The Liberal government is reintroducing pre-pandemic immigration regulations that will make it more challenging for businesses to hire low-wage workers from outside Canada.
Effective September 26, 2024, the government will not accept applications for low-wage temporary foreign workers in regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.
Additionally, the allowable proportion of temporary foreign workers within a company’s workforce will be reduced from 20% to 10%.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained that the previous relaxation of these rules was intended to assist businesses dealing with labor shortages during the pandemic. However, in response to ongoing criticism, the government is reverting to stricter policies to ensure a greater focus on local employment.
There will be exceptions to these new rules for specific sectors, including health care and construction, where labor shortages persist.
