{"id":2921,"date":"2025-06-27T16:36:38","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T20:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=2921"},"modified":"2025-06-27T16:36:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T20:36:39","slug":"canada-tightens-temporary-foreign-worker-rules-with-new-wage-hikes-and-lmia-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=2921","title":{"rendered":"Canada Tightens Temporary Foreign Worker Rules with New Wage Hikes and LMIA Restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Canadian government has introduced a new round of major updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)<\/strong>, including increased wage thresholds and stricter rules on when and where employers can hire low-wage foreign workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The changes, announced by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)<\/strong>, apply to Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)<\/strong> applications submitted on or after June 27, 2025<\/strong>. They are part of an ongoing federal effort to reduce the reliance on temporary foreign workers amid rising concerns about job market saturation, wage suppression, and pressure on housing and public services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New Wage Thresholds Across Provinces<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The government has increased the median hourly wage thresholds<\/strong> that determine whether a TFWP application falls under the high-wage<\/strong> or low-wage stream<\/strong>. The threshold varies by province or territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Province\/Territory<\/strong><\/th>Old Threshold ($)<\/strong><\/th>New Threshold ($)<\/strong><\/th>% Increase<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Ontario<\/td>34.07<\/td>36.00<\/td>5.66%<\/td><\/tr>
British Columbia<\/td>34.62<\/td>36.60<\/td>5.71%<\/td><\/tr>
Quebec<\/td>32.96<\/td>34.62<\/td>5.04%<\/td><\/tr>
Alberta<\/td>35.40<\/td>36.00<\/td>1.69%<\/td><\/tr>
Manitoba<\/td>30.00<\/td>30.16<\/td>0.53%<\/td><\/tr>
Nova Scotia<\/td>28.80<\/td>30.00<\/td>4.17%<\/td><\/tr>
Saskatchewan<\/td>32.40<\/td>33.60<\/td>3.70%<\/td><\/tr>
Prince Edward Island<\/td>28.80<\/td>30.00<\/td>4.17%<\/td><\/tr>
New Brunswick<\/td>28.85<\/td>30.00<\/td>3.98%<\/td><\/tr>
Newfoundland & Labrador<\/td>31.20<\/td>32.40<\/td>3.85%<\/td><\/tr>
Northwest Territories<\/td>47.09<\/td>48.00<\/td>1.93%<\/td><\/tr>
Yukon<\/td>43.20<\/td>44.40<\/td>2.78%<\/td><\/tr>
Nunavut<\/td>42.00<\/td>42.00<\/td>0.00%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If a foreign national\u2019s offered wage is equal to or higher<\/strong> than the threshold in their province of employment, the employer must apply through the high-wage stream<\/strong>. If it’s below<\/strong>, it falls under the low-wage stream<\/strong>, which now faces serious limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Expanded LMIA Freeze for Low-Wage Positions<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A critical consequence of the new wage hike is that more jobs may now fall below the new threshold<\/strong>, especially in provinces like Ontario and BC. This means more employers may be pushed into the low-wage stream<\/strong>, which is subject to severe hiring restrictions<\/strong> in areas with 6% or higher unemployment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following cities and regions are under a moratorium<\/strong> on low-wage LMIAs from April 4 to July 10, 2025<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n