Manitoba and Prince Edward Island have announced upcoming minimum wage increases, reflecting continued adjustments to support workers amid changing economic conditions. Manitoba’s minimum wage will rise by 40 cents to $16.40 per hour on Oct. 1, 2026, based on the province’s 2025 inflation rate and annual indexing under the Employment Standards Code. Prince Edward Island will introduce a two-step increase , moving from $17.00 to $17.30 per hour on Oct. 1, 2026, and then to $1

On April 1, 2026, Ontario  conducted  immigration draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW), International Student Stream (EJO IS), and In-Demand Skills Stream (EJO IDS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In these draws, the province targeted candidates working in the mining industry. The OINP issued 372 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the EJO FW Stream, 355 ITAs under the EJO IS Stream, and 32 ITAs under the EJO IDS Stream. In total, the

On March 30, 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador  held  the second round of selection through the Enhanced Expression of Interest (EOI) system, issuing a total of 245 invitations. Of these, 209 were sent to candidates under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), while 36 went to applicants through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Last year, Newfoundland and Labrador invited a total of 3,376 applicants under the NLPNP and AIP. So far, the province

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program regulatory changes took effect on March 30, 2026, updating how applications are processed before permanent residence is granted. Under the new rules, provinces and territories assume expanded authority previously held by IRCC to assess whether nominees can become economically established and whether they intend to live in the nominating jurisdiction. IRCC says the guidance is posted as a courtesy to stakeholders and applies to both existin

Alberta  released  the results of the recent Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) immigration draws. On March 5, the province invited 832 candidates under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Additionally, on March 6, Alberta invited 139 Express Entry candidates under the Accelerated Tech Pathway. The March 12 draw invited 47 candidates under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Entry stream, while the March 13 draw invited 349 candidates under the Rural Renewal

On March 20, 2026, Prince Edward Island  conducted  2026’s third invitation round under the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP). In this draw, PEI issued 101 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates working in priority sectors based on economic impact in PEI. The province prioritized candidates with employment offers from PEI-based organizations and international graduates from recognized institutions, including UPEI, Holland College, and Collège de l'Î

Alberta has introduced new mandatory fields in the Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) system to collect details on wages and working hours for candidates with a job offer. Effective February 25, 2026, all new submissions must include this information, and profiles missing these details will not be considered in future draws. This update signals a stronger focus on job quality and alignment with labour market needs under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Alberta is

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

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is introducing new fees effective April 1, 2026. Applications from skilled workers with job offers, which were previously free, will now require a $500 fee as the province shifts toward employer-driven streams and aims to recover administrative costs. In addition, a $250 fee will be charged for second-review requests to discourage non-genuine appeals, with refunds issued if the original decision is overturned. The new measure

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) announced significant regulatory changes, affecting Ontario Regulation 421/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015. These amendments grant the Minister authority to redesign the OINP by creating or removing selection streams, a power approved through the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025. The updates streamline application processing, refine program streams to address provincial labour market demands, and strengthen program i

On March 6, 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador  held  the first rounds of selection through the Enhanced Expression of Interest (EOI) system, issuing a total of 445 invitations. Of these, 362 were sent to candidates under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), while 83 went to applicants through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Last year, Newfoundland and Labrador invited a total of 3,376 applicants under the NLPNP and AIP. #newfoundland_and_lab

On March 6, 2026, New Brunswick  published  the results of its recent draws using an expression of interest system to streamline immigration applications for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). From March 3 to March 6, 2026, the province conducted four new draws and issued a total of 622 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. The new draws were conducted under the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream – E

On March 4, 2026, Alberta  released  the results of the recent Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) immigration draws. On February 26, the province invited 30 Rural Renewal Stream candidates with a minimum score of 55. The AAIP has issued 822 nominations so far in 2026, with 5,581 spaces remaining from its total allocation of 6,403. Last year, the program met its full allocation by issuing 6,603 nominations, with over 85% going to temporary foreign workers already in

Saskatchewan launched the second intake window for 2026 on March 2, accepting applications across capped sectors including accommodation and food services, retail trade, and trucking. While the intake window filled quickly for accommodation and food services (240 positions) and retail trade (80 positions), the trucking sector remains open with 40 positions still available out of the original 80-position limit. Only workers with six months or less on a valid work permit were

On March 2, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the fifth Express Entry draw #399 for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The Government of Canada issued 264 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the round’s cut-off score was 710 points, 79 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw, and it was the lowest of the year. The tie-breaking rule for this round was August 07, 2025, at 18:02:56 UTC. As of March 15, 2026, 232,534 profiles were regi

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) has announced the annual Fraud Prevention Month campaign for March 2026 to help employers and prospective immigrants recognize and avoid immigration scams. Immigration fraud remains a serious concern, with consequences including financial loss, legal penalties, and application refusals. The BCPNP reminds applicants that hiring a representative is optional, and any representative used must be licensed with the College of

On February 26, 2026, Alberta  released  the results of the recent Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) immigration draws. On February 20, 2026, the province invited 831 candidates under the Alberta Opportunity Stream – Priority Sectors. The minimum score for this draw was 56 points. Additionally, on February 24, 2026, Alberta invited 68 candidates under the Tourism and Hospitality Stream. Invited candidates had a minimum score of 73 points. So far, Alberta has invite

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

A joint study by Statistics Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reveals that provincial nominees screened through the Express Entry system achieve better economic outcomes than those admitted through base streams. Enhanced provincial nominees earned 7% to 16% more one year after arrival and 12% more three years later, even after accounting for demographic differences. The research, which analyzed data from 2016 to 2024, shows that 78% of enhanced nominees

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced plans for an October 2026 referendum on immigration policy, marking a significant departure from her previous support for high population growth. The proposal comes as the province grapples with rapid demographic changes that have strained public services. Smith attributes the shift to federal immigration reforms under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which moved away from merit-based selection toward increased temporary work