Over the last two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new  draws  under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From January 24 to February 6, Canada invited 14,982 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of February 6, 31,632 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 2 ITAs for Andorra, 1,029 ITAs for Australia, 82 ITAs for Austria, 159 ITAs for Belgium, 525 ITAs for Ch

Alberta added 41,800 full-time jobs last month, cementing its position as Canada's leader in employment growth despite global economic headwinds affecting other provinces. Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow highlighted the province's 3.4 per cent increase in employment over the past year, significantly outpacing the national average of 0.6 per cent. The province's economic diversification efforts, combined with competitive tax rates and a skilled w

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) continues its regular invitation rounds for candidates registered in its Skills Immigration stream. As of February 8, 2026, the registration pool contains 10,988 candidates across various score ranges. The distribution shows significant concentration in the mid-tier brackets, with 2,134 registrations in the 100-109 range and 1,979 in the 90-99 category. Higher-scoring candidates remain competitive, as 41 registrations

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program will temporarily close its application portal from February 13 to February 18, 2026, as part of a major modernization effort. During this period, applicants with in-progress Expression of Interest submissions must complete them by February 13 at 4:00 PM, or they will be automatically cancelled. The program is also consolidating its streams from 10 to 4, aiming to provide greater clarity and a more streamlined application experience. Importantl

Manitoba has updated sector eligibility requirements for its Temporary Resident Retention Pilot, effective February 4, 2026. The changes reflect shifting labour market priorities across the province. Hospitality and Food Services positions are no longer included under the program, while several skilled trades occupations have been added to meet current workforce demands. The modifications aim to better support industries experiencing critical labour shortages and ensure the

Canada's Express Entry pool is showing signs of reduced competition at the top tier for the second consecutive month. Between January 4 and February 2, over 6,200 profiles with CRS scores above 501 exited the system, marking a significant 29% decrease in the 501-600 range alone. While the overall pool expanded by 2,366 candidates, the reduction in high-scoring applicants suggests improving prospects for mid-range candidates seeking permanent residence invitations. Immigratio

On February 5, 2026, Alberta  released  the results of the recent Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) immigration draws. On January 26 and January 27, the province invited 63 and 43 candidates under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway – Express Entry and non-Express Entry streams, respectively. Additionally, on January 29, Alberta invited 148 candidates under the Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway, while the February 2 draw invited 915 candidates u

Canada's healthcare crisis is hitting a critical point , with new data revealing that 50% of Canadians either lack a family doctor or face significant barriers accessing one, up from 40% a decade ago. This deteriorating situation poses particular challenges for immigrants and newcomers, who already navigate complex settlement processes and now encounter a strained medical system ill-equipped to meet growing demand. Despite healthcare spending nearly doubling to $399 billion s

The North Bay & Area Rural Community Immigration Pilot has announced significant updates to its 2026 Priority Occupation List, including the addition of a sixth priority sector focused on natural and applied sciences. Following consultation with over 170 designated employers and analysis of regional labour market data, the program has refined its occupations list to better address workforce needs across healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and newly added technology fiel

On February 4, 2026, the Government of British Columbia  held  the first Skills Immigration invitation draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and issued invitations to apply to 429 skilled candidates with the potential to create high economic impact in the province. The selection criteria targeted two distinct groups: 206 candidates in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions earning a minimum wage of $70 per hour while working full-time with their suppor

On February 3, 2026, New Brunswick  published  the results of its recent draws using an expression of interest system to streamline immigration applications for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). On February 2, 2026, the province conducted two draws and issued a total of 326 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. The new draws were conducted under the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream – Employment in New Brunswick (166 ITAs) and NB Strategic

Canada's Immigration Minister Lena Diab has made it clear that universities facing financial strain from reduced international student enrollment must look to provincial governments for support. The minister noted that international student numbers fell from over one million in early 2024 to approximately 700,000 by November 2025. The Federal Government scaled back the program after concerns that post-pandemic immigration levels were overwhelming healthcare, housing, and oth

Starting February 3, 2026, Immigration New Brunswick has suspended new employer designation applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program while implementing sweeping reforms across three key immigration pathways. The province is introducing a candidate pool system for AIP endorsement applications, in which monthly selections prioritize provincial labour market needs rather than processing applications chronologically. Simultaneously, significant occupational restrictio

On February 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the Express Entry draw #393. The Government of Canada issued 423 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 749 points, 3 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was December 16, 2025, at 22:30:36 UTC. As of February 2, 2026, 238,920 profiles were registered in the Express

Immigration Minister Lena Diab has called for enhanced tracking capabilities to monitor temporary residents leaving Canada, as nearly 1.9 million temporary residents are set to have their visas expire this year. While the Canada Border Services Agency currently tracks departure details like transportation methods and travel documents, it lacks the ability to efficiently determine visa expiration status without manual, labour-intensive checks. Diab emphasized that many countr

Canada's immigration system is under increasing strain as backlogs continue to grow. A year after initial job cuts, the department has seen permanent and temporary immigration applications rise by 2.6 percent to over 2.1 million, while backlogged cases exceeding service standards jumped 12.7 percent. Citizenship application backlogs increased from 17 to 23 percent, and refugee claims awaiting decisions climbed to more than 300,000. The situation appears set to worsen, with 3

On February 2, 2026, the Government of Ontario  conducted  the first invitation draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW), International Student Stream (EJO IS), and In-Demand Skills Stream (EJO IDS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In these draws, the province targeted physicians, professionals working in the health occupations, early childhood educators, assistants, and Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) candidates

February marks Black History Month in Alberta, a time dedicated to honouring the lasting influence of Black Albertans on the province's development. The month provides an opportunity to reflect on the journeys of early Black pioneers while celebrating contemporary leaders who drive progress, creativity, and innovation throughout communities. Black Albertans have played an essential role in shaping the province's cultural, social, and economic landscape. Their history, contri

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is organizing a virtual immigration and job fair on February 11, running from 6 to 10 p.m. GMT. This event offers skilled foreign workers a valuable opportunity to connect directly with employers across the province who are actively hiring. Participants will need to upload their resumes during registration for employer review. The fair will also include informative sessions and Q&A segments with immigration experts, covering pathwa

A recent analysis reveals significant disparities in healthcare coverage for international students studying in Canada, with access largely dependent on their province of study. While Alberta, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, and the Northwest Territories provide immediate or comprehensive public healthcare coverage, students in Ontario, Manitoba, and Yukon must rely solely on private insurance. British Columbia imposes a three-month waiting period plus mon