A new debate is growing in Alberta after discussions around a potential 2026 referendum on immigration-related policies gained national attention. Proposed questions reportedly focus on reducing immigration levels, limiting access to provincially funded services for some temporary residents, and introducing additional requirements tied to immigration status. Supporters argue the measures would help Alberta manage population growth and protect public resources, while critics w

Conservative members of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration have called for the firing of Immigration Minister Lena Diab following her testimony regarding widespread fraud in Canada’s international student program. The committee highlighted Auditor General findings showing that 14 percent of over 150,000 individuals who entered the country fraudulently have since filed asylum claims, while the whereabouts of another 33,600 remain unknown. During the hearing,

A new study released by Statistics Canada on May 5, 2026, indicates that federal policy changes implemented in 2024 have triggered a significant reversal in international student trends. Preliminary estimates suggest that new student cohorts will plummet by 64% in the 2025/2026 academic year compared to 2023/2024 levels. Total international student enrolment in public postsecondary institutions is projected to drop by 29% over the same two-year period, bringing population lev

On April 23, 2026, Manitoba held the invitation round #269 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 308 candidates under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream. The draw invited 192 candidates under the occupation-specific selection and 116 candidates under the Skilled Worker pathway. In this round, 105 invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. In 2026, the MPNP invited

On April 22, 2026, the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) issued 674 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a general draw for the Masters Graduate stream. The minimum score of this round was 61 points, 31 points more than it was in the previous draw. In addition, Ontario has invited 244 candidates under the PhD Graduate Stream. The minimum score for this draw was 56 points (+7). The profiles of selected candidates were created between April 22, 2025, and April 20, 2026. In t

On April 9, 2026, Manitoba held the invitation round #268 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 32 skilled workers under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams as part of a strategic recruitment initiative. In this round, 8 invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. This year, the MPNP invited 295 candidates, and 49 of them received invi

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

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

The Government of Canada has announced new temporary measures to help communities and individuals disrupted by domestic natural disasters, as climate-related emergencies become more frequent and severe. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says that impacted temporary residents, including international students, temporary foreign workers and visitors, may replace lost status documents and apply to have permits restored, extended or renewed beyond the usual 90-

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab responded to the Auditor General's recent report on international student reforms, acknowledging progress while committing to further improvements. The government has successfully reduced the number of non-permanent residents by over 171,000 in late 2025, working toward a target of under 5% of Canada's population by 2027. While the Auditor General praised improvements such as the letter-of-acceptance verification system and program dive

On March 18, 2026, the Government of Ontario invited candidates through five Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) streams. The province conducted the first Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate stream draws, inviting 582 and 525 candidates, respectively. Additionally, the province conducted draws under the OINP's Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW), International Student Stream (EJO IS), and In-Demand Skills Stream (EJO IDS). Ontario issued 108 invitations

New data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows a significant decline in temporary resident arrivals for January 2026. Canada welcomed 7,040 new international students and 11,850 temporary workers, marking a 28% overall decrease compared to January 2025. These figures reflect the government's commitment to reducing Canada's temporary population to below 5% through measures such as annual caps on study permits, stricter work-permit eligibility,

Manitoba is strengthening its healthcare workforce with 45 internationally educated nurses completing specialized ICU training this spring. The program, which runs from January 5 to April 23, prepares these professionals to work in intensive care units and high-acuity hospital settings across the province. Premier Wab Kinew and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced that this initiative supports new nurse-patient ratios in ICUs while addressing critical staffing needs. A s

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

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

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

On February 26, 2026, Manitoba held the invitation round #265 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 72 skilled workers under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams as part of a strategic recruitment initiative. In this round, 11 invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. This year, the MPNP invited 203 candidates, and 33 of them received

Recent data from Statistics Canada shows a notable increase in the number of international students who remain in Canada after completing health degree programs. The 2019 cohort saw 68% of international health graduates filing tax returns three years after graduation, up from 52% in 2010. This surpasses the average retention rate for all international graduates. However, retention varies significantly by field and province. Pharmacy graduates had the highest retention at 64%

The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) has called on Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab to address the mounting challenges facing international students following recent policy changes. The CCR expressed concern that shifting regulations around post-graduation work permits and provincial immigration pathways have left thousands of students uncertain about their legal status. The Council emphasized that international students contribute significantly to Canada's economy

According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the country saw 53% fewer international student and temporary worker arrivals in 2025 compared to the previous year, marking a significant shift in immigration policy. New figures released for December 2025 show just 9,665 study permits and 9,735 work permits were issued that month, reflecting the government's commitment to reducing temporary resident numbers to below 5% of the total popul