Complete CMA Table, City-by-City Status & Action Plans for Employers and Workers
Current Period: April 10, 2026 – July 9, 2026 | Next Update: July 10, 2026 | Source: ESDC Canada.ca
Canada’s updated Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) unemployment rates for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) are now in effect — and this quarter marks one of the sharpest contractions since the policy was introduced in September 2024.
Effective April 10, 2026, through July 9, 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will not process low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications in any CMA where the unemployment rate sits at or above 6%. The number of eligible cities has dropped from 17 last quarter to just 11 — meaning 30 of Canada’s 41 tracked metropolitan areas are now fully restricted for low-wage hiring through the TFWP.
This affects employers across virtually every major Canadian city. Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Halifax, Winnipeg — all are currently restricted. If you are a Canadian employer trying to fill a low-wage position, or a foreign worker waiting on a work permit supported by a low-wage LMIA, this guide covers everything you need to know: which cities are open, which are closed, what changed this quarter, and exactly what your next steps should be.
All data in this article is sourced directly from the official ESDC refusal-to-process page on Canada.ca, last verified April 13, 2026.
1. The 6% Threshold Rule — How It Works
The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document Canadian employers must obtain from ESDC before hiring most temporary foreign workers. For low-wage positions — where the offered wage falls below the provincial or territorial median hourly wage — ESDC applies an additional restriction based on regional unemployment data.
When a CMA’s unemployment rate reaches or exceeds 6% at the time an LMIA is submitted, that application will not be processed. This is not a scoring factor or a discretionary assessment — it is an automatic administrative block.
| ⚠️ Three conditions must all be true for the restriction to apply: (1) The offered wage is below the provincial or territorial median hourly wage. (2) The work location falls inside a Census Metropolitan Area — not a Census Agglomeration or rural area. (3) The CMA’s unemployment rate is at or above 6% on the date the LMIA application is submitted — not the date the job offer was made. |
The rates are sourced from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey and are refreshed every three months. The current set took effect on April 10, 2026, and will remain in force until July 9, 2026. Rates applicable on the submission date are what count — not future projections.
2. How to Check If Your Work Location Is Restricted
Before submitting any low-wage LMIA application, verify your work location’s CMA status using this two-step process:
- Go to Statistics Canada’s Census of Population geography search tool at statcan.gc.ca and enter the complete postal code of the work location.
- On the results page, look for the geographic level labelled ‘Census Metropolitan Area / Census Agglomeration.’ If this level does not appear, the location is not in a CMA and the application is eligible. If the result shows Census Agglomeration — eligible. If it shows Census Metropolitan Area — check the table in Section 3 for the current rate.
| ✅ Quick Decision Rule: Census Agglomeration shown = ELIGIBLE. No CMA/CA shown = ELIGIBLE. Census Metropolitan Area shown + rate below 6% = ELIGIBLE. Census Metropolitan Area shown + rate 6% or higher = APPLICATION WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. |
3. Quarterly Update Cycle — Where We Are Now
CMA unemployment rates are updated by ESDC every three months. Each quarterly set applies to all LMIA applications submitted within that window — regardless of when the job offer was made or when the worker intends to start.
| Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 ← YOU ARE HERE | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2025 – Jan 8, 2026 | Apr 10, 2026 – Jul 9, 2026 ⭐ CURRENT | Jul 10, 2026 – Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 10, 2026 – Jan 8, 2027 |
| Rates published Jan 9, 2026 | Rates published Apr 10, 2026 | Rates publish Jul 10, 2026 | Rates publish Oct 10, 2026 |
The submission date is what determines which quarterly rate applies. An application submitted on April 9, 2026, would use the January 9 – April 9 rates. The same application submitted one day later on April 10, 2026, would be assessed using the current April 10 – July 9 rates. Timing within the quarterly cycle can make a significant difference to eligibility.
4. Complete CMA Unemployment Rate Table — April to July 2026
The table below lists all 41 CMAs tracked by ESDC. Red rows are currently restricted for low-wage LMIA processing (rate at or above 6%). Green rows are eligible (rate below 6%). The ‘Change’ column flags CMAs that are newly restricted (🔴 NEW) or newly eligible (🟢 NEW) compared to the previous quarter.
