These are the regions in Canada where low-wage LMIAs won’t be processed, as of January 2025

Those considering applying for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) under the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) can now access a list of regions where LMIAs will not be processed.

On August 26, 2024, the federal government announced that it would no longer process LMIAs under the low-wage stream of the TFWP in census metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.

Without an LMIA, employers cannot hire a foreign national under the TFWP, nor can a TFWP worker renew their work permit.

As of January 10, the government has shared a list of CMAs with unemployment rates over 6%.

This table will be updated every three months, with the next update coming on April 4, 2025.

Here’s what you need to know:

Which CMAs are ineligible as of January 2025?

As of January 10, the government has identified 15 CMAs with unemployment rates 6% or higher.

Census metropolitan area (CMA)	Unemployment rate
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador	6%
Saint John, New Brunswick	6.1%
Montréal, Quebec	6.2%
Oshawa, Ontario	7.5%
Toronto, Ontario	7.9%
Hamilton, Ontario	6.3%
St. Catharines-Niagara, Ontario	6.2%
Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ontario	7.3%
Guelph, Ontario	6.2%
London, Ontario	6.4%
Windsor, Ontario	8.8%
Barrie, Ontario	6%
Regina, Saskatchewan	6.1%
Calgary, Alberta	7.5%
Edmonton, Alberta	6.8%

The government will update the list of CMAs every three months, with the next update coming on April 4, 2025.