Maple News reports that British Columbia and New Brunswick have opted into the federal government’s temporary policy expansion, granting rural employers more flexibility to hire low-wage temporary foreign workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. They join Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Quebec, which announced participation earlier this month.
The measures run from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Eligible rural employers in participating provinces can choose to either retain their current share of low-wage positions filled by temporary foreign workers—even if that share exceeds the usual 10% cap—or to operate under a 15% cap on the proportion of temporary foreign workers in low-wage roles, up from the standard 10%.
Rural is defined as areas outside Statistics Canada’s census metropolitan areas (CMAs). Provinces will decide whether to participate and which of the two options to apply.
British Columbia and New Brunswick have each adopted one of the two measures, though officials have not yet disclosed which option each province chose.
As some provinces are expected to announce details in the coming days, others have opted not to participate. The policy is designed to bolster rural economies by alleviating low-wage labor shortages in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and resource-based industries.
Maple News will monitor the rollout and report updates on how these measures affect employers and temporary workers in rural communities.