Newly released data from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada reveals a significant decrease in new refugee protection claims. The Refugee Protection Division recorded 2,863 new claims in May 2026. This number is a major drop from the 16,793 intake cases reported in May 2024. Finalizations peaked in May 2026, with 8,977 cases completed, reducing the total pending claims to 286,970. Meanwhile, the Refugee Appeal Division saw a rise in pending appeals, which reached 5,49

The University of Toronto ranked fourth globally for academic research in the 2026 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), placing ahead of Yale, Princeton, Oxford, and Cambridge. Only Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences achieved higher research rankings. CWUR evaluated more than 21,000 institutions worldwide, with research performance accounting for 40% of the overall score. The University of Toronto also placed 23rd overall in the globa

On June 9, 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 increased for all streams except the Permanent Residence Stream. Global Talent Stream - 10 business days (+2 days) Agricultural stream – 22 business days (+1 day) Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 11 business day

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has highlighted the important contribution immigrants and migrant workers make to municipalities across Canada. During a panel discussion held at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual meeting in Edmonton, municipal leaders warned that recent immigration reductions are creating labour shortages and increasing pressure on local services. Many immigrants and migrant workers are employed in sectors that communities depend o

A recent report from TD Economics warns that Canada is losing its highest-skilled workers and entrepreneurs to the United States. This slow movement of top talent is described by researchers as a silent brain drain. Many highly educated individuals leave the country through US employer-sponsored work visas that do not show up in standard permanent emigration data. The study indicates that foreign-born Canadian citizens account for 60 percent of Canadian applicants for US labo

On June 5, 2026, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation et Integration (MIFI) published the results of the 84th invitation round in Quebec’s online system Arrima, which were conducted on June 4, 2026. MIFI invited 1,094 candidates under Stream 1 (Highly qualified and specialized skills), 756 candidates under Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills), 677 candidates under Stream 3 (Regulated professions), and 22 candidates under Stream 4 (Exceptional talent). Last ye

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expanded a temporary immigration measure to help families stay together. Spouses and common-law partners of eligible temporary foreign workers in Quebec can now apply for an open work permit. To qualify, the partner must hold a valid temporary resident status or have lost it within the last ninety days. The partner must also be listed on the main applicant's permanent selection application for Quebec's Skilled Worker Selecti

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its program instructions for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The new operational guidance focuses on changes to job positions and business ownership. Applicants who change job duties or TEER codes with the same employer must submit an updated provincial endorsement and a new offer of employment form. If an employer changes ownership, the supporting province will assess if the applicant can still be supported.

Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged that Canada’s recent economic slowdown is partly linked to the Federal Government’s decision to reduce immigration targets and limit the number of temporary residents. Following two consecutive quarters of economic contraction, Carney noted that slower population growth has affected overall economic output. However, he argued that the changes are part of a broader strategy to ease pressure on housing, infrastructure, and public services

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is investigating a technical issue with the Express Entry system. Several eligible candidates did not receive an invitation during the recent French-language proficiency round. This issue occurred during draw number 418 on May 28, 2026. Department staff are actively reviewing the situation to find out why the system missed these candidates. The government advises that affected individuals do not need to take any action right

Statistics Canada released a detailed demographic study tracking the rapid growth of the domestic Filipino population. The community quadrupled between 1996 and 2021, reaching over 957,000 individuals. Projections show this population could reach up to 2.4 million residents by 2041. The data reveal that over three-quarters of foreign-born Filipinos arrived through economic immigration channels. This represents the highest share of female economic applicants in the country. De

On May 28, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the sixth Express Entry draw for French-language proficiency candidates of the year. In round #418, IRCC issued 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to francophone candidates. The cut-off score of this draw was 409 points – nine points more than the last draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was April 29, 2026, at 22:20:00 UTC. As of May 24, 2026, 238,847 profiles were registered in the Express Entry p

A joint study by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Statistics Canada shows that only 20% of recent immigrants worked in their intended occupation in 2021. The data reveal that occupational match rates were higher for individuals with graduate degrees, applicants from developed source countries, and those with pre-admission Canadian work experience. Among the individuals who did not secure a matching position, a large share shifted into lower-skilled employment.

The Government of Canada has announced temporary border measures in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and growing regional concerns involving Uganda and South Sudan. Beginning May 27, 2026, Canada plans to temporarily suspend the issuance of certain immigration documents to residents of affected countries for 90 days. Starting May 30, some travellers who have recently been in high-risk regions will also be required to complete a 21-day self-is

A British Columbia forestry enterprise currently facing insolvency proceedings has been penalized $429,000 and banned from employing migrant workers for two years following a federal investigation. Inspectors determined that Vancouver-based San Industries Ltd. breached five sections of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. The violations included failing to provide advertised wages and working conditions, failing to match positions with approved labour market as

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has launched a new portal feature that allows candidates to modify their active Worker Expression of Interest submissions. This update enables individuals to adjust their profile details without altering or extending the original one-year validity period of their submission. Additionally, candidates can now proactively decline stream invitations and return directly to the selection pool within the standard fifteen-day window. T

Conservative Shadow Minister Michelle Rempel Garner has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to ensure Immigration Minister Lena Diab attends an upcoming parliamentary review. The official opposition selected the immigration minister for the upcoming Committee of the Whole session scheduled for Thursday night. This standard legislative procedure allows members of parliament to directly question ministers for four hours regarding departmental spending and policies. The opposit

The Canadian Government is making travel easier for eligible citizens from Indonesia and Malaysia. Starting May 26, 2026, select travellers from these countries can apply for an electronic travel authorization instead of a traditional visa. This rule applies to individuals who held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or currently hold a valid United States visa. Eligible travellers must enter or transit through Canada by air to use this streamlined process. Immigration Minis

On May 25, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #416 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 334 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the round’s cut-off score was 805 points, seven points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw and the highest in 2026. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 16, 2025, at 18:16:33 UTC. It is important to note that IRCC has not updated the official E

Statistics Canada has released new travel data for March 2026, showing an increase in international visitors. The total number of non-resident travellers entering Canada exceeded 1.6 million, marking a 4.7 percent increase over last year. Trips to Canada by United States residents rose by 4.4 percent to reach 1.3 million arrivals. Most American visitors travelled by automobile, and over half of those drove across the border for same-day trips. Overseas resident arrivals also