Employers in Canada now have fewer organizations to choose from when seeking a mandatory referral for hiring specialized foreign workers through Category A of the Global Talent Stream.
Employment and Social Development Canada has reduced the number of designated referral partners by 29%, removing 17 organizations from the list.
There are now 41 designated organizations that can refer Canadian employers to Category A, down from 58.
The federal department published the updated list on September 15, 2026, on its program requirements page for the Global Talent Stream.
Category A is part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and is intended for employers looking to hire foreign workers for unique and specialized positions.
Before an employer can submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment application under Category A, it must receive a referral from a designated partner.
Both the employer and foreign worker must also meet the applicable requirements before the employer can receive a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment to support the worker’s work permit application.
The Global Talent Stream provides an expedited route for eligible employers and foreign workers. The federal government aims to process both Labour Market Impact Assessment applications and work permit applications within 10 business days in 80% of cases.
Which Organizations Are No Longer Designated Referral Partners?
The updated list removes 17 organizations from the designated referral partner list. Ontario recorded the largest number of removals, with eight organizations no longer appearing on the list.
The organizations removed from the list are shown below by region.
| Organization | Region |
| Kootenay Association for Science & Technology | British Columbia |
| Launch Academy | |
| Tech Manitoba | Manitoba |
| Ignite Fredericton | New Brunswick |
| Venn Innovation | |
| Genesis | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Cape Breton Partnership | Nova Scotia |
| Burlington Economic Development Corporation | Ontario |
| Communitech Corporation | |
| Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Investment Office | |
| Invest Brampton | |
| Regional Municipality of Niagara | |
| Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership | |
| Toronto Business Development Centre | |
| Town of Oakville | |
| Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Industry Skills Directorate | Pan-Canadian |
| TECHNATION |
Employers affected by these changes will need to obtain their referral from another designated partner.
They can approach another regional organization serving their area or one of the remaining Pan-Canadian partners that can provide referrals to employers across Canada.
Current Designated Referral Partners For Category A
Although the government removed several organizations, 41 designated referral partners still provide Category A referrals.
The list below shows the current organizations by region.
| Organization | Region |
| Calgary Economic Development | Alberta |
| Edmonton Metropolitan Region Economic Development Company (Edmonton Global) | |
| Government of Alberta | |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (multiple locations across the region) | Atlantic Canada |
| Accelerate Okanagan | British Columbia |
| BC Tech Association | |
| Metro Vancouver Regional District/Invest Vancouver | |
| Venture Kamloops | |
| Economic Development Winnipeg | Manitoba |
| Government of Manitoba, Labour and Immigration, Employer Services | |
| Government of New Brunswick – Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour | New Brunswick |
| Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment | Northwest Territories |
| Invest Nova Scotia, Canada | Nova Scotia |
| Halifax Partnership | |
| City of Mississauga | Ontario |
| Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario | |
| Government of Ontario, Labour, Training and Skills Development – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) | |
| Invest in Hamilton | |
| Invest Ottawa | |
| Invest Sudbury | |
| Invest Windsor-Essex | |
| Kingston Economic Development Corporation | |
| London Economic Development Corporation | |
| MaRS Discovery District | |
| Ontario East Economic Development Commission (OEEDC) | |
| Regional Municipality of York | |
| Toronto Global | |
| Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation | |
| Business Development Bank of Canada | Pan-Canadian |
| Council of Canadian Innovators | |
| Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service | |
| Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated Growth Service | |
| Invest in Canada | |
| National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) | |
| Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team | |
| Government of Prince Edward Island, Island Investment Development Inc. | Prince Edward Island |
| Canadian Economic Development for Quebec regions | Quebec |
| *Association québécoise des technologies (MIFI-designated) | |
| *Québec International (MIFI-designated) | |
| *Investissement Québec (MIFI-designated) | |
| Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Immigration and Career Training | Saskatchewan |
*ESDC’s federal list consolidates Quebec’s three MIFI-designated referral partners under one entry; this table lists each organization as a separate entity.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, and Yukon currently have no designated referral partners.
Employers in these regions can contact a Pan-Canadian referral partner instead. Employers in Newfoundland and Labrador can also contact the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for a referral.
About Category A Of The Global Talent Stream
Category A of the Global Talent Stream helps Canadian employers hire foreign nationals for unique and specialized positions.
A worker generally needs to meet requirements that demonstrate advanced skills and experience in the relevant field. These requirements include:
- An annual base salary of at least $80,000, or the prevailing wage for the occupation if that amount is higher.
- Advanced knowledge of the industry.
- An advanced degree in a specialized area relevant to the employer and/or at least five years of specialized experience in the field.
Employers must also meet separate requirements to qualify for Category A.
The employer must operate in Canada, focus on innovation, show the willingness and ability to grow, and be seeking to fill a unique and specialized position.
A designated referral partner plays an important role in the Category A process. The partner refers to the employer and confirms that the company meets the relevant requirements and has identified a qualified foreign worker for the position.
After receiving the referral, the employer can submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment application to Employment and Social Development Canada.
A separate referral form must be included for each temporary foreign worker.
If the employer receives a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment, it must provide the worker with a copy of the decision letter. The worker can then use the letter when applying for a work permit.
The federal government aims to process Global Talent Stream-aligned Labour Market Impact Assessment applications within 10 business days in 80% of cases. After receiving a positive decision, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada under the same 10-business-day service standard.
Category B Does Not Require A Referral
Category B of the Global Talent Stream follows different requirements.
It helps employers hire highly skilled foreign workers in occupations listed on the Global Talent Occupations List.
Unlike Category A, employers using Category B do not need to obtain a referral from a designated referral partner.
The reduction in designated partners therefore applies specifically to employers using Category A. Employers in this category must now work with one of the remaining designated organizations when seeking the referral required for their Labour Market Impact Assessment application.
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