| Census Metropolitan Area | Apr 10 – Jul 9, 2026 | Jan 9 – Apr 9, 2026 | Oct 10 – Jan 8, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John’s, NL | 7.6% | 7.1% | 6.8% | |
| Halifax, NS | 6.1% | 5.2% | 6.1% | 🔴 NEW |
| Moncton, NB | 7.4% | 5.5% | 7.3% | 🔴 NEW |
| Saint John, NB | 6.0% | 5.8% | 7.3% | 🔴 NEW |
| Fredericton, NB | 6.5% | 5.2% | 6.7% | 🔴 NEW |
| Saguenay, QC | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.2% | |
| Québec City, QC | 3.3% | 2.9% | 4.6% | |
| Sherbrooke, QC | 5.2% | 4.8% | 5.3% | |
| Trois-Rivières, QC | 5.2% | 3.9% | 5.1% | |
| Drummondville, QC | 7.3% | 5.6% | 4.7% | 🔴 NEW |
| Montréal, QC ⚠️ | 6.8% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 🔴 NEW |
| Ottawa-Gatineau, ON/QC | 6.2% | 6.8% | 7.7% | |
| Kingston, ON | 6.2% | 5.6% | 6.6% | 🔴 NEW |
| Belleville–Quinte West, ON | 7.9% | 10.6% | 6.6% | |
| Peterborough, ON | 6.3% | 5.3% | 5.6% | 🔴 NEW |
| Oshawa, ON | 7.5% | 8.0% | 9.5% | |
| Toronto, ON | 7.9% | 7.5% | 9.5% | |
| Hamilton, ON | 6.7% | 6.4% | 7.6% | |
| St. Catharines–Niagara, ON | 7.2% | 6.5% | 7.0% | |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, ON | 9.1% | 8.1% | 7.4% | |
| Brantford, ON | 6.8% | 8.5% | 9.4% | |
| Guelph, ON | 6.5% | 7.4% | 9.2% | |
| London, ON | 9.3% | 7.3% | 7.0% | |
| Windsor, ON | 8.8% | 7.1% | 11.3% | |
| Barrie, ON | 8.8% | 8.7% | 7.5% | |
| Greater Sudbury, ON | 6.4% | 6.0% | 7.0% | |
| Thunder Bay, ON | 5.9% | 4.2% | 5.1% | |
| Winnipeg, MB | 6.0% | 5.7% | 7.3% | 🔴 NEW |
| Regina, SK | 6.4% | 6.3% | 6.8% | |
| Saskatoon, SK | 5.5% | 5.8% | 5.7% | |
| Lethbridge, AB | 5.9% | 7.2% | 8.5% | 🟢 NEW |
| Calgary, AB | 7.1% | 6.3% | 8.0% | |
| Red Deer, AB | 5.9% | 8.9% | 8.7% | 🟢 NEW |
| Edmonton, AB | 7.0% | 6.9% | 9.0% | |
| Kelowna, BC | 8.9% | 8.5% | 6.0% | |
| Kamloops, BC | 5.2% | 6.6% | 8.6% | 🟢 NEW |
| Chilliwack, BC | 5.7% | 7.3% | 7.8% | 🟢 NEW |
| Abbotsford–Mission, BC | 6.2% | 6.4% | 8.1% | |
| Vancouver, BC | 6.5% | 5.9% | 6.8% | 🔴 NEW |
| Victoria, BC | 4.9% | 3.7% | 5.2% | |
| Nanaimo, BC | 7.2% | 6.3% | 9.7% |
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), official refusal-to-process page, Canada.ca. Rates last updated April 10, 2026.
5. Province-by-Province LMIA Access — Quick Reference
The table below summarises which CMAs are restricted and eligible in each province, making it easier to identify opportunities by region without scrolling through the full table.
| Province | Restricted CMAs | Eligible CMAs | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Toronto, London, KCW, Windsor, Barrie, Hamilton + 9 more | Thunder Bay (5.9%) | Most restricted province — 14 of 15 CMAs blocked |
| British Columbia | Vancouver, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Abbotsford-Mission | Kamloops (5.2%), Chilliwack (5.7%), Victoria (4.9%) | Mixed — coast restricted, interior opening up |
| Alberta | Calgary (7.1%), Edmonton (7.0%) | Lethbridge (5.9%), Red Deer (5.9%) | 2 major cities blocked, 2 smaller cities newly open |
| Quebec | Montréal (6.8%), Drummondville (7.3%) | Québec City (3.3%), Saguenay, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières | Outside Montréal, Quebec is the most accessible province |
| Manitoba | Winnipeg (6.0%) — newly restricted | None | Entire province effectively closed this quarter |
| Saskatchewan | Regina (6.4%) | Saskatoon (5.5%) | One city open, one restricted |
| Atlantic Canada | Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton | None | All 4 Atlantic CMAs restricted — entire region closed |
| 📌 Key Takeaway: Quebec (outside Montréal) is currently the most accessible province for low-wage LMIA hiring, with four eligible CMAs including Québec City at a low 3.3%. Ontario is the most restricted, with 14 of 15 CMAs blocked. Atlantic Canada is entirely closed this quarter. |
6. What Changed This Quarter
10 CMAs Newly Restricted (Were Eligible Last Quarter)
These ten regions crossed above the 6% threshold this quarter, closing off low-wage LMIA access for April 10 through July 9, 2026:
- Halifax, Nova Scotia — rose from 5.2% to 6.1%
- Moncton, New Brunswick — rose from 5.5% to 7.4%
- Saint John, New Brunswick — rose from 5.8% to 6.0%
- Fredericton, New Brunswick — rose from 5.2% to 6.5%
- Drummondville, Quebec — rose from 5.6% to 7.3%
- Montréal, Quebec — rose from 5.5% to 6.8%
- Kingston, Ontario — rose from 5.6% to 6.2%
- Peterborough, Ontario — rose from 5.3% to 6.3%
- Winnipeg, Manitoba — rose from 5.7% to 6.0%
- Vancouver, British Columbia — rose from 5.9% to 6.5%
Montréal’s increase is particularly significant — it is Canada’s second-largest metropolitan area and a major hub for employer-sponsored hiring. All four New Brunswick CMAs are now restricted, effectively closing the entire province for low-wage LMIA access this quarter.
