Last Updated On 19 June 2024, 11:53 AM EDT (Toronto Time)
The new increased median hourly wage for the Canada Work Permit under the temporary foreign worker program comes into effect on April 2, 2024.
Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia are the four provinces with the highest new median hourly wage requirement to apply for a LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment).
To apply for a Canadian work permit, foreign nationals must submit an LMIA (labour market impact assessment) from their Canadian employer with their work visa application.
Employers must apply for an LMIA through ESDC (Employment and Social Development of Canada) under either the high-wage or low-wage stream, with each having its own set of procedures based on pay and area.
The provincial or territorial median hourly pay affects whether the job is offered at a greater or lower pay rate than the median hourly salary and determines whether the application is to be submitted for the high-wage LMIA or low-wage LMIA stream.
Below are the new median hourly wage requirements, effective April 2, 2024.
New Canada Median Hourly Wage Requirements For Work Permits
| Province/territory | Median hourly wages effective April 2, 2024 | Median hourly wages before April 2, 2024 | Percentage Change |
| Alberta | $29.50 | $28.85 | 2.25% |
| British Columbia | $28.85 | $27.50 | 4.91% |
| Manitoba | $25.00 | $23.94 | 4.43% |
| New Brunswick | $24.04 | $23.00 | 4.52% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $26.00 | $25.00 | 4.00% |
| Northwest Territories | $39.24 | $38.00 | 3.26% |
| Nova Scotia | $24.00 | $22.97 | 4.48% |
| Nunavut | $35.00 | $35.90 | -2.51% |
| Ontario | $28.39 | $27.00 | 5.15% |
| Prince Edward Island | $24.00 | $22.50 | 6.67% |
| Quebec | $27.47 | $26.00 | 5.65% |
| Saskatchewan | $27.00 | $26.22 | 2.97% |
| Yukon | $36.00 | $35.00 | 2.86% |
New Changes to LMIA-Based Work Permits, Effective May 1, 2024
New changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will also come into effect on May 1, 2024, as announced by Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment.
Starting May 1, 2024:
- To ensure realistic labour market demands, new Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will be valid for six months (down from a year).
- With the exception of the construction and health care industries, all companies designated in the 2022 Workforce Solutions Road Map will reduce the proportion of their entire workforce that can enter through the TFWP’s low wage stream from 30% to 20%.
- Before applying for an LMIA, employers must consider all available options, including recruiting asylum seekers with legal work permits in Canada.
LMIA processing times: 2024
The following are the average processing timeframes for LMIAs as of February 2024.
| Stream | Time in business days |
| Global Talent Stream | 7 |
| Agricultural stream | 12 |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | 6 |
| Permanent resident stream | 73 |
| High-wage stream | 54 |
| Low-wage stream | 54 |
What is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)?
When Canadian businesses are unable to find qualified staff within Canada, they can hire foreign workers through the TFWP.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) assesses employer requests to hire temporary foreign workers through its Service Canada processing centres and conducts Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) to assess the potential influence on the Canadian labour market.
The Program investigates regional and occupation-specific labour market data, employer recruiting and advertising practices, salary and working conditions, labour shortages, and the transfer of skills and knowledge to Canadians.
Following examination, ESDC gives an LMIA to the employer, allowing them to hire a foreign worker.
What is the processing time for a Canadian work permit?
According to the most recent IRCC processing update, 80% of online work permit applications in Canada have been processed in an average of 102 days during the last six months.
Please keep in mind that the processing period for a Canadian work permit varies depending on a number of criteria, including the type of work permit, the location of the application, and the time of year.
Jump Back to Top
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Canada Travel Warnings Now In Effect For 2026
New One-Time CRA Payment Confirmed For June 2026
New OAS Clawback Rules In 2026
New Canada Child Benefit Payment Coming On May 20