NWT Business Groups warn expiring work permits threaten local jobs

Key Takeaways

• NWT Nominee Program cut to 150 spots in 2025, leaving hundreds of foreign workers at risk.
• New rules require 12-18 months experience and close permit expiry to qualify for permanent status.
• Employers face strict nomination caps: small=1, medium=2, large=4; business groups urge urgent government action.

Business groups in the Northwest Territories (NWT) are raising urgent alarms over a growing crisis: hundreds of foreign workers and the local economy are at risk because of a sharp drop in immigration slots and changes to key rules. As the backbone of many industries, these foreign workers have become essential to keeping businesses running in towns like Yellowknife. Now, with many work permits close to expiring and fewer options to stay, workers and their employers face difficult choices—and time is quickly running out to find answers.

Why Are Work Permits Expiring Such a Big Issue in the NWT?

As reported by VisaVerge.com, NWT Business Groups are not only managers looking for more staff; they’re entire communities that depend on workers who come from other countries. These workers fill jobs that local people sometimes can’t or won’t take, especially in hospitality, retail, construction, and food processing. Without them, businesses face empty workstations and, in many cases, risk closing their doors.

The main route for temporary foreign workers to stop being temporary and become permanent residents is the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP). This program lets territories recommend workers for permanent status if they meet certain rules. However, a new cap on the number of nominations—and tougher rules to even apply—have made it much harder for both workers and employers. The new changes are causing a lot of stress, confusion, and fear in the business community.

What Has Changed in the NTNP for 2025?

Fewer Immigration Slots Than Ever

Starting in 2025, the federal government has cut the NWT’s annual allotment for the Nominee Program to just 150 spots. This is a sharp drop compared to previous years and doesn’t match the needs of employers who rely heavily on foreign staff. In practical terms, this means that many workers who want to stay in the territory may lose that chance, simply because there aren’t enough seats at the table.

Of the 150 available nomination spaces:
– Only 90 were accepted as new applications during a short window from February 27 to March 6.
– The remaining 60 slots were filled by people who had applied last year but didn’t get a spot back then because too many people applied.

Once these spots are gone, there’s no more room for anyone else until the next intake—leaving hundreds with expiring work permits and no way forward.

Tougher Rules for Who Can Apply

It’s no longer enough to have a job and a work permit; the new requirements for nomination are stricter across the board:

• For Entry Level or Semi-Skilled workers: You must have worked full-time with your current NWT employer for at least 12 months, and your work permit must expire in 2025.
• For Skilled Worker and Express Entry candidates: You must have either 12 months’ work experience plus a permit expiring this year, or proof of 18 months’ continuous work in the same job.

If you don’t tick every box, your application won’t even be considered. These new requirements leave fewer paths for those who hoped to stay and support their families.

For more details about these requirements, you can visit the official Northwest Territories Nominee Program website.

Strict Caps for Employers: Small Businesses Hit Hard

Before, businesses could recommend any number of valued workers for nomination. Now, a strict quota system is in place:

• Businesses with up to 10 staff can sponsor only one worker per intake period.
• Those with 11 to 49 staff can submit two applications.
• Larger companies (with 50 or more employees) can sponsor a maximum of four people.

This means even businesses that rely almost entirely on foreign workers can only apply for a tiny share of their team. For small mom-and-pop shops, this is especially tough: one spot may not be enough to keep their doors open. In larger companies, the limit slows growth and puts big projects on hold.

What Are NWT Business Groups Saying?

The business community hasn’t stayed quiet about these problems. Groups like the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce are at the forefront of efforts to convince government leaders to take quick and decisive action.

They argue that:

“The NTNP is a vital tool in supporting the territory’s labour shortages, supporting businesses and driving economic growth… Every nomination represents an investment in the territory’s strength and sustainability.”

This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about keeping communities strong and providing stability for families who have invested years of their lives in the territory. When hundreds of workers face the loss of legal status because their work permits expire and they can’t get nominated, entire businesses could collapse. The effects spread quickly—to families, schools, supply chains, and the wider economy.

What Can Be Done? Looking for Help from Ottawa

NWT Business Groups are asking both the local and federal governments to step in with emergency help. They suggest solutions like:

• Temporary extensions for work permits, so workers don’t have to leave while waiting for a nomination spot.
• Raising the number of nomination spaces available each year.
• Following other regions’ examples by negotiating for special relief measures.

These aren’t just wishes; they’re based on successful actions taken elsewhere in Canada 🇨🇦:

• Yukon recently secured two-year extensions for over 200 temporary foreign workers in a situation much like the one now facing NWT.
• Manitoba achieved similar relief for thousands more workers last year.

In both cases, the provinces or territories worked with Ottawa, the federal government, to find solutions. The NWT, however, chose not to join these federal initiatives. Officials there preferred to handle backlog and urgent cases with existing policies, which means they only helped a limited number of situations and did not seek broader relief.

As it stands in 2025, there is no special program for expiring work permits in the NWT—no blanket extension, no increase in quota—leaving hundreds in the lurch.

