ontario), Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (Ontario), Brantford (Ontario), Guelph (Ontario), London (Ontario), Windsor (Ontario), Barrie (Ontario), Greater Sudbury (Ontario), Saskatoon (Saskatchewan), Calgary (Alberta), Red Deer (Alberta), Edmonton (Alberta), Kelowna (British Columbia), Kamloops (British Columbia), Chilliwack (British Columbia), Abbotsford-Mission (British Columbia), Vancouver (British Columbia), and Nanaimo (British Columbia).
If your job location falls within any of these CMAs, a low-wage LMIA application cannot currently be submitted or processed.
Are There Any Exemptions to the Freeze?
Yes — and this is an important detail that many employers and workers overlook. Even in regions where low-wage LMIA processing is frozen, certain occupations and positions are fully exempt from the restriction. These include:
- Occupations in 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 supporting permanent residency applications only (no work permit involved)
- Short-duration positions of 120 calendar days or less that meet specific criteria
If your job offer falls within one of these exempted categories, the freeze does not apply — regardless of which CMA the position is located in. At Visarete Immigration Services, we can help you determine whether your situation qualifies for an exemption and how to proceed with your application accordingly.
What Are the High-Wage Thresholds for July 2026?
If you are working or applying in a frozen CMA and your employer is open to adjusting your compensation, moving the position from the low-wage stream to the high-wage stream is one practical option. The high-wage stream is not subject to the freeze. Below are the updated median hourly wage thresholds by province and territory, with rates effective from July 17, 2026 onward:
| Province / Territory | Threshold (Before July 16) | Threshold (From July 17) |
| Alberta | $36.00 | $37.50 |
| British Columbia | $36.60 | $38.40 |
| Manitoba | $30.16 | $31.33 |
| New Brunswick | $30.00 | $31.73 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $32.40 | $33.60 |
| Northwest Territories | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.00 | $31.96 |
| Nunavut | $42.00 | $45.00 |
| Ontario | $36.00 | $36.92 |
| Prince Edward Island | $30.00 | $31.20 |
| Quebec | $34.62 | $36.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $33.60 | $34.62 |
| Yukon | $44.40 | $45.60 |
If the offered wage meets or exceeds the threshold for the relevant province or territory, the position falls under the high-wage stream and is not affected by the processing freeze — even in a frozen CMA.
What Should Affected Workers and Employers Do Right Now?
If you are a foreign worker or employer navigating the July 10 changes, here are the practical steps Visarete Immigration Services recommends:
Check your CMA first. Confirm whether the work location falls within one of the 26 frozen CMAs or one of the regions that has just reopened. The CMA is determined by the full postal code of the work location — not the city name alone, as some postal codes may sit within or outside a CMA boundary.
Explore the high-wage stream. If your region is frozen and the position cannot be moved to an exempt category, speak with your employer about whether a wage adjustment to meet the provincial high-wage threshold is possible. This is often the fastest way to restore LMIA eligibility without waiting for the next quarterly update.
Consider exempt occupations. If you work in construction, food manufacturing, healthcare, caregiving, or agriculture, your position may already be exempt from the freeze. Do not assume you are ineligible before checking whether your specific occupation falls under one of the listed exemptions.
Plan for the October 10 update. If none of the above apply to your situation, the next quarterly update on October 10, 2026, may change your region’s eligibility. Use this time to prepare your documents so you are ready to apply the moment your CMA is removed from the freeze.
If your work permit is expiring and you cannot extend it due to the freeze, you may be able to maintain your legal status in Canada by applying to change your status to visitor while you explore alternative pathways. Do not allow your status to lapse.
Rural Canada also presents an alternative worth exploring. A recently introduced temporary public policy allows eligible employers outside CMAs to hire low-wage TFWP workers for up to 15% of their workforce — up from the previous 10% cap — in participating provinces. If your skills are transferable, rural opportunities may provide a viable path forward while urban restrictions remain in place.
Book a consultation with Visarete Immigration Services today — our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants can assess your specific situation, identify the best available pathway for your work permit needs, and guide you through every step of the process with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the July 10, 2026 LMIA update and what changed?
Effective July 10, 2026, the federal government updated its quarterly list of Census Metropolitan Areas eligible for low-wage LMIA processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Eight CMAs were removed from the freeze — including Halifax, Winnipeg, Saint John, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines-Niagara, Drummondville, and Regina — because their unemployment rates dropped below 6%. Four CMAs were newly added to the freeze — Saskatoon, Red Deer, Kamloops, and Chilliwack — because their unemployment rates rose above 6%. A total of 26 CMAs remain ineligible for low-wage LMIA processing until at least October 9, 2026.
Q2. Why does the federal government restrict low-wage LMIA processing in certain regions?
The restriction was introduced in August 2024 to ensure that Canadian citizens and permanent residents receive priority access to job opportunities in regions where unemployment is elevated. The rule is that low-wage LMIA applications will not be processed in any Census Metropolitan Area where the local unemployment rate is 6% or higher. The underlying principle is that employers should first exhaust domestic recruitment efforts before turning to foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and that in high-unemployment regions, sufficient domestic labour should theoretically be available.
Q3. My employer is in a frozen CMA. Are there any options to still proceed with my work permit?
Yes, there are several options worth exploring. First, check whether your occupation falls under one of the exempted categories — agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, nursing and residential care, in-home caregiving, or short-duration positions of 120 days or fewer. If so, the freeze does not apply to your position. Second, if your employer is willing to offer a wage at or above the provincial median hourly threshold, the position moves from the low-wage stream to the high-wage stream, which is not subject to the freeze. Visarete Immigration Services can help you assess which option applies to your situation.
Q4. When is the next quarterly LMIA update and will my region’s status change?
The next quarterly update is scheduled for October 10, 2026. At that point, ESDC will review the latest unemployment rate data for all CMAs across Canada and revise the list accordingly. Regions currently frozen could be removed if their unemployment rate drops below 6%, and regions currently eligible could be added if their unemployment rate rises above 6%. There is no guarantee which way any particular region will move, which is why it is important to plan ahead and prepare your documentation now so you are ready to act quickly when the next update is released.
Q5. What happens if my low-wage work permit is expiring and I cannot get an extension due to the freeze?
If your work permit is expiring and the freeze prevents your employer from obtaining a new LMIA for an extension in your region, you have a few options. You may be able to apply to change your immigration status to visitor, which would allow you to remain in Canada legally while you explore other pathways. You could also explore whether your employer has work available in a rural location outside a CMA, where the freeze does not apply and where expanded TFWP workforce caps may make hiring easier. A consultation with the team at Visarete Immigration Services can help you identify the right steps for your specific situation before your authorization expires.
Q6. Does this update affect the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?
No. The processing freeze applies exclusively to the low-wage stream of the TFWP. The high-wage stream — which covers positions where the offered wage meets or exceeds the provincial or territorial median hourly threshold — is not subject to any regional freeze and continues to operate normally across all CMAs in Canada. This is why moving a position from the low-wage to the high-wage stream through a wage adjustment is often the most practical and immediate solution for employers and workers in frozen regions. Note that the median wage thresholds were also updated effective July 17, 2026, so employers should verify the current threshold for their province before making any wage adjustments.
