A coalition of Canadian organizations, led by the Afghan Women's Organization, has issued an urgent open letter to federal ministers demanding immediate action to protect Afghan nationals awaiting Canadian immigration processing in Pakistan. Despite Canada's commitment to resettling over 55,000 Afghans since 2021, many individuals with active file numbers now face detention and forced removal under Pakistan’s phased deportation plan. The coalition is calling for expedited on

Garnett Genuis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Employment, has criticized the Liberal Government’s latest youth employment announcement as a repackaging of old commitments that fail to address rising job losses. Highlighting that Canada recently lost over 50,000 youth jobs, the Conservatives are proposing a Youth Jobs Plan centred on aligning immigration with housing and labour market realities. The plan advocates for fixing foreign credential recognition and adjusting stu

The Government of the Northwest Territories has released the upcoming schedule for its newly launched Expression of Interest (EOI) system under the Employer-Driven Stream, with the next draws set for June 25 and September 25, 2026. This competitive system ranks applicants based on skills, experience, and their likelihood of settling in the North, aiming to manage a high volume of interest against a limited federal allocation of 197 total nominations for the year. In the Marc

Newly released data from March 2026 shows a significant shift in Canada’s refugee and immigration processing, marked by a record 8,584 finalized protection claims that outpaced new intakes for the first time in years. This surge in productivity led to the first notable decrease in the pending claim inventory since 2024, bringing the total down to 295,522. However, while initial claim backlogs eased, the Refugee Appeal Division faced its highest volume of new filings to date

On April 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the fourth Express Entry draw for French language proficiency candidates of the year. In round #411, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 419 points – 26 points more than the last draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was November 14, 2025, at 07:14:25 UTC. As of April 12, 2026, 233,555 profiles were registered in the Express

On April 14, 2026, British Columbia held a new draw for business candidates in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). The province invited 14 candidates in the Base Category of the Entrepreneur Stream. The lowest score of this round was 115 points, two points fewer than in the previous draw, held on March 10, 2026. This stream targets experienced entrepreneurs who intend to establish new businesses or take over and grow existing businesses in B.C. This yea

Saskatchewan’s labour market showed significant strength in March 2026, recording the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 5%, well below the national average of 6.7%. The province added 15,000 full-time jobs year over year and saw a monthly increase of 5,800 positions. Immigration and Career Training Minister Eric Schmalz highlighted the growth resulting from strategic industry partnerships designed to meet the demands of a growing economy. Major gains were reported in hea

The Federal Government is moving to update immigration rules to allow for the digital capture of passport information. This technology would allow applicants to scan their electronic passports (ePassports) remotely to automatically fill out their forms. By using this system, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to reduce manual data entry errors and verify the authenticity of travel documents when an application is submitted. While the new process adds an

The Federal Government has introduced a series of regulatory amendments under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration Systems and Borders Act to modernize the in-Canada asylum system. These changes focus on addressing system-wide bottlenecks caused by a surge in refugee claims through several key measures, including a new single online application process and the enforcement of stricter timelines for ministerial due diligence. Notably, the reforms ensure that eligible claiman

On April 7, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to reduce administrative hurdles for international students and apprentices. Key changes include removing the co-op work permit requirement for students and eliminating study permit mandates for foreign apprentices under specific conditions. Furthermore, the proposal allows international graduates and students to continue w

A new regulatory proposal indicates that Canada is preparing to redesign the selection of high-skilled immigrants, replacing the current Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades programs with a single, streamlined federal category. The goal is to simplify the system and make it more responsive to labour market needs, shifting away from a universal selection model toward a more targeted approach based on occupations and economic demand. Th

Statistics Canada’s latest analysis highlights how immigrants and non-permanent residents who arrived between 2019 and 2024 navigated a fast-changing labour market shaped by post-pandemic job vacancies. Using a 2024 Labour Force Survey supplement, the report examines core working-age newcomers (aged 25 to 54) and compares them with earlier immigrant cohorts. Many newcomers secured their first job quickly, with 42.5% of recent immigrants and 48.5% of recent non-permanent resi

Canada’s language training sector is rebuilding language-to-academic pipelines after recent immigration policy changes sharply reduced enrolments in these pathways. With Provincial Attestation Letters concentrated at public institutions and new rules requiring students to obtain a new permit to change designated learning institutions, traditional multi-DLI pathways became difficult to sustain. In response, Languages Canada developed the Joint Pathway Program , a joint program

Alberta has introduced Bill 26, the Immigration Oversight Act, to restore confidence in the immigration system by increasing provincial oversight of employers, foreign worker recruiters, and immigration consultants. If passed, the legislation would require employers to register before using federal temporary foreign worker programs and would create a licensing framework for recruiters and consultants. The province says these measures will help curb fraud, exploitation, and l

Ottawa will raise key immigration fees this spring as it adjusts charges for inflation and program costs. As of March 31, 2026, the right of citizenship fee for adults will increase from $3.25 to $123, while the $530 processing fee for adult citizenship grants remains the same. A second increase follows on April 30, 2026, affecting permanent residence programs, including the right of permanent residence fee ($600) and higher rates for provincial nominees, business applican

A new commentary from the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association argues that international law has an important, but limited, role in Canadian immigration decisions. The commentary says countries still control who may enter under domestic rules, while universal human rights standards set real boundaries, including non-discrimination, protection from inhuman treatment, and respect for family life. In practice, tribunals interpret the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act u

Canadian-born families continued to hold about twice the median wealth of recent immigrant families in both 2016 and 2023, Statistics Canada reports , with the gap especially pronounced when the primary income earner lacks a university degree. Over the same period, established immigrant families increased their wealth and, by 2023, moved ahead of comparable Canadian-born families. Home equity remained the biggest driver of net worth across groups, while pension assets stayed

Thunder Bay has completed a Welcoming Communities Analysis aimed at improving support for newcomers and advancing long-term population growth under the city’s Growth Action Plan. The work was led by the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission with Community Services and the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association. Leaders say recent immigration strengthened the workforce, but expected policy shifts could slow arrivals, making retention essential. The analysis poi

Canadian-born families continued to hold about twice the median wealth of recent immigrant families in both 2016 and 2023, Statistics Canada reports , with the gap especially pronounced when the primary income earner lacks a university degree. Over the same period, established immigrant families increased their wealth and, by 2023, moved ahead of comparable Canadian-born families. Home equity remained the biggest driver of net worth across groups, while pension assets stayed

A new proposal calls for Canada to establish a legal pathway to permanent residence for individuals who have lived in the country for ten years or more. The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association argues that thousands of people currently work, pay taxes, and raise families here while remaining legally temporary. The proposed policy would require proof of continuous presence, a clean record, and evidence of integration through tax filings or employment. Supporters say this