Canada Removes 17 Referral Partners From Global Talent Stream: What Employers Need to Know

Canada has reduced the number of designated referral partners under Category A of the Global Talent Stream (GTS), making it necessary for some employers to find alternative organizations when hiring specialized foreign workers.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated its list of designated referral partners on September 15, 2026, removing 17 organizations. This represents a 29% reduction, bringing the total number of designated partners down from 58 to 41.

The change affects Canadian employers seeking a mandatory referral before submitting a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under Category A of the Global Talent Stream, which operates under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

The Global Talent Stream offers expedited processing for eligible employers and foreign workers. The federal government aims to process 80% of eligible LMIA applications and qualifying work permit applications within 10 business days each.

Which Global Talent Stream Referral Partners Have Been Removed?

The latest update removes 17 organizations from the designated referral partner list. Ontario has experienced the largest reduction, accounting for eight of the removed organizations.

The following organizations are no longer listed as designated referral partners.

British Columbia

• Kootenay Association for Science & Technology
• Launch Academy

Manitoba

- Tech Manitoba

New Brunswick

• Ignite Fredericton
• Venn Innovation

Newfoundland and Labrador

- Genesis

Nova Scotia

- Cape Breton Partnership

Ontario

• Burlington Economic Development Corporation
• Communitech Corporation
• 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 Organizations

• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Industry Skills Directorate
• TECHNATION
  
  

Employers who previously relied on these organizations will need to obtain referrals from other designated partners.

They may approach an eligible regional organization or one of the remaining Pan-Canadian referral partners that serve employers across Canada.

Current Designated Referral Partners Under the Global Talent Stream

Following the September 2026 update, Canada has 41 designated referral partners available under Category A of the Global Talent Stream.

These organizations are distributed across different provinces and territories, with several operating nationally.

Alberta

Calgary Economic Development, Edmonton Metropolitan Region Economic Development Company (Edmonton Global), and the Government of Alberta.

Atlantic Canada

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, which operates through multiple locations across the region.

British Columbia

Accelerate Okanagan, BC Tech Association, Metro Vancouver Regional District/Invest Vancouver, and Venture Kamloops.

Manitoba

Economic Development Winnipeg and the 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, and Halifax Partnership.

Ontario

Ontario continues to have several designated referral partners, including:

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, Regional Municipality of York, Toronto Global, and Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation.

Pan-Canadian Referral Partners

The following organizations provide referral services to eligible employers across Canada:

Business Development Bank of Canada, 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), and 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, Québec International, and Investissement Québec.

Quebec's three partners designated by the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) are consolidated under one entry on ESDC's federal list, although they are separate organizations.

Saskatchewan

Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Immigration and Career Training.

What About Employers in Regions Without Designated Partners?

Following the latest changes, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, and Yukon do not have specifically designated regional referral partners listed under Category A.

However, employers in these locations may still access the Global Talent Stream by contacting an eligible Pan-Canadian referral partner.

Employers in Newfoundland and Labrador can also approach the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for assistance.

What Is Category A of the Global Talent Stream?

Category A of the Global Talent Stream allows eligible Canadian employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers for unique and specialized positions.

It is intended for innovative companies that need specialized international talent to support business development and growth.

To qualify under Category A, both the employer and the foreign worker must meet specific eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Requirements for Foreign Workers

A unique and specialized position under Category A must meet the applicable requirements, including:

• An annual base salary of at least $80,000 or the prevailing wage for the occupation, whichever is higher.
• Advanced knowledge of the relevant industry.
• An advanced degree in an area of specialization relevant to the employer and/or at least five years of specialized experience in the field.
  
  

Eligibility Requirements for Canadian Employers

Employers seeking to use Category A must operate in Canada, focus on innovation, demonstrate the willingness and capacity to grow, and seek to fill a unique and specialized position.

They must also obtain a referral from an eligible designated referral partner before submitting their LMIA application.

The referral process helps establish whether the employer meets the program's eligibility requirements and has identified a qualified foreign worker for the position.

How Can Employers Apply Under Category A?

Employers seeking to hire foreign workers through Category A must follow the required referral and LMIA application process.

Step 1: Obtain a Referral

The employer must contact an eligible designated referral partner and obtain a referral for Category A.

Step 2: Submit an LMIA Application

After receiving the referral, the employer can submit an LMIA application to ESDC. A separate referral form must be included for each temporary foreign worker.

Step 3: Receive an LMIA Decision

ESDC reviews the application and determines whether the employer meets the applicable program requirements.

If the LMIA is approved, the employer receives a positive LMIA decision letter.

Step 4: Apply for a Work Permit

The employer provides the foreign worker with a copy of the positive LMIA decision letter. The worker can then use it to support their work permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

How Long Does Global Talent Stream Processing Take?

One of the major benefits of the Global Talent Stream is expedited processing for eligible applications.

ESDC aims to process 80% of eligible Global Talent Stream LMIA applications within 10 business days.

After receiving a positive LMIA, eligible foreign workers may benefit from IRCC's separate 10-business-day work permit processing standard.

These are processing targets rather than guaranteed timelines. Actual processing times may vary depending on the application and individual circumstances.

Does Category B of the Global Talent Stream Require a Referral?

No. The changes to designated referral partners apply to Category A of the Global Talent Stream.

Category B allows eligible Canadian employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers in occupations included on the Global Talent Occupations List.

Unlike Category A, employers applying under Category B do not need to obtain a referral from a designated referral partner.

They must still meet the applicable Global Talent Stream eligibility requirements.

What Do These Changes Mean for Canadian Employers?

The reduction in designated referral partners means some Canadian employers will need to adjust their hiring process when recruiting specialized foreign workers through Category A.

Employers that previously worked with an organization removed from the list will need to identify another eligible referral partner before proceeding with their LMIA application.

However, the Global Talent Stream continues to offer expedited processing for employers and foreign workers who meet the program's requirements.

Final Thoughts

Canada's decision to remove 17 designated referral partners from Category A of the Global Talent Stream reduces the number of organizations authorized to provide mandatory referrals from 58 to 41.

Although employers in some regions now have fewer referral options, they can still approach other designated regional or Pan-Canadian organizations.