What happened?

Canada has expanded its freeze on work permits to six additional regions across the Maritimes, Ontario, and the Prairies. This development means employers in these areas cannot initiate hiring or renewal of work permits for non-exempt jobs paying less than 120% of the provincial or territorial median wage. The freeze was also lifted from two other regions.

The expanded freeze now includes Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines-Niagara, Regina, and Lethbridge. Conversely, the restrictions have been removed from Kamloops and Chilliwack. Twenty-four previously affected regions remain under the moratorium.

Who does this affect?

From October 9, 2026, to January 7, 2027, employers in the affected census metropolitan areas are prohibited from initiating hiring or renewal of work permits under the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. This applies to jobs with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher and those paying below 120% of the provincial or territorial median wage.

The federal government increased the low-wage threshold calculation to 120% of the provincial or territorial median on November 8, 2024. This was a change from the previous median setting. The moratorium itself was initially implemented on September 26, 2024, by denying processing of low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments in affected areas.

What does this mean for you?

A positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment, issued by Employment and Social Development Canada, is required for a foreign national to apply for or renew a work permit through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. This assessment confirms that an employer could not find a qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the position. Foreign workers then attach this assessment to their work permit applications submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Exemptions to the freeze are in place for jobs in primary agriculture and nursing and residential care facilities. Private households hiring nurses, childcare providers, or personal support workers as in-home caregivers are also exempt. Employers can also obtain case-specific exemptions for temporary and highly mobile jobs, such as workers for concerts, carnivals, or fairs. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada extended the timeline for concurrent processing from 30 days to 60 days on August 21, 2026.

What happens next?

The list of affected census metropolitan areas now includes St. John's, Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton, Montréal, Ottawa-Gatineau, Kingston, Belleville Quinte West, Peterborough, Oshawa, Toronto, Hamilton, St. Catharines-Niagara, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Brantford, Guelph, London, Windsor, Barrie, Greater Sudbury, Regina, Saskatoon, Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Kelowna, Abbotsford-Mission, Vancouver, and Nanaimo. Provincial and territorial median wage thresholds range from $31.20 in Prince Edward Island to $48.00 in the Northwest Territories.

The freeze impacts employers' ability to hire or renew work permits for certain low-wage jobs. Workers who submit an extension application before their existing permit expires can maintain their status and continue working under the expired permit's conditions while in Canada, pending a decision. The next update for the list of affected census metropolitan areas is scheduled for January 8, 2027.