Quebec Extends Pause on Low-Wage TFW LMIA Applications

As of March 3, 2025, Quebec has announced that it will extend the temporary suspension of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing for low-wage positions under the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program.

Background

The suspension was implemented last August for a six-month period and was supposed to end on March 3^rd, 2025, but will now remain in effect until November 30, 2025. The goal was to address concerns about the growing number of low-wage foreign workers coming into the region under the TFW Program. The TFW program is intended to fill gaps in the labour market when Canadian workers cannot be found to fill certain job positions. However, Quebec made the decision to suspend LMIA applications to the program to ensure that Canadian employers prioritize local workers for available jobs, while still allowing the program to serve its intended purpose of employing low-wage workers.

Impacted Regions

The LMIA application processing suspension will continue to affect applicants in specific municipalities within the Montréal economic region. Initially this suspension was limited to certain areas, however, the pause will now also include the administrative region of Laval, Quebec. Employers in these areas should be aware that the extension of the suspension will have an impact on their ability to apply for low-wage foreign workers.

The updated list of all affected municipalities include:

• Baie-d’Urfé
• Beaconsfield
• Côte-Saint-Luc
• Dollard-des-Ormeaux
• Dorval
• Hampstead
• Kirkland
• L’Île-Dorval
• Laval
• Montréal
• Montréal East
• Montréal West
• Mount Royal
• Pointe-Claire
• Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
• Senneville
• Westmount

Impact

The suspension applies specifically to LMIA applications for low-wage positions where the wage rate is below Quebec’s set threshold of $27.47 CAD per hour. This means that employers seeking to hire temporary foreign workers for positions in this wage range will not be able to submit LMIA applications in the affected regions during the pause.

Businesses in sectors that rely on low-wage workers may face challenges during this time, however, it is important to note that certain sectors are exempt from this suspension.

Exemptions

Since some industries are essential and cannot be easily filled by local workers, certain sectors are exempt from this suspension. Employers in industries such as agriculture, education, social services, construction, food processing, and healthcare will still be able to submit LMIA applications under the low-wage stream, and these will continue to be processed. Additionally, any LMIA applications submitted before September 3, 2024, and those that have already been approved, will not be affected by the suspension extension.

We will continue to closely monitor this suspension as it is likely to evolve based on Quebec’s economic conditions over the next few months. It is important for both employers and potential workers in the affected regions to stay informed and updated on any changes to the situation. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter located on the bottom of this page to receive timely updates and news right to your inbox.

Contact us for further information regarding this matter