Nova Scotia & Quebec ease rural work permit rules, i.e., Nova Scotia and Quebec have become the first provinces to take part in a new temporary public policy. This policy allows rural employers to keep or increase the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers they hire.

In this policy, “rural” refers to areas that are outside census metropolitan areas. This definition is based on data from Statistics Canada.

Key Details Of The New Policy

On April 1, the federal government introduced a temporary policy to support employers in rural areas. This policy gives more flexibility to businesses that rely on temporary foreign workers.

Under this policy, eligible rural employers can:

  • retain their current proportion of low-wage positions filled by temporary foreign workers, if it’s above the 10% cap; and/or
  • benefit from a 15% cap, instead of the usual 10% cap, on the proportion of temporary foreign workers in low-wage positions.

However, these benefits are only available in provinces and territories that choose to take part in the policy.

So far, Nova Scotia and Quebec are the first to join. Their approaches are slightly different.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia will apply both parts of the temporary policy starting April 14, 2026. These changes will apply across all sectors in the province.

Eligible rural employers in Nova Scotia will be able to:

  • retain their current proportion of low-wage positions filled by temporary foreign workers, even if above the cap; and
  • use the 15% cap instead of the usual 10%.

This means employers in rural Nova Scotia will have more flexibility to manage their workforce, especially in industries facing worker shortages.

Quebec

Quebec has already started using one part of the policy from April 1, 2026. Like Nova Scotia, the changes apply across all sectors.

Eligible rural employers in Quebec will be able to:

  • retain their current proportion of low-wage positions filled by temporary foreign workers at a given worksite, even if it is above the cap.

At this time, Quebec has not confirmed whether it will adopt the higher 15% cap. This makes its approach more limited compared to Nova Scotia.

Not All Employers Will Qualify Automatically

Being located in a rural area is not enough to qualify for this policy. Employers must also meet all the standard requirements under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

One important condition is that employers must show they tried to hire Canadian citizens and permanent residents before offering jobs to foreign workers.

The policy only applies to Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) submitted during the time the policy is active in a participating province or territory. The policy is temporary and is expected to remain in place until March 31, 2027.

The government has also clarified that certain positions are not included in this policy. Low-wage roles under the permanent resident dual-intent stream are excluded.

A dual-intent LMIA is used when an employer supports both a worker’s permanent residence application and a temporary work permit. This allows the worker to stay and work in Canada while their permanent residence (PR) application is processed.

Other Provinces And Territories Yet To Decide

Many provinces and territories have not yet confirmed whether they will take part in the policy.

These include:

  • Ontario
  • Alberta 
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • New Brunswick
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Yukon
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut

The federal government has stated that more details will be shared once these regions make a decision.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will continue updating its official page as new provinces and territories join the program.

Exemptions

Some industries already have a higher cap of 20% for hiring temporary foreign workers instead of the standard 10%.

These sectors include:

  • NAICS 23 – Positions in construction
  • NAICS 311 – Positions in food manufacturing
  • NAICS 622 – Positions in hospitals
  • NAICS 623 – Positions in nursing and residential care facilities
  • Specific in-home caregiver positions in a private household under:
  • NOC 31301 – Registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse
  • NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurse
  • NOC 44100 – Home childcare providers
  • NOC 44101 – Attendant for persons with disabilities, home support worker, live-in caregiver, personal care attendant

The new temporary policy does not change these existing caps. These sectors will continue to follow their current rules.

Why Is This Update Important?

This policy can help rural employers who depend on temporary foreign workers. Many of these businesses face ongoing labour shortages, especially in low-wage roles.

With more flexibility, employers may find it easier to keep their operations running smoothly.

For foreign workers, this policy may create more job opportunities in rural areas. However, access will depend on whether employers meet all requirements and whether their province has adopted the policy.

Overall, the change offers support to rural communities, but its full impact will depend on how many provinces and territories choose to participate in the coming months.

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