Key takeaways
- ESDC’s page shows “Rates updated: October 9, 2026”. The next update is January 8, 2027
- Low-wage LMIA applications are not processed if the wage is below the provincial or territorial threshold and the job is in a CMA with unemployment of 6% or higher
- 30 of 41 CMAs are at 6.0% or higher for applications submitted from October 9, 2026 to January 7, 2027. The July 10 to October 8 period had 26
- Added: Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines-Niagara, Regina and Lethbridge. Removed: Kamloops and Chilliwack
- Exempt: primary agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, nursing and residential care, some in-home caregiver jobs, PR-support-only LMIAs and short jobs of about 120 days or less
- No processing fee is charged if an LMIA is refused for processing
What the measure says
ESDC explains the rule on its page Refusal to process low-wage LMIA applications. Service Canada will not process an application if both of these are true:
- the wage is below the provincial or territorial wage threshold, and
- the work location is in a CMA with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher at the time the LMIA is submitted.
ESDC says the measure applies to applications submitted as of September 26, 2024. The new column in the table is titled “Unemployment rate (%) in effect for applications submitted from October 9, 2026, to January 7, 2027.” The page says the next update will take place on January 8, 2027.
An LMIA is a document an employer may need before hiring a foreign worker. It is the employer who applies, not the worker.
What changed on October 9
Six cities moved up to 6% or higher. Two moved back below 6%. The count went from 26 to 30.
| City (CMA) | Previous period | October 9, 2026 to January 7, 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | 5.9% | 6.1% | Added |
| Fredericton | 5.3% | 6.2% | Added |
| Kingston | 5.3% | 6.3% | Added |
| St. Catharines-Niagara | 5.8% | 6.5% | Added |
| Regina | 5.9% | 6.7% | Added |
| Lethbridge | 5.4% | 6.0% | Added |
| Kamloops | 7.0% | 3.6% | Removed |
| Chilliwack | 7.9% | 5.6% | Removed |
Lethbridge is exactly 6.0%, and the rule says “6% or higher”, so it counts.
Cities at 6% or higher (low-wage LMIAs not processed)
| Province | City (CMA) and unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | St. John’s 6.4% |
| Nova Scotia | Halifax 6.1% |
| New Brunswick | Moncton 8.1%, Fredericton 6.2% |
| Quebec | Montréal 7.2% |
| Ontario | Ottawa-Gatineau 7.9%, Kingston 6.3%, Belleville - Quinte West 6.4%, Peterborough 6.3%, Oshawa 9.8%, Toronto 7.5%, Hamilton 7.4%, St. Catharines-Niagara 6.5%, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo 7.6%, Brantford 6.3%, Guelph 7.5%, London 9.1%, Windsor 7.9%, Barrie 6.2%, Greater Sudbury 6.2% |
| Saskatchewan | Regina 6.7%, Saskatoon 6.5% |
| Alberta | Lethbridge 6.0%, Calgary 6.4%, Red Deer 6.9%, Edmonton 7.6% |
| British Columbia | Kelowna 8.6%, Abbotsford-Mission 7.6%, Vancouver 7.0%, Nanaimo 6.6% |
Cities below 6% (still processable)
| City (CMA) | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| Saint John | 5.5% |
| Saguenay | 3.7% |
| Québec | 4.3% |
| Sherbrooke | 4.2% |
| Trois-Rivières | 5.7% |
| Drummondville | 3.8% |
| Thunder Bay | 4.6% |
| Winnipeg | 5.9% |
| Kamloops | 3.6% |
| Chilliwack | 5.6% |
| Victoria | 5.8% |
These 11 cities plus the 30 above make 41 CMAs in the table.
Exemptions and how to check a location
ESDC lists these exemptions from the measure:
- primary agriculture
- construction (NAICS 23)
- food manufacturing (NAICS 311)
- hospitals (NAICS 622)
- nursing and residential care (NAICS 623)
- specific in-home caregiver occupations (NOC 31301, 32101, 44100 and 44101)
- LMIAs that only support a permanent residence application (no work permit)
- short-duration positions, generally 120 calendar days or less, that are truly temporary or highly mobile. A written “Exemption request” is required
To check a job location, enter the full postal code in Statistics Canada’s Census of population geography search. If the “Census metropolitan area / Census agglomeration” level shows a census agglomeration, or no value, the application remains eligible. If it shows a CMA, check the table above.
If an LMIA is refused for processing, no processing fee is charged. The employer gets a letter with the reason. Montréal and Laval also have a separate Quebec low-wage measure. This post does not cover it.
What this means for you
- You have a low-wage job offer in a listed city: your employer may not be able to get an LMIA processed. Ask the employer if the wage is above the provincial or territorial threshold, or if an exemption applies.
- Your job is in a city below 6%: the measure does not stop processing there for this period.
- You are using a high-wage LMIA, a provincial nominee program or Express Entry: this measure by itself does not change those routes. It applies to low-wage LMIA applications.
The list can change again on January 8, 2027.
What to do next
- Read ESDC’s page linked above for the full table and the exemption rules.
- Find the CMA for your job’s postal code with the Statistics Canada tool.
- Talk to your employer about the wage level and any exemption.
- Read our guides on Job Bank and employment programs, work permits and Express Entry.
Frequently asked questions
Which cities cannot get low-wage LMIAs in October 2026?
30 CMAs at 6.0% or higher, from St. John’s to Nanaimo. See the table above. Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Montréal are all on the list.
How long does this list apply?
For applications submitted from October 9, 2026 to January 7, 2027. ESDC says the next update is January 8, 2027.
What is a low-wage position?
A position with a wage below the provincial or territorial wage threshold. This post does not list the wage figures.
Do I pay a fee if the LMIA is refused for processing?
No. ESDC says no processing fee is charged, and the employer gets a letter with the reason.
Does this affect Express Entry or PNP?
Not by itself. The measure applies to low-wage LMIA applications.
Sources
- ESDC: Refusal to process low-wage LMIA applications (rates updated October 9, 2026)
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.
