Canada Cuts GTS Category A Referral Partners by 29%

Canada Global Talent Stream Category A: 29% cut to designated referral partners — what employers and skilled workers need to know

On September 15, 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated its “Program requirements for the Global Talent Stream” and removed 17 designated referral partners from the Category A list. The pool of organizations that can issue the mandatory referrals required before submitting a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for a Category A specialized worker fell from 58 to 41 (a 29% reduction). Category A referrals validate eligibility for an expedited LMIA route used for unique, highly specialized roles and support the government’s 10-business-day service standard (in 80% of cases) for both LMIAs and related work permits.

How Category A works
Category A of the Global Talent Stream (part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program) is for employers hiring foreign nationals for “unique and specialized” positions. Key requirements include:
– Annual base salary of at least $80,000, or the prevailing wage if higher.
– Advanced industry knowledge plus either an advanced degree in a specialized area or at least five years of specialized experience.
– Employer requirements such as operating in Canada, demonstrating an innovation focus and growth potential, and seeking to fill a unique, specialized role.
Employers must obtain a referral from an ESDC-designated partner before submitting a Category A LMIA. Each temporary foreign worker requires a separate referral form. If ESDC issues a positive LMIA, the employer must provide the LMIA decision letter to the worker for their IRCC work permit application. Category B of the GTS does not require a designated referral partner.

Which referral partners were removed
ESDC’s update lists the organizations that lost designated referral status. Ontario accounted for eight of the removals. The removed partners (organized by region as published) are:
– British Columbia: Kootenay Association for Science & Technology
– Manitoba: Launch Academy Tech Manitoba
– New Brunswick: Ignite Fredericton
– Newfoundland and Labrador: Venn Innovation Genesis
– Nova Scotia: Cape Breton Partnership
– Ontario: Burlington Economic Development Corporation; Communitech; Government of Ontario — Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade – Ontario Investment Office; Invest Brampton; Regional Municipality of Niagara; Sarnia‑Lambton Economic Partnership; Toronto Business Development Centre; Town of Oakville
– Pan‑Canadian: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Industry Skills Directorate; TECHNATION

Employers that previously relied on any of these partners will need to approach another designated partner (regional or one of the remaining pan‑Canadian partners).

Which partners remain designated
ESDC’s published list shows 41 designated partners across provinces, territories and pan‑Canadian bodies. Remaining partners include regional economic development agencies, provincial government departments, and federal pan‑Canadian organizations. As published, they include (by region):
– Alberta: Calgary Economic Development; Edmonton Metropolitan Region Economic Development Company (Edmonton Global); Government of Alberta
– Atlantic Canada: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (multiple locations across the region)
– British Columbia: Accelerate Okanagan; BC Tech Association; Metro Vancouver Regional District/Invest Vancouver; Venture Kamloops Economic Development
– Manitoba: Winnipeg; Government of Manitoba, Labour and Immigration, Employer Services
– New Brunswick: Government of New Brunswick – Department of Post‑Secondary Education, Training and Labour
– Northwest Territories: Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment
– Nova Scotia: Invest Nova Scotia, Canada; Halifax Partnership
– Ontario: City of Mississauga; Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario; Government of Ontario, Labour, Training and Skills Development – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP); Invest in Hamilton; Invest Ottawa; Invest Sudbury; Invest Windsor‑Essex; Kingston Economic Development Corporation; London Economic Development Corporation; MaRS Discovery District; Ontario East Economic Development Commission (OEEDC); Regional Municipality of York; Toronto Global; Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation; Business Development Bank of Canada
– Pan‑Canadian: Council of Canadian Innovators; Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated Growth Service; Invest in Canada; National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC‑IRAP); Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
– Prince Edward Island: Government of Prince Edward Island, Island Investment Development Inc.
– Quebec: Canadian Economic Development for Quebec regions; Association québécoise des technologies (MIFI‑designated); Québec International (MIFI‑designated); Investissement Québec (MIFI‑designated)
– Saskatchewan: Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Immigration and Career Training

ESDC notes Quebec’s MIFI‑designated partners are consolidated under one federal list entry; ESDC’s listing separates them for clarity. The published list shows no specific designated referral partners for Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut or Yukon; employers in those regions should contact a pan‑Canadian partner, and employers in Newfoundland and Labrador may also reach out to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Immediate implications
– Fewer referral sources: Employers that used one of the removed partners can no longer obtain Category A referrals from them.
– Referral requirement unchanged: Employers must still secure a designated partner referral before filing a Category A LMIA.
– Alternative options: Affected employers must seek referrals from another regional partner on the list or from a pan‑Canadian partner.
– Regional coverage gaps: Employers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut and Yukon must use pan‑Canadian partners (or ACOA for Newfoundland and Labrador).

Practical next steps for employers and applicants
– Verify ESDC’s current list: Check the “Program requirements for the Global Talent Stream” page (updated Sept 15, 2026).
– Contact alternative designated partners early: If your prior partner was removed, begin outreach now.
– Prepare separate referral forms: ESDC requires one referral form per temporary foreign worker.
– Keep LMIA decision letters ready: Provide a copy to the worker after a positive LMIA for their IRCC work permit application.
– Factor in service standards: ESDC’s target remains 10 business days in 80% of cases for GTS‑aligned LMIAs; IRCC’s corresponding service standard applies for associated work permits when applications meet program requirements.

Key numbers to remember
– Designated partners after the update: 41 (down from 58).
– Organizations removed: 17 (a 29% reduction).
– ESDC update date: September 15, 2026.
– Category A salary threshold: at least $80,000 annual base salary, or the prevailing wage if higher.
– Processing target: 10 business days in 80% of cases for GTS‑aligned LMIAs and associated IRCC work permits when program requirements are met.

Bottom line
ESDC’s redesignation does not change Category A eligibility criteria, the requirement for a referral before LMIA filing, or the program’s expedited processing objective. What changed is which organizations can provide that referral. Employers and workers should check the updated ESDC list, secure a valid referral from a remaining designated partner, and ensure a separate referral form accompanies each worker’s LMIA submission. Employers in regions affected by partner removals should plan and reach out to pan‑Canadian or alternative regional partners early.

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