Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest province to opt into the federal government\u2019s temporary public policy, which allows rural employers more flexibility when hiring low-wage temporary foreign workers.<\/p>\n
Only employers in areas outside Newfoundland and Labrador census metropolitan areas, as determined by Statistics Canada, are eligible under this policy.<\/p>\n
Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation About these measures<\/p>\n This temporary policy<\/a>, intended to assist employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program<\/a> (TFWP) in meeting labour market needs in rural areas, was enacted on April 1, 2026.<\/p>\n Eligible rural employers in participating provinces will be able to:<\/p>\n retain their current level of temporary foreign workers in low-wage positions, if it exceeds the 10% cap; and\/or This is an opt-in policy, meaning provinces have the ability to choose whether they wish to participate, and which measure(s) to adopt.<\/p>\n As per an update on the federal government\u2019s webpage<\/a> on June 2, Newfoundland and Labrador will adopt both measures, applicable across all sectors.<\/p>\n The measures will be implemented in the province on June 11, 2026, and are expected to remain in effect until March 31, 2027.<\/p>\n Who does not qualify?<\/p>\n Employers who do not meet all regular TFWP requirements, including demonstrating efforts made to recruit Canadian citizens<\/a> and permanent residents<\/a> first, cannot access these measures.<\/p>\n Employers in Newfoundland and Labrador that are not located in a rural area will not be able to benefit from these measures.<\/p>\n These measures do not apply to rural NL employers that submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment<\/a> (LMIA) before June 11, 2026. The measures will be applied once an eligible employer submits a new LMIA during the effective period of the measures.<\/p>\n Employment and Social Development Canada<\/a> (ESDC) further notes that low-wage positions under the permanent resident dual-intent stream will be excluded from these measures. A dual intent LMIA generally serves two purposes: it supports the foreign worker\u2019s application for permanent residence<\/a> (PR), and helps them apply for a temporary work permit<\/a> so they can work in Canada<\/a> while the PR application is being processed.<\/p>\n Sector-specific exemptions<\/p>\n Certain sectors and subsectors have a 20% cap on the proportion of temporary foreign workers that an employer can hire, which will not be impacted by the updated sector caps under these measures.<\/p>\n These include the following:<\/p>\n Positions in construction (NAICS 23) Registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse (NOC 31301) The impact of Newfoundland and Labrador opting into this policy<\/p>\n These measures may provide support to rural NL employers in sectors that rely on the TFWP, particularly in areas where ongoing labour shortages have left low-wage positions difficult to fill with local workers.<\/p>\n As a result of NL adopting these measures, foreign workers may see new job opportunities in select rural communities, depending on employer eligibility.<\/p>\n Which provinces have already opted in?<\/p>\n Several other provinces have already opted into these measures, including British Columbia<\/a>, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia<\/a>, and Quebec.<\/p>\n Alberta and Nunavut are not participating in these measures.<\/p>\n Participation details from the remaining jurisdictions have yet to be released, but are expected in the near future.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nbenefit from a 15% cap, rather than the standard 10% cap, on the proportion of temporary foreign workers in low-wage positions.<\/p>\n
\nPositions in food manufacturing (NAICS 311)
\nPositions in hospitals (NAICS 622)
\nPositions in nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623)
\nSpecific in-home caregiver positions in a private household under:<\/p>\n
\nLicensed practical nurse (NOC 32101)
\nHome childcare providers (NOC 44100)
\nAttendant for persons with disabilities, home support worker, live-in caregiver, personal care attendant (NOC 44101)<\/p>\n