Quebec is extending its suspension of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage jobs in Montreal until November 30, 2025, and starting March 3, this will also apply to Laval.
What does this mean?
An LMIA is a document employers need to prove they can’t find a Canadian worker before hiring a foreign worker. During this suspension, Quebec won’t process LMIA applications for low-wage jobs in Montreal or Laval if they pay below $27.47 CAD per hour.
Are there exceptions?
Yes. Employers in these sectors can still apply:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Food processing
- Education
- Health & social services
Also, LMIA applications approved or submitted before September 3, 2024, are not affected.
The bigger picture
The federal government has also placed limits on low-wage LMIA processing in cities where unemployment is above 6%. The next update on affected areas is expected on April 4, 2025.
