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

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

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

Nova Scotia’s Pictou County has announced the launch of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), with employer designation applications opening on February 17, 2026. As one of only 14 selected communities in Canada, Pictou County will use this permanent residency pathway to fill critical roles in healthcare, trades, and technology across municipalities like New Glasgow and Stellarton. The program aims to align regional labour needs with international talent, offering a

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

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

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

The North Bay & Area Rural Community Immigration Pilot has announced significant updates to its 2026 Priority Occupation List, including the addition of a sixth priority sector focused on natural and applied sciences. Following consultation with over 170 designated employers and analysis of regional labour market data, the program has refined its occupations list to better address workforce needs across healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and newly added technology fiel

On February 4, 2026, the Government of British Columbia held the first Skills Immigration invitation draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and issued invitations to apply to 429 skilled candidates with the potential to create high economic impact in the province. The selection criteria targeted two distinct groups: 206 candidates in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 positions earning a minimum wage of $70 per hour while working full-time with their suppor

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

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is organizing a virtual immigration and job fair on February 11, running from 6 to 10 p.m. GMT. This event offers skilled foreign workers a valuable opportunity to connect directly with employers across the province who are actively hiring. Participants will need to upload their resumes during registration for employer review. The fair will also include informative sessions and Q&A segments with immigration experts, covering pathwa

On January 29, 2026, Manitoba held the invitation round #263 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 47 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 102 candidates, and 16 of them received

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

On January 15, 2026, Prince Edward Island conducted 2026’s first invitation round under the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP). In this draw, PEI issued 26 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'

On January 15, 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). From January 13 to January 15, 2026, the province conducted three draws and issued a total of 379 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. The new draws were conducted under the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream– Employment in New Brunswick (20 ITAs),

On January 7, 2026, the Office of Immigration of Prince Edward Island published a schedule for invitation rounds via the Expression of Interest system for individuals to apply for the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEIPNP). The invitation rounds are scheduled for the following dates: January 15, 2026 February 19, 2026 March 19, 2026 April 16, 2026 May 21, 2026 June 18, 2026 July 16, 2026 August 20, 2026 September 17, 2026 October 15, 2026 November 19, 2026

British Columbia's Skills Immigration registration pool has recorded 11,210 total registrations as of January 6, 2026, according to the latest provincial data . The distribution shows a concentration of interest across all scoring tiers, with the 100-109 range leading with 2,161 registrants, followed closely by the 90-99 bracket at 2,048. The pool's composition reveals sustained demand for skilled worker pathways, as scores ranging from 60 to 149 demonstrate consistent regist

On December 31, 2025, Manitoba held the invitation round #261 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 421 candidates under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream. The draw invited 353 candidates under the occupation-specific selection and 68 candidates under the Skilled Worker pathway. In this round, 118 invitations were extended to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code. In 2025, the MPNP invit

Following major changes to Ontario's immigration system, many newcomers pursuing permanent residency are in limbo , uncertain about their future in Canada. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, which offers a fast-track pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers and international students, is undergoing significant restructuring. The province has suspended its skilled trades stream and is reducing entry categories from nine to four, while Ottawa has cut provincial no

On December 23, 2025, Prince Edward Island conducted an unscheduled invitation round under the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP). In this draw, PEI issued 13 invitations to apply (ITAs) to workers in priority sectors based on economic impact in PEI. So far, the province has invited only one business candidate this year. PEI invited 1,609 skilled workers through 14 PEI PNP draws in 2025. The province will publish the next PEI PNP draw dates in early 20