Kelowna has broadened its Francophone Community Immigration Pilot by introducing eight new occupations and launching a dedicated business and finance sector. French-speaking professionals can now pursue permanent residence through 25 priority roles that offer hourly wages of $21- $28 across six economic sectors. The program features seven intake periods beginning June 2026, with applications accepted from the 15th to the 30th of each month. Applicants need NCLC Level 5 Frenc

Alberta’s education minister says the province expects to spend about $600 million this year on educating the children of temporary residents. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides told legislators that exact figures cannot be separated from Alberta’s $10.8 billion education budget because school funding varies depending on student needs. The province currently educates 45,554 students who are children of temporary residents, with average education costs estimated at about

The Government of Canada has announced the extension of temporary special measures under the Employment Insurance Work-Sharing program to help employers facing economic slowdowns avoid layoffs and retain their workforce. The flexibilities will now remain in place until March 31, 2027, giving businesses more time to stabilize while employees continue working reduced hours and receive partial Employment Insurance support for lost income. Since the program’s expansion, more tha

A recent Postmedia-Leger poll reveals that most Albertans back Premier Danielle Smith's plan to limit temporary immigrants' access to provincial services. The survey found 63% support for restricting healthcare, education, and social programs to citizens, permanent residents, and provincially approved immigrants. This comes as Alberta faces a $9.4-billion deficit and strained public systems due to record immigration. Smith plans to present 9 referendum questions later this y

The Ontario Government announced a major workforce development program, backed by $228.8 million in federal funding over three years. The Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response will help approximately 27,000 workers across the province retrain and upgrade their skills in response to US tariffs affecting key industries like steel, lumber, and automotive manufacturing. Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini emphasized the government's

On March 10, 2026, British Columbia  held  two draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The BCPNP issued 7 invitations to candidates in the Base Category of the Entrepreneur Stream, which is designed for experienced businessmen seeking to establish a new business or acquire an existing one in British Columbia. The lowest score of this round was 117 points. In addition, the province invited up to five candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration - Reg

Canada's International Experience Canada program has introduced two new opportunities for young professionals. The Inov Contacto initiative now welcomes participants from Portugal, while Taiwan's Global Pathfinder Initiative opens doors for Taiwanese applicants. Both programs fall under the Young Professionals stream of the International Mobility Program, which promotes cultural exchange and work experience between Canada and partner countries. These bilateral arrangements s

Prince Edward Island saw exceptional tourism performance in 2025, welcoming 1.87 million visitors, a 10% increase over the previous year. Visitor spending jumped 12.4%, outpacing the national average of 4.4%. The province recorded 1,126,108 paid overnight stays, its highest total ever. Four coastal regions reached new milestones, while shoulder-season travel increased 18% since 2019. Food and beverage receipts grew 6%, golf rounds rose 155, and museum visits climbed 29%. Tou

On March 6, 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador  held  the first rounds of selection through the Enhanced Expression of Interest (EOI) system, issuing a total of 445 invitations. Of these, 362 were sent to candidates under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), while 83 went to applicants through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Last year, Newfoundland and Labrador invited a total of 3,376 applicants under the NLPNP and AIP. #newfoundland_and_lab

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) continues to manage its Skills Immigration registration pool, which stood at 10,907 candidates as of March 3, 2026. The program regularly invites qualified candidates to apply based on their scores. Current data shows the highest concentration of registrants falls within the 100-109 range, with 2,165 candidates, followed by 1,982 in the 90-99 bracket. Score distributions reveal 15 top-tier candidates above 150 points.

On March 6, 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) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). From March 3 to March 6, 2026, the province conducted four new draws and issued a total of 622 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. The new draws were conducted under the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream – E

Over the last two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held new  draws  under the International Experience Canada (IEC). From February 21 to March 6, Canada invited 8,676 young foreigners to apply for an IEC open work permit. As of March 6, 28,404 candidates have registered in the pool and are awaiting the invitation. In these rounds, there were 645 ITAs for Australia, 20 ITAs for Austria, 70 ITAs for Belgium, 68 ITAs for Chile, 23 ITAs for Costa Rica, 7

The Government of Alberta has launched nominations for the 2026 Alberta Immigrant Impact Awards, a program honouring immigrants who have made meaningful contributions across the province. The awards span eight categories, including Arts and Sports, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Young Leader. Associate Minister of Multiculturalism Muhammad Yaseen emphasized the importance of recognizing how newcomers support businesses, drive innovation, and volunteer in communities. Nomination

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up his groundbreaking visit to India, announcing new opportunities for Indian students. The initiatives include 300 funded research positions at Canadian universities, up to $100 million in scholarships from the University of Toronto, and 13 new university partnerships between the two nations. Additionally, Dalhousie University will establish an innovation campus in India, while the University of Toronto and McGill will open Centre

On March 5, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the first-ever Express Entry draw for senior managers with Canadian work experience. IRCC issued 250 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in the fourth draw of the week. In round #402, the cut-off score was 429 points. The tie-breaking rule for this round was August 19, 2025, at 15:10:18 UTC. As of March 1, 2026, 232,534 profiles were registered in the Express Entry pool. So far in 2026, the Government of Cana

On March 4, 2026, the Government of Canada announced that it will continue offering temporary immigration relief to Iranian nationals already living and working in the country. The measures, first introduced in February 2023 due to ongoing instability in Iran, now allow Iranians holding valid work permits issued on or before February 28, 2025, to apply for extensions. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated these provisions will remain in effect until March 31, 2

On March 4, 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)  updated  the processing times for the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under various streams. Based on statistics from all processing centres, the average LMIA processing time has decreased for all streams except the Global Talent and High-wage streams. Global Talent Stream - 12 business days (+1 day) Agricultural stream – 15 business days (-4 days) Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 10

On March 4, 2026, Alberta  released  the results of the recent Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) immigration draws. On February 26, the province invited 30 Rural Renewal Stream candidates with a minimum score of 55. The AAIP has issued 822 nominations so far in 2026, with 5,581 spaces remaining from its total allocation of 6,403. Last year, the program met its full allocation by issuing 6,603 nominations, with over 85% going to temporary foreign workers already in

Starting March 31, 2026, Canadians will see modest increases in passport and travel document fees as the government adjusts pricing to reflect inflation and rising operational costs. A 10-year adult passport will cost $163.50, up $3.50 from the current rate, while 5-year adult passports increase by $2.50 to $122.50. Child passports rise by $1.50 to $58.50. This marks the first fee adjustment in 13 years. The government also announced a new service guarantee: beginning April

The Saskatchewan Government announced it will continue offering tuition relief to Ukrainian students until March 2030. Students who arrived through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) measures can pay domestic tuition rates at provincial institutions instead of international fees. Saskatchewan remains the only Canadian province to provide this level of support. Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said the extension gives students the stabil