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Canada invests over $1 M to boost bilingual talent and Francophone entrepreneurship in southern Ontario
The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) has invested over $1 million to expand bilingual workforce development and Francophone entrepreneurship in southern Ontario. Funding will support Francophone-led organizations such as the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario and the Conseil régional des Mille-Îles to strengthen up to 12 businesses in tourism, sustainability, and services. The Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de
Nov 20


Senate committee urged to exempt foreign-adopted children from citizenship connection test
Legal experts are calling on the Senate to amend Bill C-3 to grant children adopted from overseas the same citizenship protections as those adopted domestically. A briefing paper submitted to the Senate committee argues that subjecting foreign-adopted children to substantial-connection tests creates an unfair distinction and potentially violates Canada's Charter and international treaty obligations. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has faced years of advocacy fro
Nov 20


Canada's refugee employment program struggles with extended processing delays
A federal initiative designed to help Canadian employers hire skilled refugees from overseas is facing serious challenges , with processing times ballooning from an initial six months to 54 months. The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, launched in 2018 to address labour shortages by connecting businesses with qualified refugee workers, has left more than 20 companies struggling with production cuts and lost revenue while applicants remain in precarious situations abroad. Refu
Nov 20


Ontario suspended the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream over fraud concerns
Ontario's Immigrant Nominee Program has suspended the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream following a comprehensive review that uncovered widespread compliance issues and fraudulent activity. The investigation revealed systemic misrepresentation affecting applicants' eligibility assessments, prompting officials to halt new applications indefinitely. All pending applications will be returned with full refunds as authorities work to address vulnerabilities in the current syste
Nov 17


IRCC updates work permit eligibility rules for family members of military personnel
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has updated its operational guidelines for work-permit applications submitted by family members of military personnel, effective November 14, 2025. The revision confirms that dependent children are no longer eligible for open work permits under codes C46 or C48 for applications filed on or after January 21, 2025, where no reciprocal agreement applies. It also clarifies that spouses of TEER 4 workers are no longer eligible for open
Nov 17


Ottawa invited 3,500 healthcare workers in the new Express Entry draw
On November 14, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the sixth occupation-specific Express Entry draw of the year for candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations. In round #379, IRCC issued 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA), and the cut-off score was 462 points (ten points fewer than the last draw for this category). The tie-breaking rule for this round was December 02, 2024, at 22:19:41 UTC. This year, Canada issued 86,699 ITAs
Nov 17


Saskatchewan faces a sharp rise in refugee claims as federal immigration cuts leave thousands in limbo
Saskatchewan has experienced a dramatic 98 per cent surge in refugee claims over the past year, driven largely by sweeping federal and provincial immigration reductions that have left many temporary residents with few options for staying in Canada. Between April 2024 and April 2025, asylum claims in the province jumped from 683 to 1,344, according to Statistics Canada. At the same time, Saskatchewan recorded the steepest drop in permanent residents among Canadian provinces —
Nov 14


Canada's refugee protection claims reach nearly 300,000 pending cases as the immigration system faces growing pressure
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has released the latest monthly statistics, revealing that pending refugee protection claims hit 298,588 cases by October 2025. This represents a steady climb from 139,540 pending cases in October 2023, marking a significant increase in backlog over the two-year period. While monthly intake has fluctuated between roughly 7,500 and 19,800 new claims, finalizations have consistently lagged, averaging around 6,500 decisions per month.
Nov 14


IRCC updated study permit rules for protected persons and their families
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that protected persons and their family members can now apply for study permits from within Canada, regardless of whether they have submitted permanent residency applications. This policy update, effective November 13, 2025, expands access for various groups, including students at all educational levels, work permit holders, temporary residents, refugee claimants, and families of foreign government officials. The
Nov 14


Canada extended temporary relief for Sudanese nationals until October 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced the continuation of temporary measures for individuals affected by the Sudan conflict, extending support until October 28, 2026. Sudanese nationals in Canada — as well as eligible foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents — may continue to extend their temporary resident status or modify the conditions of their stay without paying the applicable fees. Sudanese nationals who are read
Nov 13


