A recent analysis of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) argues that Canada’s use of age-based criteria is an outdated policy that contradicts national values regarding non-discrimination. Under current regulations, applicants receive zero points for age if they are over 45, a practice critics compare to prohibited forms of bias in employment. Research indicates that the assumption of older immigrants being a burden on social services is empirically incorrect, as pension b

In a new report titled Resetting Expectations: Canada’s Economy in a Lower-Immigration Era, economists Don Drummond and Parisa Mahboubi warn that Canada's reduced immigration targets represent a fundamental structural shift. They project that real GDP growth could fall to just 0.4% in 2026, significantly trailing official forecasts from the Bank of Canada and the Federal Government's recent economic updates. The authors emphasize that upcoming monthly employment declines, est

Nova Scotia has refined its immigration priorities to address critical labour shortages, with a primary focus on healthcare and skilled trades. Effective April 27, 2026, candidates in these sectors at TEER levels 0–4 are prioritized, including both international applicants and temporary residents already working in the province. Additionally, the province may consider candidates already working in Nova Scotia in selected sectors, including natural sciences, education, natural

Effective May 1, 2026, Nova Scotia will implement a 12-month validity period for all Expressions of Interest (EOI) to enhance inventory management and ensure alignment with current labour-market needs. Under the new measures, EOIs submitted before May 1, 2024, will be closed immediately on the effective date. Those submitted between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2026, will remain active until April 30, 2027, unless selected sooner. For all new submissions moving forward, profile

Canada’s longstanding commitment to multiculturalism is facing a critical test as temporary residents remain in prolonged legal limbo. While the Federal Government provides robust support for Francophone communities, non-official language ethnocultural groups often lack similar institutional recognition. Current policies frequently prioritize overseas applicants over integrated temporary workers and students who have already proven their success within the Canadian economy. E

The Government of Saskatchewan has utilized approximately 26% of its 2026 Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) allocation, issuing 1,223 of its 4,761 total available spots. Data reveals that priority sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and technology, have seen the highest activity, accounting for 689 nominations so far. To maintain labour market balance, the province continues to manage capped sectors through specific intake windows, with the next scheduled

The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) has sent an open letter to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, highlighting systemic failures in the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. Representing over 540 lawyers, CILA argues that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has shifted toward a culture of refusal, where officers apply subjective criteria and unpublished benchmarks to deny applications. Key issues identi

Garnett Genuis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Employment, has criticized the Liberal Government’s latest youth employment announcement as a repackaging of old commitments that fail to address rising job losses. Highlighting that Canada recently lost over 50,000 youth jobs, the Conservatives are proposing a Youth Jobs Plan centred on aligning immigration with housing and labour market realities. The plan advocates for fixing foreign credential recognition and adjusting stu

A new regulatory proposal indicates that Canada is preparing to redesign the selection of high-skilled immigrants, replacing the current Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades programs with a single, streamlined federal category. The goal is to simplify the system and make it more responsive to labour market needs, shifting away from a universal selection model toward a more targeted approach based on occupations and economic demand. Th

Statistics Canada’s latest analysis highlights how immigrants and non-permanent residents who arrived between 2019 and 2024 navigated a fast-changing labour market shaped by post-pandemic job vacancies. Using a 2024 Labour Force Survey supplement, the report examines core working-age newcomers (aged 25 to 54) and compares them with earlier immigrant cohorts. Many newcomers secured their first job quickly, with 42.5% of recent immigrants and 48.5% of recent non-permanent resi

Canada has extended certain temporary work permit measures for Ukrainians in response to Russia’s ongoing war. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said Ukrainians who arrived under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) and related measures will get an additional year to apply to extend their work permit. Eligibility includes Ukrainians and family members who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, as well as some CUAET holders permitted to a

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

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

Canada saw a modest decline in payroll employment in November 2025, with 26,200 fewer positions recorded than the previous month, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The decrease affected ten of the twenty sectors, particularly retail trade, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services. Despite this monthly pullback, annual figures showed marginal growth, with 48,300 more payroll positions than in November 2024. Average weekly earnings climbed to $1,317.16, m

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

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

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