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Canada Raises Wage Thresholds for Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
- Open Canada Immigration
- Jul 1
- 2 min read
New Rates Effective as of June 27, 2025
What’s Changing?
On June 27, 2025, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated the wage thresholds that determine eligibility under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
This change affects both:
Which stream a foreign worker falls under (High-wage vs. Low-wage), and
Whether employers can apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for certain jobs in specific regions.
🔍 Updated Wage Thresholds by Province
The following wage thresholds are now in effect for LMIA applications submitted on or after June 27, 2025:
Province/Territory | Old Wage (CAD/h) | New Wage (CAD/h) | Increase (%) |
British Columbia | $34.62 | $36.60 | +5.71% |
Ontario | $34.07 | $36.00 | +5.66% |
Quebec | $32.96 | $34.62 | +5.04% |
Alberta | $35.40 | $36.00 | +1.69% |
Manitoba | $30.00 | $30.16 | +0.53% |
✅ Your hourly wage determines your stream:
At or above the new threshold → High-Wage Stream
Below the threshold → Low-Wage Stream
⚠️ Moratorium on Low-Wage LMIA in High-Unemployment Regions
Since September 26, 2024, the government has paused processing low-wage LMIAs in regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.
With the increased thresholds, some jobs that were previously “high-wage” may now fall under “low-wage,” making them ineligible for an LMIA in these regions.
📍 Affected Cities (LMIA Ban for Low-Wage Jobs)
Here are some of the Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) where low-wage LMIAs are currently not allowed:
City | Unemployment Rate (%) |
Toronto | 8.6% ❌ |
Vancouver | 6.6% ❌ |
Montreal | 6.7% ❌ |
Calgary | 7.8% ❌ |
Kitchener-Waterloo | 8.5% ❌ |
Windsor | 9.3% ❌ |
Peterborough | 9.9% ❌ |
🛑 LMIA applications for low-wage roles in these cities are not accepted.
📅 This restriction is currently in place until at least July 10, 2025.
📝 Final Thoughts
The new wage thresholds apply starting June 27, 2025
Double check your wage level to determine stream eligibility
If your job now falls under the low-wage stream, be aware of regional moratoriums
Employers and workers should verify local unemployment rates and prepare alternative plans if affected
Canada Raises Wage Thresholds for Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
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