Maple News reports that Nova Scotia and Quebec are the first provinces to opt into Canada’s new temporary policy aimed at rural employers, allowing them to retain or increase their share of low-wage temporary foreign workers. The policy, enacted on April 1, 2026, defines rural areas as those outside census metropolitan areas, per Statistics Canada, and applies to employers in provinces and territories that choose to participate.
Under the policy, eligible rural employers can either retain their current proportion of low-wage positions filled by temporary foreign workers even if it exceeds the usual cap, or benefit from a 15% cap on the proportion of temporary foreign workers in low-wage positions instead of the standard 10% cap. The measures are voluntary and will apply only in regions that opt in.
Nova Scotia will implement both measures starting April 14, 2026, across all sectors, enabling rural employers to maintain or expand their low-wage temporary workforce beyond the standard thresholds.
Quebec has implemented one of the two measures starting April 1, 2026, across all sectors. Details on which specific measure Quebec is adopting are not fully specified in the current release, and Maple News will monitor for official clarification as the policy rolls out.
Maple News will continue to track this policy and provide guidance for employers navigating these changes, including implications for rural labor markets and compliance requirements.