4 CMAs Newly Eligible (Were Restricted Last Quarter)
These four regions dropped below the 6% threshold, reopening low-wage LMIA processing for this quarter:
- Lethbridge, Alberta — dropped from 7.2% to 5.9%
- Red Deer, Alberta — dropped from 8.9% to 5.9% (largest single-quarter improvement on the list)
- Kamloops, British Columbia — dropped from 6.6% to 5.2%
- Chilliwack, British Columbia — dropped from 7.3% to 5.7%
| ⏰ Act Before July 10: Employers in Lethbridge, Red Deer, Kamloops, and Chilliwack now have a window to access the low-wage TFWP stream. Rates refresh on July 10, 2026 — eligibility is not guaranteed next quarter. |
7. Employer Action Checklist
If you are a Canadian employer planning to submit a low-wage LMIA application, work through the checklist below before filing. Missing any of these steps is the most common reason for delays and refusals.
| Employer Action Checklist — Before You Submit Your LMIA | |
| 1 | Find the complete postal code of the work location. |
| 2 | Go to Statistics Canada’s Census of Population geography search tool (statcan.gc.ca) and enter the postal code. |
| 3 | Check the geographic result: Census Agglomeration = eligible. No CMA shown = eligible. Census Metropolitan Area = proceed to Step 4. |
| 4 | Find your CMA in the table above. If the April 2026 rate is 6% or higher = your low-wage LMIA will not be processed. |
| 5 | If restricted: consider the high-wage stream (requires wage at or above the provincial median + Transition Plan), or check if your sector qualifies for an exemption. |
| 6 | If eligible: submit promptly. Rates refresh on July 10, 2026, and your CMA’s status may change. |
| 7 | Confirm the offered wage meets provincial median requirements. Wage compliance must be fully documented regardless of stream. |
| 8 | Review advertising obligations — minimum recruitment steps must be completed and documented before LMIA submission. |
| 💡 High-Wage Alternative: If your CMA is restricted, consider whether you can raise the offered wage to meet or exceed the provincial median hourly wage. A high-wage LMIA is not subject to the 6% CMA restriction. However, it requires a Transition Plan outlining how you will reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers over time. Consult an RCIC or immigration lawyer before switching streams. |
8. Foreign Worker Action Checklist
If you are a foreign worker whose work permit application depends on a low-wage LMIA, use this checklist to understand where you stand and what to do next.
| Foreign Worker Action Checklist — What To Do Right Now | |
| 1 | Ask your prospective employer which LMIA stream they plan to use — low-wage or high-wage. The unemployment rate restriction applies only to low-wage applications. |
| 2 | Confirm the offered wage. If it is below the provincial or territorial median hourly wage, the position is low-wage and your employer must verify the CMA rate before applying. |
| 3 | If the employer’s city is currently restricted (see table), ask whether they can offer the high-wage rate or apply under an exempt sector before you commit to relocating or resigning from a current position. |
| 4 | If you are already in Canada on a valid work permit, visitor record, or study permit in a restricted CMA — your current status is not affected. The restriction applies to new LMIA submissions only. |
| 5 | If your employer’s CMA is newly eligible (Lethbridge, Red Deer, Kamloops, Chilliwack), act before July 10, 2026. Rates change quarterly and eligibility is not guaranteed next cycle. |
| 6 | Do not rely on a job offer alone. Until your employer has a valid, positive LMIA in hand, your work permit application cannot proceed under the TFWP. |
| 7 | If you are uncertain about your situation — especially if you are already inside Canada — consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer before making any decisions. |
9. Sector Exemptions — Who Can Still Apply in Restricted CMAs
Even in CMAs where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher, LMIA applications for the following sectors and occupations remain eligible for processing. These exemptions apply regardless of the CMA unemployment rate.
