Nova Scotia has refined its immigration priorities to address critical labour shortages, with a primary focus on healthcare and skilled trades. Effective April 27, 2026, candidates in these sectors at TEER levels 0–4 are prioritized, including both international applicants and temporary residents already working in the province. Additionally, the province may consider candidates already working in Nova Scotia in selected sectors, including natural sciences, education, natural

Effective May 1, 2026, Nova Scotia will implement a 12-month validity period for all Expressions of Interest (EOI) to enhance inventory management and ensure alignment with current labour-market needs. Under the new measures, EOIs submitted before May 1, 2024, will be closed immediately on the effective date. Those submitted between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, will remain active until April 30, 2027, unless selected sooner. For all new submissions moving forward, profile

Canada’s longstanding commitment to multiculturalism is facing a critical test as temporary residents remain in prolonged legal limbo. While the Federal Government provides robust support for Francophone communities, non-official language ethnocultural groups often lack similar institutional recognition. Current policies frequently prioritize overseas applicants over integrated temporary workers and students who have already proven their success within the Canadian economy. E

The Government of Saskatchewan has utilized approximately 26% of its 2026 Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) allocation, issuing 1,223 of its 4,761 total available spots. Data reveals that priority sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and technology, have seen the highest activity, accounting for 689 nominations so far. To maintain labour market balance, the province continues to manage capped sectors through specific intake windows, with the next scheduled

The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) has sent an open letter to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, highlighting systemic failures in the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. Representing over 540 lawyers, CILA argues that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has shifted toward a culture of refusal, where officers apply subjective criteria and unpublished benchmarks to deny applications. Key issues identi

The fourth annual Premier’s Summit on Fairness for Newcomers recently convened in Alberta, bringing together employers, educators, and newcomers to address barriers to professional integration. Under the theme of unlocking newcomer skills, Premier Danielle Smith emphasized the importance of improving foreign credential recognition and expanding mentorship opportunities to ensure immigrants can contribute to their full potential. The provincial government highlighted recent l

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

In response to persistent labour shortages, the Manitoba Government has officially opted into two federal temporary measures for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to support employers outside the Winnipeg area. Effective from April 14, 2026, until March 31, 2027, these measures allow eligible rural and northern employers to bypass standard restrictions on low-wage positions. Specifically, businesses can maintain their current proportion of temporary foreign workers

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

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

Canada has extended certain temporary work permit measures for Ukrainians in response to Russia’s ongoing war. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said Ukrainians who arrived under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) and related measures will get an additional year to apply to extend their work permit. Eligibility includes Ukrainians and family members who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, as well as some CUAET holders permitted to a

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

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

Canada stands at a crossroads as experts debate the country's immigration future amid a shrinking working-age population. Economic analysts suggest the government's plan to maintain near-zero population growth through 2028 represents a necessary correction following rapid expansion that strained housing, healthcare, and public services. However, policy advocates warn that without a comprehensive national strategy, this pullback threatens long-term economic prosperity and lea

New Brunswick will raise its minimum wage to $15.90 per hour starting April 1, marking a 25-cent increase from the current $15.65 rate. Labour Minister Alyson Townsend emphasized that maintaining a competitive minimum wage supports provincial productivity and economic growth across all wage levels. The adjustment reflects the province's 1.7 per cent consumer price index growth in 2025, with rates automatically indexed and rounded to the nearest five cents. Currently, just fi

Alberta added 41,800 full-time jobs last month, cementing its position as Canada's leader in employment growth despite global economic headwinds affecting other provinces. Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow highlighted the province's 3.4 per cent increase in employment over the past year, significantly outpacing the national average of 0.6 per cent. The province's economic diversification efforts, combined with competitive tax rates and a skilled w

Manitoba has updated sector eligibility requirements for its Temporary Resident Retention Pilot, effective February 4, 2026. The changes reflect shifting labour market priorities across the province. Hospitality and Food Services positions are no longer included under the program, while several skilled trades occupations have been added to meet current workforce demands. The modifications aim to better support industries experiencing critical labour shortages and ensure the

Canada saw a modest decline in payroll employment in November 2025, with 26,200 fewer positions recorded than the previous month, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The decrease affected ten of the twenty sectors, particularly retail trade, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services. Despite this monthly pullback, annual figures showed marginal growth, with 48,300 more payroll positions than in November 2024. Average weekly earnings climbed to $1,317.16, m

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission wrapped up a strong first year of its Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), issuing 475 recommendation certificates to skilled workers across priority sectors, including healthcare, business, and trades. The employer-driven program, which runs through 2029, designated 358 employers across the Thunder Bay region and reviewed nearly 900 applications. CEO Jamie Taylor emphasized the pilot's role in tackling local lab

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has revised its Skills Immigration application fee structure as of January 22, 2026. Workers seeking permanent residency through the program can now apply across three streams – Skilled Worker, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled, and Health Authority – with an application fee of $1,750 CAD. Registration remains free of charge, while review requests cost $500 CAD. The program continues to prioritize candidates who address Bri