Foreign Workers in Canada: Recent Announcements Spell Out Significant Changes

Recently, Canada implemented significant changes to its immigration system, particularly affecting foreign workers. The government reduced the validity of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) from 12 to six months and lowered the cap on foreign workers in a company’s workforce from 30% to 20%. Further restrictions were placed on the Low-Wage LMIA stream, including refusing applications in high-unemployment areas and reducing employment duration from two years to one. These measures reflect a shift in public opinion amid a housing and cost-of-living crisis, despite Canada’s need for immigration to support its aging population.