Rural Employers Gain Hiring Flexibility in Two Provinces

British Columbia and New Brunswick have taken new steps to help rural employers fill job vacancies. Both provinces have joined a temporary federal policy that gives businesses more flexibility to hire low-wage temporary foreign workers.

Earlier this month, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Quebec also signed on to the same program. Officials expect a few more provinces to announce their decisions soon, while others have chosen not to take part.

What changes in British Columbia

British Columbia plans to roll out its part of the policy starting May 4, 2026. The province will apply one key measure across all industries.

Under this change, eligible rural employers can keep their current share of low-wage jobs filled by temporary foreign workers, even if that number goes beyond the usual limit. This move will help businesses maintain their workforce levels without making sudden cuts.

However, British Columbia has decided not to raise the cap to 15 per cent at this time.

What changes in New Brunswick

New Brunswick has already started its version of the policy as of April 23, 2026. The province will also apply its measure across all sectors.

Employers in rural areas can now hire temporary foreign workers for up to 15 per cent of their low-wage positions. This marks an increase from the usual 10 per cent cap.

Unlike British Columbia, New Brunswick has not adopted the measure that allows employers to keep their existing higher proportions.

Rules still apply for employers

Not every employer will qualify automatically under the new rules. Businesses must still meet all standard program requirements.

Employers need to prove they tried to hire Canadian citizens or permanent residents before turning to foreign workers. This condition remains a key part of the hiring process.

The new flexibility will only apply to Labour Market Impact Assessments submitted after the policy takes effect in each province. Applications filed earlier will not qualify.

In addition, these changes do not cover low-wage roles under the permanent resident dual-intent stream.

Some sectors already have higher limits

Certain industries already operate under a higher cap of 20 per cent and will continue under the same rules. These include construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, and nursing or residential care facilities.

Some in-home caregiver roles also fall under separate categories, including positions such as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, childcare providers, and personal support workers.

Mixed response across the country

While several provinces have welcomed the temporary policy, others have chosen a different path. Alberta and Nunavut have decided not to participate at this time.

The federal government introduced these measures to help rural communities address ongoing labour shortages. The policy aims to support businesses while keeping a balance between local hiring and foreign recruitment.