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TL;DR
Regina became eligible for low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment processing on July 10, while Saskatoon became ineligible.
Regina’s unemployment rate fell to 5.9%, while Saskatoon’s rose to 6.5%, crossing the federal 6% cutoff in opposite directions.
The LMIA restrictions now cover 26 Census Metropolitan Areas, down from 30 during the previous quarter.
The current list remains through October 9, with the next update scheduled for October 10.
Regina reopened for low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing on July 10, while Saskatoon became ineligible for as it’s unemployment rate rose from 5.5% to 6.5%. Regina’s rate fell from 6.4% to 5.9%, according to the quarterly update reported by CIC News.
The federal government recalculates the list every three months, and a job’s location can determine whether a low-wage LMIA needed for a work permit application or renewal will be processed.
Eight CMAs reopened while four joined the federal restricted list
The government has resumed low-wage LMIA processing in eight Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs):
Halifax
Saint John
Fredericton
Drummondville
Kingston
St. Catharines–Niagara
Winnipeg
Regina.
On the other hand, Saskatoon, Red Deer, Kamloops, and Chilliwack became ineligible for LMIAs. The restricted list now covers 26 CMAs, including Toronto, Montréal, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Ottawa–Gatineau. The previous quarterly list covered 30 CMAs from April 10 through July 9.
How the 6% unemployment processing rule is applied
The federal government announced the restriction in August 2024 as part of changes intended to give Canadian citizens and permanent residents priority for available jobs. Low-wage LMIA applications are not processed when the job is inside a CMA with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.
A CMA generally has a population centre with at least 100,000 people in its core. The job site determines which CMA applies, rather than the worker’s home or the employer’s mailing address. Employers can enter the work location’s full postal code in the federal Census of Population search tool and check the resulting geographic classification.
Jobs outside CMAs, including locations classified as census agglomerations, generally remain eligible under this specific measure. Other Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements still apply.
The low-wage stream covers jobs paying below 120% of the applicable regional median wage, or below what an employer pays current workers doing the same job, whichever amount is higher.
Roles such as those in primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospital positions, nursing and residential care, specified in-home caregiver jobs, qualifying short-term positions, and certain applications supporting permanent residence aren’t affected by the restrictions.
An existing work permit is also not automatically cancelled when a city enters the freeze. The restriction affects whether the government will process a low-wage LMIA application that may be required for a new permit or extension.
What this means for you
If your job is in Regina, your employer can again submit a low-wage LMIA application, provided it meets all other program rules.
If the job is in Saskatoon, use its full postal code to confirm the CMA, then check whether the position qualifies for an exemption or the high-wage stream.
Also, Check your permit expiry date with your employer before choosing to wait for October 10. If your work authorization runs out and can’t be renewed, you have to stop working. You can submit a visitor record application to keep your legal status in Canada, but visitor status does not allow you to work.
