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

Employment and Social Development Canada has processed 31,449 positive Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) for temporary foreign worker positions in the third quarter of 2025. Ontario led the provinces with 11,392 approvals, followed by Quebec at 7,811 and British Columbia with 6,336. Alberta recorded 2,868 positive LMIAs, while the Atlantic provinces saw modest numbers ranging from 263 in Newfoundland and Labrador to 779 in Nova Scotia. The prairie provinces of Manitoba

New federal statistics reveal that work permit issuances under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) plummeted to just 2,615 in November 2025, marking the lowest monthly intake since early 2024. This sharp decline follows commitments from federal ministers to "rebalance" the program in response to concerns over housing shortages and wage suppression. While the program saw over 100,000 approvals annually during the post-pandemic peak of 2022–23, the government has since

The Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) is advocating for a new “trusted employer” certification within Canadian immigration programs to prevent worker abuse and strengthen protections for foreign workers in the trucking sector. The MTA’s executive director, Aaron Dolyniuk, has met with provincial labour and immigration officials to propose a program that would require companies to prove they can properly onboard foreign employees — including helping them obtain driver’s lic

Canada added 21,200 payroll positions in October, a modest 0.1% gain that reversed September's decline , according to Statistics Canada. Healthcare led growth with 10,300 new jobs, while finance, public administration, and transportation also posted gains. However, job vacancies dropped to 467,000—the lowest level since 2017—falling 3.9% from the previous month. Average weekly earnings reached $1,312, up 2.2% year-over-year, though the job vacancy rate slipped to 2.6%. The un

On December 19, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the indefinite suspension of intake for Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, effective immediately. This decision addresses the growing gap between demand and available space, resulting in longer processing times for applicants. The pause supports Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which is designed to stabilize immigration levels while addressing critical labour market needs. IRCC w

Canada's job market saw vacancies fall by 14,000 positions in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 2.8% decrease to 492,500 openings. This decline follows similar drops earlier in the year and extends a downward trend that began after vacancies peaked at nearly 986,000 in mid-2022. Full-time and permanent positions bore the brunt of the reduction, while part-time and temporary roles remained relatively stable. Year-over-year figures show even steeper declines, with full-time

New data from Statistics Canada reveals that the median entry wage for immigrants arriving in Canada fell by 10.6% in 2023, marking the steepest decline since 1991. Despite this drop, newcomers' earnings one year after admission remained above pre-pandemic figures. The decrease coincided with a 1.1% rise in overall Canadian wages and appears linked to shifts in admission categories, particularly a reduction in Canadian Experience Class principal applicants—who typically comm

Saskatchewan's labour market showed impressive strength in November, with Statistics Canada reporting 16,500 new jobs year over year, including 14,900 full-time and 1,600 part-time positions. The province maintains the second-lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 5.6%, significantly below the national average of 6.5%. Deputy Premier Jim Reiter highlighted Saskatchewan's robust economic performance, noting substantial gains in health care and social assistance, building and s

Alberta has once again proven its economic strength by creating 28,700 jobs in November 2025, accounting for more than half of all jobs added across Canada. This marks the third consecutive month of significant employment growth in the province. Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow highlighted that Alberta has added over 105,000 jobs since November 2024, demonstrating positive momentum that aligns with the province's rapid population expansion. Youth

An extensive investigation has uncovered disturbing patterns of exploitation affecting nearly 80,000 temporary foreign workers in Canada's agricultural sector. These workers, who harvest the produce that reaches Canadian tables, face wage theft, unsafe working conditions, inadequate housing, and in some cases, physical and sexual abuse. The Investigative Journalism Bureau's findings, supported by Simon Fraser University research , reveal that the Temporary Foreign Worker Prog

Canada's labour market shifted in September, with payroll employment falling by 58,000, reversing gains made over the summer months. The decline affected 11 of 20 sectors, with educational services and manufacturing among the most brutally hit. However, a silver lining emerged: job vacancies climbed to 486,000—the first monthly increase in nearly 9 months. Despite this uptick, job vacancies remain down almost 10% compared to last year. Average weekly earnings continued their

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program has officially closed the 2025 intake after receiving sufficient applications to meet its federal nomination allocation of 300 candidates. Applicants will receive email notifications regarding the status of their submissions. The program is scheduled to reopen in 2026, with further details to be announced. In the interim, employers facing workforce challenges can explore alternative pathways such as the Temporary Foreign Worker Progr

A new national analysis shows that highly skilled immigrants, those with advanced degrees or expertise in fields such as engineering, ICT, and healthcare, are twice as likely to leave Canada within their first five years compared to immigrants with lower skill levels. Although one in five newcomers eventually departs within 25 years, early-stage departures are far more common among top-talent professionals who face challenges such as limited career opportunities, underemploy

A federal initiative designed to help Canadian employers hire skilled refugees from overseas is facing serious challenges , with processing times ballooning from an initial six months to 54 months. The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, launched in 2018 to address labour shortages by connecting businesses with qualified refugee workers, has left more than 20 companies struggling with production cuts and lost revenue while applicants remain in precarious situations abroad. Refu

Saskatchewan's labour market demonstrated remarkable strength in October, adding 14,000 jobs compared to the previous year—a 2.3% increase that ranks second-highest among Canadian provinces. The province's unemployment rate dropped to 5.5%, significantly lower than the national average of 6.9%, placing it as the second-lowest in the country. October saw record-breaking employment figures with 621,800 people working across Saskatchewan, including 514,500 in full-time position

Canada's employment landscape continued to strengthen in October 2025, adding 67,000 jobs and pushing the national employment rate to 60.8%. This marks the second straight month of growth , with the unemployment rate dropping to 6.9%. The gains were particularly pronounced among men aged 25 to 54 and younger workers aged 15 to 24. Wholesale and retail trade, transportation, and information sectors led the expansion, while Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador posted notable r

A comprehensive TD Economics report released on October 28, 2025, confirms that Canada's strategic reduction of immigration levels is achieving its intended objectives across housing and employment sectors. The analysis, authored by Chief Economist Beata Caranci and Economist Marc Ercolao, reveals that population growth has decelerated from 3.2% in Q2 2024 to 0.9% in 2025, significantly moderating rental market pressures and stabilizing unemployment rates. Purpose-built rent

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has released a comprehensive analysis addressing widespread misconceptions about the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, representing over 100,000 small and medium-sized business owners nationwide. The report systematically refutes claims that businesses are addicted to foreign workers, that TFWs displace Canadians, suppress wages, strain public services, or facilitate worker abuse. CFIB emphasizes that temporary foreign workers