Canada Reforms Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Low-Wage Approvals Extended to Two Years
The Government of Canada announced targeted reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program on November 6 in Gatineau, Quebec. Employment and Social Development Canada said the program is intended to address labour shortages in critical sectors where qualified Canadian workers are not available, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families, highlighted initiatives to strengthen the program.
Effective November 6, 2026, changes to the Low-Wage Stream of the Program include: Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications submitted on or after this date will have a maximum duration of up to two years, an increase from the current one-year duration. Currently, LMIA applications are not processed in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, with exceptions for priority sectors that include healthcare, construction, and food processing. On November 6, 2026, early childhood educators were added to the list of exceptions to further respond to ongoing labour needs across the country. Additionally, Budget 2026 provides $151.5 million over five years to support and enhance service delivery.
The Minister is also proposing several changes that are contingent on provinces and territories opting in and will be implemented on March 1, 2027. For employers in participating jurisdictions, the Government of Canada will permit hiring temporary foreign workers for up to 15% of their workforce through the Low-Wage Stream, up from the current 10% maximum, while priority sectors will continue to operate under the existing 20% limit. In CMAs with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, applications will not be processed, except for the identified priority sectors, as is the current process.
Budget 2026 also announced $82 million in funding over four years for the Migrant Worker Support Program, which helps temporary foreign workers understand their rights and how to exercise them, while living and working in Canada.
(Source: Employment and Social Development Canada)
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：加拿大国会山中央大楼，位于渥太华。Saffron Blaze 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Centre Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. Photo by Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
