Newfoundland and Labrador has launched public consultations to guide the development of the province's 2026 – 2031 Population Growth Strategy. Designed to address labour shortages, support economic expansion, and build resilient regional communities, the government policy initiative focuses on four key pillars: growing the workforce, growing families, expanding regional settlement, and increasing overall in-migration. Public feedback gathered through the EngageNL platform, al

The Government of the Northwest Territories has announced the final 2026 Expression of Interest (EOI) draw for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program's Employer-Driven Stream, scheduled for September 25, 2026. Prospective applicants must submit their EOI profiles by September 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MT to be considered, with approximately 100 profiles set to be selected. The upcoming draw follows three previous intake rounds held in March, June, and August 2026, which yiel

On September 17, 2026, the Government of British Columbia held a new invitation round under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The province issued 33 invitations to apply to candidates through the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative. The invited candidates had a minimum score of 60 points. This targeted stream supports health authority employees in eligible cleaning and security roles who work in rural or remote communities across the provin

The total number of pending refugee protection claims before the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) fell to 259,085 by the end of August 2026, marking a continuous decline from a peak exceeding 300,000 cases in late 2025. Official monthly statistics provided by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) show that intake of new claims remained low at 2,898 in August 2026, down sharply from 13,235 claims reported in August 2024. Meanwhile, RPD finalizations reached 11,590

On September 15, 2026, Saskatchewan reached the position limit for the Food Services sector in the year's final capped-sector intake window. Employers submitted Employer Position Assessments covering all 175 positions available for Food Services, leaving no remaining positions to be accepted under the September window. The Food Services window opened at 1:30 p.m. and was the last of the staggered capped-sector intake windows scheduled for 2026. Employers in capped sectors cou

On September 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held Express Entry draw #443 for Canadian Experience Class candidates. IRCC issued 2,000 invitations to apply, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 519. The tie-breaking rule was March 26, 2026 at 00:16:39 UTC. This was the second CEC draw in September: on September 1, IRCC also invited 2,000 candidates, but the CRS cut-off was 521. The latest round therefore kept the number of invitations unc

Canada’s language training sector faces a severe crisis as student enrolments and study weeks dropped significantly in 2025. According to Languages Canada’s latest report, international student enrolments declined by 13% while total student weeks dropped by 19% year over year. Sector leaders attribute the downturn directly to federal immigration policies, including international student caps and altered visa processing. Despite contributing over $1 billion to the national eco

Canadian employment increased by 75,000 jobs in July 2026, raising the national employment rate to 60.9%. Figures from Statistics Canada show the unemployment rate fell to 6.4%, reaching its lowest level in two years. Job growth was led by core-aged women, with significant gains across wholesale and retail trade, financial services, and construction. Private sector employment added 58,000 positions, while self-employment grew by 44,000. Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, an

Canada's tourism industry served as a major engine of national economic growth throughout 2025, according to a recent report from Statistics Canada. Fueled by strong domestic travel demand and a steady influx of international visitors, total tourism expenditures expanded, delivering a direct financial boost to local communities across the country. Sector activity outpaced broader national economic growth, driving increased revenues for hospitality, entertainment, and transit

On July 24, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) published updated enforcement statistics showing that 10,607 inadmissible individuals were removed from Canada between January 1 and June 30, 2026. Quebec recorded the highest number of enforced removals at 5,467, followed by the Greater Toronto Area with 2,674, the Pacific Region with 906, and the Prairie Region with 839. Most removals involved immigration non-compliance: 8,551 cases concerned refugee claimants and 1

According to Statistics Canada, international travel to Canada showed strong growth in May 2026. United States residents made 2.2 million trips to Canada, marking a 13% increase compared to May 2025. This growth was driven by higher automobile crossings and air travel. Additionally, overseas resident arrivals rose 6.2% year over year to 665,300, supported by significant gains in visitors from Europe and the Americas. Overall, seasonally adjusted data indicates a 6.3% monthly

Actionable — Ontario: the OINP's regulatory redesign is now in force. The former 8 program streams have been eliminated and replaced with a new Ontario Workforce Priority stream; the Expression of Interest system is closed to new EOIs and the e-filing portal is expected to reopen later this summer. Applications already submitted under the former streams will be assessed under the rules in place when filed. Recommend holding new Ontario-stream filings until the portal reopens.

Statistics Canada reported that the national unemployment rate fell to 6.5% in June 2026, marking its second consecutive monthly decline. The economy added a modest 18,000 jobs during the month, which helped lift the overall employment rate to 60.8%. Labour market gains were concentrated primarily among core-aged workers and youth, while employment fell for Canadians aged 55 and older. On a year-over-year basis, employment increased by 99,000 positions, driven by a strong ris

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) announced that compliance penalties under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) more than doubled to over 10.2 million dollars during the recent fiscal year. Of nearly 1,500 inspections completed, 12 percent of employers were found non-compliant, resulting in substantial fines and the ban of 30 employers from the program. Federal authorities also introduced stricter rules for the low-wage stream, requiring businesses to ad

The Government of Saskatchewan updated the processing times of various streams of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). According to the new data, in the second quarter of 2026, the processing times for all streams (the Employment Offer stream, Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway, Agriculture Talent Pathway, and Health Talent Pathway) of the International Skilled Worker category were 2 weeks. The Existing Work Permit and International Students streams of the Saska

The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) outlined four critical interventions to reform the newly enacted Bill C-12. Association members argue that the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act pushes vulnerable individuals into an unstable legal limbo. To resolve these systemic issues, the group proposes that Parliament clearly define the public interest to eliminate arbitrary ministerial discretion. Legal experts also demand that authorities resto

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) released the processing statistics for the first half of 2026. The province has issued 2,628 nominations, accounting for 55% of its overall annual allocation of 4,761 spaces. Priority sectors lead intake, issuing 1,466 nominations and reaching 62% of the mandatory minimum allocation. The capped categories, including trucking, accommodations, food services, and retail trade, have reached 60% of their maximum limit, with 718 nom

The Government of Saskatchewan announced that the provincial minimum wage will rise to $15.70 per hour on October 1, 2026. Officials used a standard indexation formula to calculate this change. The formula gives equal weight to the Consumer Price Index and the average hourly wage in the province. Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Ken Cheveldayoff stated that the increase balances workers' needs with business growth. A four-year income tax reduction plan will also

Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement to celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day. He noted that the day sits alongside National Indigenous Peoples Day and Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day to honour the many histories that shape the country. The Prime Minister stated that Canadian unity does not require uniformity. He explained that differences are a source of national strength rather than a risk to manage. This core principle is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and

Canadian job vacancies rose in the first quarter of 2026. This is the first quarterly increase since 2022. Employers reported 506,700 open positions. This is an increase of 11,800. Both full-time and part-time positions saw growth. Sales and service roles led the job gains. However, health sector vacancies continued to decline. Regionally, Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta added the most vacancies. Quebec was the only province to see a decrease. Additionally, the average