Protecting jobs for British Columbians while meeting immediate labour needs

April 20, 2026

The Province is addressing immediate labour needs by supporting rural employers to keep temporary foreign workers, providing short-term stability as they explore domestic recruitment, training and more permanent workforce solutions.

“The Temporary Foreign Worker Program policy changes are intended as a short-term response to immediate labour pressures. B.C. is calling on the federal immigration minister to focus on long-term workforce solutions, not stopgaps, that reflect provincial needs and help communities, especially in rural and remote areas, recruit and retain skilled workers for the long term.”

Focusing on building a skilled workforce long term

Some rural employers are facing immediate recruitment challenges. By opting into the first policy only, the Province is supporting rural employers outside of the census metropolitan areas to retain their existing workers for an additional year, if all other requirements of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are met.

B.C. will not opt in to the second policy, which is the increase of the low-wage cap to 15%. This would allow employers to bring in larger numbers of new temporary foreign workers.

Source: Read the full article here