The federal freeze on low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments has expanded again.
Effective October 9, 2026 through January 7, 2027, six more cities join the refusal list: Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines–Niagara, Regina and Lethbridge. That brings the total to 30 cities where new low-wage LMIA applications will be refused.
There is some relief in the update: Kamloops and Chilliwack are off the list, reopening low-wage LMIA hiring there.
What this means for employers: if you operate in one of the listed cities, new low-wage LMIA plans may need to pause — or check whether an exemption applies to your situation. Filing into a frozen city wastes time and money. Contact ImmiQuest before you file.
Vikas Tulashyam, RCIC #R709710 | +1 778-855-4155 | info@immiquest.ca | https://immiquest.ca