New official data shows a sharp reduction in new temporary residents entering Canada. Between January and May 2026, overall new arrivals fell by nearly 70% compared to the same timeframe in 2024. New study permit arrivals dropped by almost 83%, while new temporary work permits decreased by over 62%. These figures highlight the ongoing impact of federal policy changes, including strict study permit caps and tighter work eligibility rules. The government aims to lower the tempo

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has updated the provincial and territorial hourly wage thresholds for hiring temporary foreign workers, effective July 17, 2026. The wage offered for a position determines whether an employer must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the high-wage or low-wage stream. For applications received on or after July 17, 2026, the threshold increases to $36.92 in Ontario, $37.50 in Alberta, and $38.40 in British Colu

Actionable — LMIA files: updated provincial/territorial median hourly wage thresholds took effect July 17, 2026, based on 2023–2024 Labour Force Survey data under NOC 2021. The high-wage/low-wage split for LMIA stream classification (median wage + 20% for high-wage) should be re-checked for any file where the offered wage sits near the prior threshold. (Source: ESDC) ESDC reports $10.2 million in compliance penalties issued to employers for FY2025–26, more than double the pri

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) announced that compliance penalties under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) more than doubled to over 10.2 million dollars during the recent fiscal year. Of nearly 1,500 inspections completed, 12 percent of employers were found non-compliant, resulting in substantial fines and the ban of 30 employers from the program. Federal authorities also introduced stricter rules for the low-wage stream, requiring businesses to ad

Many Iranian nationals who came to Canada under special humanitarian measures are struggling to reunite with their families due to tightening immigration rules. Federal data reveals that immigration officials approved only 25 spousal open work permits for Iranian applicants over the past two years. The Federal Government recently introduced stricter eligibility requirements to manage the temporary resident population. Spousal applicants must show that their partners have at l

A record 30,092 Canadian citizens and permanent residents emigrated from Canada in the first quarter of 2026. This is the highest first-quarter emigration count ever recorded by Statistics Canada. During the same period, nearly 200,000 temporary residents also left the country. These departures led to an overall population loss of over 55,000 people. Rising housing costs, high taxes, and cost-of-living pressures are driving this trend. Many skilled professionals are leaving t

The British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that Mac’s Convenience Stores and three immigration consulting firms unlawfully exploited close to 880 migrant workers. Justice Sharon Matthews found that the defendants used false pretences to charge migrants up to $8,000 each for Canadian jobs that rarely existed. The retail chain brought workers to Canada to create a flexible staffing pool without any specific intention to employ them full-time. Many arrived to find no employment, w

Quebec experienced a rare population decline last year, according to the Quebec Institute of Statistics. The province lost nearly ten thousand residents in 2025 because deaths outpaced births for the second consecutive year. A massive drop in temporary immigration also contributed heavily to this negative trend. The total number of temporary residents fell by over 50,000. At the same time, thousands of residents chose to move from Quebec to other Canadian provinces, such as O

A British Columbia forestry enterprise currently facing insolvency proceedings has been penalized $429,000 and banned from employing migrant workers for two years following a federal investigation. Inspectors determined that Vancouver-based San Industries Ltd. breached five sections of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. The violations included failing to provide advertised wages and working conditions, failing to match positions with approved labour market as

The Canadian Government has reported a major decline in temporary resident arrivals. Total arrivals for new students and temporary workers dropped by 75 percent between January and March of 2026 compared to the same period in 2024. This decrease follows federal caps on international study permits and stricter hiring limits for temporary foreign workers. Additionally, immigration officials are prioritizing temporary residents already in the country for permanent residency. Ove

A new debate is growing in Alberta after discussions around a potential 2026 referendum on immigration-related policies gained national attention. Proposed questions reportedly focus on reducing immigration levels, limiting access to provincially funded services for some temporary residents, and introducing additional requirements tied to immigration status. Supporters argue the measures would help Alberta manage population growth and protect public resources, while critics w

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently updated its instructions regarding the restoration of temporary resident status to provide greater flexibility for foreign nationals. Under the revised policy, applicants can now apply to restore their temporary resident status independently, without the obligation to restore the specific work or study authorizations they previously held. This means individuals who no longer qualify for or require their former autho

Statistics Canada is overhauling its Demographic Estimates Program to keep pace with the country’s volatile migration landscape. Following the unprecedented population surge of 2023 and a subsequent cooling in 2025, the agency is integrating real-time administrative data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to better track permit extensions and non-permanent residents. New projects slated for 2026 include releasing sub-provincial data for urban centers to

New polling from the Angus Reid Institute reveals that two-thirds of Albertans support a proposed referendum measure to restrict temporary residents’ access to government-funded social services like healthcare and education. The data shows a sharp political divide, with nearly all 2023 UCP voters favouring some form of restriction, while a majority of NDP voters believe all residents should remain eligible for support. As the province prepares for these significant votes, ag

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued new processing instructions for a temporary public policy supporting certain Ukrainian nationals in Canada and eligible family members who have applied under the Family reunification for Ukrainian nationals pathway to permanent residence. Effective April 1, 2026, the measures allow eligible applicants to maintain or restore temporary resident status while their permanent residence application is processed. To qua

On March 12, 2026, the Federal Court ordered expedited reconsideration of a visitor visa application after four rounds of judicial review. Indian parents Subash Kumar and Rashmi sought to visit their children, who were studying in Canada, but faced repeated refusals despite strong financial ties and a travel history. The case was taken pro bono after multiple settlements failed to resolve the issue. Justice Grant found the visa officer's decision unreasonable for ignoring ev

The Government of Canada announced temporary measures allowing rural employers to increase the proportion of low-wage temporary foreign workers they can hire from 10% to 15% of their workforce. The change is intended to help rural businesses address persistent labour shortages and will apply from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, following a request from a province or territory. At the same time, sector-specific rules will remain in place: employers in the health care,

Employers who break the rules of Canada's temporary foreign worker program now face much steeper penalties. Fines have jumped from $102,250 across 74 companies in 2018-19 to $4.8 million for 147 companies last fiscal year. McMaster University professor Catherine Connelly notes the government shifted from an educational approach to a deterrence strategy. The change comes as public scrutiny of the program intensified. Despite larger penalties, experts believe many violations s

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

Immigration Minister Lena Diab has called for enhanced tracking capabilities to monitor temporary residents leaving Canada, as nearly 1.9 million temporary residents are set to have their visas expire this year. While the Canada Border Services Agency currently tracks departure details like transportation methods and travel documents, it lacks the ability to efficiently determine visa expiration status without manual, labour-intensive checks. Diab emphasized that many countr