published on 7 May 2026 @ 1:28 pm · COMMENT

TR to PR Program Excludes Workers in Canada’s Largest Cities

Canada’s new Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) pathway will exclude temporary workers living in major urban centres, Immigration Minister Lena Diab confirmed in an April 18, 2026 interview. The restriction applies to all Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs), effectively removing eligibility for workers in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.

CMAs are defined by Statistics Canada as urban regions with at least 100,000 residents, and together account for a large majority of Canada’s population. The exclusion therefore significantly narrows the program’s focus toward smaller communities and rural labour markets.

The TR to PR pathway is a one-time initiative expected to grant permanent residence to 33,000 temporary workers over 2026 and 2027. While full eligibility criteria have not yet been released, the government has indicated that further program details will be announced in the coming weeks.

The policy direction aligns with broader federal efforts to steer immigration away from large cities and toward regional and rural areas, including recent adjustments to temporary foreign worker rules in non-urban communities.

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE