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

Rodney Sidloski has been charged with six offences under Saskatchewan's immigration legislation for allegedly exploiting two foreign workers at HELP International Shelterbelt Center near Weyburn between 2022 and 2024. The charges include producing false payroll records, misrepresenting employment terms, and taking advantage of the workers' trust and lack of knowledge. These alleged violations occurred at the tree farm operation and involve breaches of the Foreign Worker Recr

On February 19, 2026, Prince Edward Island  conducted  2026’s second invitation round under the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP). In this draw, PEI issued 109 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

A new poll shows that 80% of British Columbians support expediting the removal of non-citizens charged or convicted of extortion and related crimes. The Research Co. survey found that 56% of residents have been closely following news about the surge in extortion attempts and shootings across the province. Support for faster deportation processes spans political lines, with 87% of Conservative voters, 85% of NDP supporters, and 73% of Green Party voters backing the measure. A

Nova Scotia has restructured its immigration system by consolidating ten separate streams into four main pathways. The Nova Scotia Nominee Program now offers clearer options for newcomers through the Nova Scotia Graduate, Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and Nova Scotia: Express Entry streams. This change took effect on February 18, 2026, and applies only to new applications submitted after that date. Existing applications remain unaffected, and all eligibility requirements sta

On February 18, 2026, Alberta  released  the results of the recent Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) immigration draws. On February 6, the province invited up to ten candidates under the Alberta Express Entry Stream – Law Enforcement Pathway, while the February 10 draw invited 212 Rural Renewal Stream candidates. Additionally, on February 11, Alberta invited 147 Express Entry candidates under the Accelerated Tech Pathway. Furthermore, the province conducted three A

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program will reopen on March 9, 2026, with significant changes to its Employer-Driven Stream. The territory has been allocated 197 nominations for the year and is introducing an Expression of Interest system to improve fairness and transparency. Employers will submit profiles for foreign workers, which will be scored based on work experience, education, language proficiency, and connections to the NWT. The first selection draw is scheduled f

On February 18, 2026, the Government of Ontario  conducted  new invitation draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW) and International Student Stream (EJO IS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In these draws, the province targeted candidates working in the skilled trades-related occupations. The OINP issued 951 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the EJO FW Stream and 453 ITAs under the EJO IS Stream. In total, this year, the province issued

On February 16, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the Express Entry draw #395. The Government of Canada issued 279 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 789 points, 40 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw, which was the highest of the year. The tie-breaking rule for this round was September 05, 2025, at 0:59:13 UTC. As of February 15, 2026, 235,695 p

On February 12, 2026, Manitoba  held  the invitation round #264 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 29 skilled workers under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams as part of a strategic recruitment initiative. In this round, six invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. This year, the MPNP invited 131 candidates, and 22 of them receive

On February 11, 2026, New Brunswick issued 196 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Skilled Worker Stream under the NBPNP, specifically targeting the NB Graduates and NB Experience pathways. This draw focused on essential Healthcare occupations for candidates who submitted their EOI by the February 10, 2026, cut-off date. The Skilled Worker Stream is designed for foreign nationals with the skills, education, and work experience needed to contribute to the provinc

On February 11, 2026, the Government of British Columbia held the second Skills Immigration invitation draw under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and issued invitations to apply to 460 skilled candidates with the potential to create high economic impact in the province. The selection criteria targeted two distinct groups: 195 candidates in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions earning a minimum wage of $62 per hour while working full-time with their suppor

On February 10, 2026, British Columbia  held  two draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The BCPNP issued 13 invitations to candidates in the Base Category of the Entrepreneur Stream, which is designed for experienced businessmen seeking to establish a new business or acquire an existing one in British Columbia. The lowest score of this round was 121 points. In addition, the province invited up to five candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration -

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) continues its regular invitation rounds for candidates registered in its Skills Immigration stream. As of February 8, 2026, the registration pool contains 10,988 candidates across various score ranges. The distribution shows significant concentration in the mid-tier brackets, with 2,134 registrations in the 100-109 range and 1,979 in the 90-99 category. Higher-scoring candidates remain competitive, as 41 registrations

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program will temporarily close its application portal from February 13 to February 18, 2026, as part of a major modernization effort. During this period, applicants with in-progress Expression of Interest submissions must complete them by February 13 at 4:00 PM, or they will be automatically cancelled. The program is also consolidating its streams from 10 to 4, aiming to provide greater clarity and a more streamlined application experience. Importantl

On February 5, 2026, Alberta  released  the results of the recent Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) immigration draws. On January 26 and January 27, the province invited 63 and 43 candidates under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway – Express Entry and non-Express Entry streams, respectively. Additionally, on January 29, Alberta invited 148 candidates under the Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway, while the February 2 draw invited 915 candidates u

On February 3, 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). On February 2, 2026, the province conducted two draws and issued a total of 326 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. The new draws were conducted under the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream – Employment in New Brunswick (166 ITAs) and NB Strategic

Starting February 3, 2026, Immigration New Brunswick has suspended new employer designation applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program while implementing sweeping reforms across three key immigration pathways. The province is introducing a candidate pool system for AIP endorsement applications, in which monthly selections prioritize provincial labour market needs rather than processing applications chronologically. Simultaneously, significant occupational restrictio

On February 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)  held  the Express Entry draw #393. The Government of Canada issued 423 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 749 points, 3 points more than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was December 16, 2025, at 22:30:36 UTC. As of February 2, 2026, 238,920 profiles were registered in the Express