Maple News reports that the federal government has raised the hourly wage thresholds for the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), with the changes taking effect on July 17, 2026. In regions experiencing high unemployment, employers cannot initiate new hires or renew TFWP work permits for roles paying below the new thresholds.
The thresholds are set at 120% of the provincial or territorial median wage. As of July 17, 2026, the updated figures include: Alberta $37.50; British Columbia $38.40; Manitoba $31.33; New Brunswick $31.73; Newfoundland and Labrador $33.60; Northwest Territories $48.00; Nova Scotia $31.96; Nunavut $45.00; Ontario $36.92; Prince Edward Island $31.20; Quebec $36.00; Saskatchewan $34.62; Yukon $45.60.
Outside the high-unemployment regions, employers can hire for roles below the threshold but must comply with the low-wage stream requirements, including a 10% cap on TFWP hires per work location; certain occupations are exempt from the 10% cap and have a 20% cap (e.g., construction or food manufacturing); and a temporary measure running from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027 raised the rural cap to 15% for provinces that opt in.
Additional requirements include a longer minimum job advertisement period of eight weeks in the last three months (versus four weeks under the high-wage stream), recruitment efforts targeting underrepresented groups, targeted youth recruitment (ages 15–30), and inviting all Job Bank matches rated two stars or more. Employers hiring under the low-wage stream are also expected to provide suitable and affordable housing and cover the round-trip transportation costs of foreign workers.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program operates on the basis that a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) with a positive or neutral outcome is required before a work permit can be issued or renewed, and the permit applies only to the employer and role specified. As Canada’s regional labor markets evolve, Maple News will continue to monitor developments and their implications for employers, domestic workers, and regional economies.