The Government of Canada made seven Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) eligible for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), as their unemployment rates fell below the 6% threshold. Vancouver, Abbotsford, Winnipeg, Brantford, Kingston, Ottawa-Gatineau, and Trois-Rivieres now qualify for low-wage stream LMIA applications, while Saint John, Guelph, and Barrie have become ineligible. Effective January 10, 2025, this update impacts employers’ ability to hire foreign workers, particularly in regions where unemployment rates influence LMIA application processing.
