OTTAWA, Ont. - The federal government has updated the list of metropolitan areas where low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment applications will be refused, with changes taking effect October 9, 2026. Kamloops and Chilliwack have been removed from the restricted list. Vancouver, Abbotsford-Mission, Kelowna, and Nanaimo remain on the list, according to Employment and Social Development Canada. The updated refusal rates apply from October 9, 2026 through January 7, 2027. The LMIA program allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers when no qualified Canadians are available. The low-wage stream has faced scrutiny over its impact on the domestic labour market. For Surrey employers and immigrant workers, the Vancouver CMA remaining on the restricted list means continued limits on low-wage foreign worker hiring in the region. Abbotsford-Mission staying on the list affects Fraser Valley agricultural and food processing employers. Source: Employment and Social Development Canada (https://www.canada.ca)
LMIA low-wage refusal list updated: Kamloops and Chilliwack off, Vancouver and Abbotsford-Mission stay on
