This communiqué provides an update regarding the recently announced measures to help rural employers address workforce challenges while maintaining strong safeguards to ensure Canadians and permanent residents continue to be prioritized to fill available jobs.
Additional information will be sent as provinces and territories decide to opt-in to these measures.
Summary of Measures to Support Rural Employers
In participating provinces and territories, the Government of Canada will allow eligible rural employers to:
-
Retain their current proportion of low-wage positions filled by temporary foreign workers if above the 10% cap; or,
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Benefit from a 15% cap—instead of the current 10% cap—on the proportion of temporary foreign workers in low-wage positions.
For the purpose of these measures, rural is defined as locations outside of Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs). This definition will apply consistently across all P/Ts and for all measures. The definition of a CMA is determined by Statistics Canada.
To confirm if your location is in a rural area that qualifies for the measure, please enter your full postal code at the following website: Census of Population. If no Census Metropolitan Area appears, then your work location is considered eligible for the rural measure.
These measures can be implemented within two weeks of a positive confirmation from a province or territory. They will be available for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) submitted up until March 31, 2027.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program webpages will be updated in the coming days with additional details on these temporary measures, as provinces and territories confirm participation.
There are no changes to existing sector-specific variations and positions with no caps. For more information on existing measures, please consult the cap on the proportion of low-wage positions.
Measures that apply by province and territory
These measures will apply to the provinces and territories as described below.
- Quebec
- Measure(s): Retain their current proportion of low-wage positions filled by temporary foreign workers, if above the 10% cap.
- Sector(s): All sectors.
- Effective date: For LMIA applications submitted on or after April 1, 2026.
- Nova Scotia
- Measure(s):
- Retain their current proportion of low-wage positions filled by temporary foreign workers, if above the 10% cap; and
- Benefit from a 15% cap—instead of the current 10% cap—on the proportion of temporary foreign workers in low-wage positions.
- Sector(s): All sectors.
- Effective date: For LMIA applications submitted on or after April 14, 2026.
- Measure(s):
Responses from other provinces and territories have not yet been confirmed.
To learn more about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, visit Canada.ca (note: the website will be updated shortly) or reach out to the Employer Contact Centre.
You are encouraged to share this communication throughout your respective networks, and with any colleagues or peers who may need to be aware of this information. If you have questions on the TFW Program, please visit Canada.ca or reach out to the Employer Contact Centre.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (EDSC)
Thank you for raising awareness among your field agents, as well as the TFWs and their employers, about the measures, rights, and responsibilities of all parties involved.