| Sector / Occupation | NAICS / NOC Code | LMIA Status |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Agriculture / SAWP | All NAICS — primary agriculture | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Construction | NAICS 23 | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Food Manufacturing | NAICS 311 | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Hospitals | NAICS 622 | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Nursing & Residential Care | NAICS 623 | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Registered Nurse / Psychiatric Nurse | NOC 31301 | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | NOC 32101 | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Home Childcare Provider | NOC 44100 | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Home Support / Personal Care / Caregiver | NOC 44101 | Exempt in all CMAs |
| Short-Duration / Highly Mobile Positions | 120 calendar days or less | Exempt with written justification |
| Rural Areas (New — April 1, 2026) | Participating provinces/territories | Temporary measures available — see ESDC |
Important notes on exemptions:
- Even when an exemption applies, all other standard LMIA requirements remain in force — including advertising obligations, wage compliance, and workplace safety standards.
- For short-duration / highly mobile positions, you must submit a written justification document named ‘Exemption request’ along with your LMIA application explaining how the position qualifies.
- The rural areas temporary measure (new April 1, 2026) applies to employers in participating provinces and territories. Check the ESDC temporary measures page for the list of eligible areas and conditions.
- For in-home caregiver positions in CMAs in Quebec, an additional exemption applies when the caregiver is needed for a person with documented medical needs — a physician’s note is required.
10. Special Rule: Montréal and Laval Economic Regions
In addition to the standard 6% CMA restriction, Montréal and Laval are subject to a separate, additional temporary refusal-to-process measure for low-wage positions — one that applies specifically to the economic regions of Montréal and Laval as defined by ESDC.
This is a distinct restriction from the unemployment rate rule covered throughout this article. It was introduced as a targeted measure for Quebec’s two largest urban areas and operates independently of the quarterly rate update cycle.
Employers planning to hire low-wage temporary foreign workers in the municipalities covered by the Montréal and Laval economic regions should review the dedicated ESDC page on ‘Hiring in the province of Quebec’ for the full list of affected municipalities and the conditions of this measure before submitting any application.
| ⚠️ Note for Montréal Employers: Montréal faces two separate restrictions this quarter — the standard 6% CMA rule (currently at 6.8%) AND the separate Montréal/Laval economic region measure. Both must be considered before submitting a low-wage LMIA for any work location in or around Montréal. |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can an employer switch to a high-wage LMIA to avoid the 6% restriction?
Yes — if the employer can raise the offered wage to meet or exceed the provincial or territorial median hourly wage, the application moves to the high-wage stream and the CMA unemployment rate restriction no longer applies. However, the high-wage stream requires a Transition Plan demonstrating how the employer will reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers over time. All other standard LMIA requirements also remain in effect.
2. What is the difference between a Census Metropolitan Area and a Census Agglomeration?
A Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is a large urban area with a total population of at least 100,000, of which 50,000 or more live in the urban core. A Census Agglomeration (CA) is a smaller urban area with an urban core population of at least 10,000 but below the CMA threshold. The 6% unemployment restriction applies only to CMAs — Census Agglomerations are fully exempt.
3. My LMIA was refused because of the CMA rate. Can I resubmit when the rate drops next quarter?
Yes, but the refused application cannot be reconsidered — you must submit a completely new LMIA application in the new quarterly period when the updated rate is in effect. Each application is assessed based on the unemployment rate applicable on the date it is submitted.
4. Does the CMA restriction affect the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)?
No. Positions under primary agriculture — including those processed through SAWP — are explicitly exempt from this restriction. Agricultural employers can submit LMIA applications regardless of the CMA unemployment rate.
5. I am already working in Canada on a valid work permit in a restricted CMA. Am I affected?
No. The restriction applies to the processing of new low-wage LMIA applications. It does not affect the validity of existing work permits or the status of workers already employed under a previous LMIA. Your current status remains unchanged until your permit expires.
6. Is LMIA closed in Canada right now?
The LMIA program is not closed entirely — but low-wage LMIA processing is restricted in 30 of Canada’s 41 Census Metropolitan Areas this quarter. High-wage LMIAs, agricultural LMIAs, and applications in exempt sectors or non-CMA locations continue to be processed normally. The program also remains fully open in 11 CMAs including Québec City, Saskatoon, Victoria, Kamloops, and others.
7. Will the 6% threshold be changed or removed?
As of April 2026, ESDC has not announced any changes to the 6% threshold. The policy has been in place since September 26, 2024, and has remained consistent through multiple quarterly cycles. Employers and workers should plan on the basis that this measure will continue until a formal policy change is published.
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