Canada expands work permit access for rural employers, i.e., Canada has introduced new temporary measures that will allow rural employers to hire more foreign workers. These changes are meant to help smaller communities deal with ongoing labour shortages.
According to an announcement made on March 13, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will introduce temporary adjustments to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
The new measures will help rural employers hire additional workers through the program and support businesses facing difficulties in finding local employees.
New Temporary Measures For Rural Employers
Under the new rules, rural employers will be allowed to hire more low-wage temporary foreign workers than before.
As per the new measures, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, rural employers will be able to:
- Maintain their current number of low-wage temporary foreign workers, and
- Employ low-wage temporary foreign workers for up to 15% of their workforce, up from the previous limit of 10%.
These changes will apply only to rural employers located in provinces and territories that choose to participate in the program.
Moreover, at the moment, the government has not confirmed which provinces and territories will take part in this measure.
Previous Limits On Low-Wage Foreign Workers
Before this announcement, employers using the low-wage stream of the TFWP could hire foreign workers for no more than 10% of their total workforce.
The federal government introduced this limit in August 2024. The goal was to prevent employers from depending too heavily on foreign workers instead of hiring local workers.
However, rural communities often face unique challenges in filling job vacancies. Smaller populations and limited access to workers can make it difficult for employers to meet labour demands.
Because of these challenges, the government decided to temporarily increase the limit for rural employers.
Support For Labour Needs In Smaller Communities
The new policy is intended to support businesses in rural areas that continue to experience labour shortages.
These shortages can affect industries such as agriculture, food services, manufacturing, and hospitality. In many smaller communities, employers struggle to find enough workers locally.
The government explained that this policy is part of broader efforts to work with provinces and territories to address regional labour market needs.
It is also designed to better align immigration policies with local workforce demands across the country.
Existing Restrictions Still Apply
Despite the new changes, some restrictions under the TFWP will remain in place.
Canada still maintains a temporary pause on processing low-wage TFWP work permits in regions where unemployment rates are higher than 6 percent.
The list of affected regions is updated every quarter by the federal government.
Understanding The Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The TFWP remains one of the main programs used by Canadian employers to hire foreign workers.
Before hiring a foreign worker, employers must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) through ESDC. This assessment determines whether hiring a foreign worker will have a positive, neutral, or negative impact on Canada’s labour market.
Moreover, the program is divided into two main categories: high-wage and low-wage positions.
A job is considered low-wage when the hourly wage offered is below the provincial or territorial wage threshold.
The current wage thresholds are listed in the table below.
| Province/Territory | New Wage Threshold ($ CAD) |
| Alberta | 36.00 |
| British Columbia | 36.60 |
| Manitoba | 30.16 |
| New Brunswick | 30.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 32.40 |
| Northwest Territories | 48.00 |
| Nova Scotia | 30.00 |
| Nunavut | 42.00 |
| Ontario | 36.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | 30.00 |
| Quebec | 34.62 |
| Saskatchewan | 33.60 |
| Yukon | 44.40 |
Hiring workers under the low-wage stream carries additional requirements for employers.
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