The Risks of Inaction

If nothing changes soon, two things are likely to happen:

1. Many foreign workers whose work permits expire before they can get nominated will have no choice but to leave Canada 🇨🇦. This could mean families are split apart and seasoned employees, who know their jobs and the community well, have to start over elsewhere.

2. Employers across major sectors will lose key staff members. This is especially bad news during a time of widespread labor shortages throughout Canada 🇨🇦. Productivity could drop, businesses may scale down or shut completely, and service to customers will suffer.

Small towns and businesses—where every worker counts—will feel the impact most. This could trigger a chain reaction: empty houses and apartments, fewer schoolchildren, and less money circulating in local economies.

What Do Experts Suggest for Employers and Workers in Limbo?

Some groups and policy experts recommend looking outside the box. Here are options being floated:

• Explore other Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) outside the NWT. These are run by different provinces but are often highly competitive, as the quotas everywhere are tight.
• Try to qualify under federal immigration programs like Express Entry. But again, these programs are oversubscribed and favor highly educated workers in certain industries.

Neither of these is a sure thing, and there are new hurdles everywhere as provinces and Ottawa limit the number of newcomers to meet political and economic goals.

If you are an employer or a worker faced with an expiring work permit, it’s important to act early. Learn about the rules, consider alternate programs, and keep close contact with immigration professionals or advocacy groups. For more on employer rules, check out the employer support page for the NWT Nominee Program.

Comparison with Other Regions: Why Didn’t NWT Get Special Treatment?

Some might ask: if Yukon and Manitoba could secure large-scale temporary extensions for their foreign workers, why didn’t the NWT? The answer, according to officials, is that the NWT government decided to process urgent backlog cases using the existing rules, instead of requesting new relief from Ottawa. This kept their system moving for a little while but didn’t solve the main problem.

Meanwhile, the business groups feel left out. They see their neighbors gaining breathing room while they face harsh restrictions. Businesses are not just asking for handouts—they’re asking for the same help granted to others so that northern economies can recover and grow after tough years marked by cost increases, fires, and the pandemic.

Recap Table: What’s Making Things Worse for Expiring Work Permits?

Here is a quick guide to the key issues:

The Human Story: What Does This Mean for Newcomers and Local Families?

Beyond policies and statistics, there’s a real human cost. Many of the workers with expiring permits have built their lives in the NWT—they have children in local schools, take part in community events, and help local economies thrive. If forced to leave, families could lose the very things that make life meaningful: stability, friendships, and their children’s futures.

It also means more stress for local workers, who must pick up the slack if employers can’t find quick replacements. Some jobs may simply go unfilled, leaving customers waiting longer and businesses with less revenue.

Community groups and religious organizations have already begun to speak out, warning of the damage to the fabric of life across the territory.

What Needs to Happen Next?

NWT Business Groups believe the answer lies in quick, open talks between the territory and Ottawa. If the Northwest Territories can secure either a special extension for expiring work permits or more nomination spaces, they have a chance to keep their businesses thriving and ensure foreign workers can continue to call the North home.

Employers are also calling on governments to:

• Communicate any changes clearly and quickly, so workers and businesses can make plans.
• Open up more targeted streams for jobs with the greatest shortages, so local economies aren’t left struggling in times of need.
• Work together across provinces and the federal government to ensure fair treatment and equal chances for all regions.

For foreign workers, the message is clear: pay close attention to your work permit expiry date, stay in touch with your employer, and access official resources at every step. You can always check the Government of Canada’s main website for immigration and work permits for the latest updates and official forms.

Final Thoughts

The crisis around expiring work permits in the Northwest Territories is about more than red tape. It’s about people, businesses, and the future of the North. Without a change in policy—or at least a willingness to talk about new solutions—hundreds of workers and families could lose their homes and livelihoods. Businesses might lose the staff who have made all the difference through challenging times.

As things stand, the choices are tough. The NWT Business Groups continue to press for urgent action. Whether by extending current permits, raising nomination quotas, or joining other provinces in seeking relief, it’s up to both territorial and federal leaders to respond. Until then, uncertainty rules, and the promise of a strong, growing North remains at risk.

Learn Today

Nominee Program → A provincial or territorial scheme allowing local governments to nominate foreign workers for Canadian permanent residency.
Work Permit → A legal document that allows a foreign national to work temporarily in Canada for a specific employer.
Express Entry → A federal immigration system in Canada for managing applications for permanent residency based on points and eligibility.
Quota System → A set numerical limit on how many applications or nominations can be submitted or accepted within a period.
Labour Shortages → A situation where there are not enough qualified workers to fill available jobs in a region or sector.

This Article in a Nutshell

A crisis looms in the Northwest Territories as expiring work permits and strict immigration caps threaten businesses. Hundreds of valued foreign workers may have to leave, destabilizing local economies. Business groups are now pushing for immediate government action, drawing on successful relief efforts seen in Yukon and Manitoba. Change is urgently needed.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

• Foreigners in Switzerland face exit if they lose work permits
• Indian migrants lose work permits in Canada due to processing delays
• IRCC lets IEC participants get work permits mailed within Canada
• IRCC lets IEC participants in Canada receive work permits by mail
• IRCC lets IEC work permits be mailed directly to applicants in Canada