Newfoundland and Labrador held new selection rounds and invited candidates under the NLPNP and the AIP
On November 12, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador held new rounds of selection through the Enhanced Expression of Interest (EOI) system, issuing a total of 330 invitations. Of these, 220 were sent to candidates under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), while 110 went to applicants through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). As of February 19, 2025, all applicants to the NLPNP and AIP must submit their applications through the new Immigration
Nov 13


IRCC issued 1,000 invitations for CEC candidates under Express Entry
On November 12, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC again issued only 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to candidates in the CEC-targeted draw. In round #377, the cut-off score was 533 points, the same as it was in the previous CEC-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 17, 2025, at 03:39:05 UTC. As of November 9, 2025, 245,706 profiles were re
Nov 13


Ottawa and Quebec find common ground on immigration reform after years of discord
The federal and Quebec governments have aligned their immigration policies under Prime Minister Mark Carney's leadership. After years of disagreement over reception levels and provincial concerns, both now acknowledge the system needs fixing. Ottawa admits immigration rates have outpaced Canada's capacity to integrate newcomers, while Quebec moderates its reduction plans. Despite this convergence, political tensions persist. Quebec criticizes federal delays on regional exemp
Nov 12


Cambrian College suspends more programs amid the drop in international students
Cambrian College in Sudbury has suspended intake for six additional programs after an earlier pause on ten, citing a “catastrophic” decline in international student enrollment following IRCC’s new post-graduate work permit rules. The college now faces a projected $1.4 million deficit for 2025–2026, ending a decade of surpluses. Enrollment of international students dropped to 1,430 from 2,631 last year, while domestic numbers rose only slightly. Affected programs include Busi
Nov 12


The Express Entry pool sees a dramatic shift as the number of high-scoring candidates surges
Canada's Express Entry system has experienced a notable transformation in recent weeks, with approximately 11% of all candidates now holding CRS scores exceeding 500 points. While the overall pool contracted by 2,547 profiles between late October and early November, the competitive landscape has intensified significantly. The number of candidates in the highest scoring bracket (601-1,200) more than doubled from 306 to 696, while the 501-600 range expanded by 417 profiles. Th
Nov 12


Canadian travel to the US plummets amid border concerns and new fingerprinting rules
A significant shift in Canadian travel patterns has emerged as new research reveals a dramatic decline in cross-border trips to the United States. According to the Angus Reid Institute, only 10% of Canadians made multiple trips south in the past year, down from 19% in 2023. The drop comes as two-thirds of Canadians call new US fingerprinting requirements for stays exceeding 29 days "invasive," while 70% express discomfort with winter travel plans. Safety concerns, political
Nov 11


Saskatchewan's job market demonstrates strong growth with 14,000 new positions and a 5.5% unemployment rate
Saskatchewan's labour market demonstrated remarkable strength in October, adding 14,000 jobs compared to the previous year—a 2.3% increase that ranks second-highest among Canadian provinces. The province's unemployment rate dropped to 5.5%, significantly lower than the national average of 6.9%, placing it as the second-lowest in the country. October saw record-breaking employment figures with 621,800 people working across Saskatchewan, including 514,500 in full-time position
Nov 11


IRCC conducted a new PNP draw under Express Entry, inviting over 700 candidates
On November 10, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the Express Entry draw #377. The Government of Canada issued 714 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. This round’s cut-off score was 738 points, 23 points fewer than the previous PNP-targeted draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was February 22, 2025, at 2:12:01 UTC. As of November 9, 2025, 245,706 profiles were registered in the Expres
Nov 11


Canada's job market shows resilience with 67,000 new positions added in October
Canada's employment landscape continued to strengthen in October 2025, adding 67,000 jobs and pushing the national employment rate to 60.8%. This marks the second straight month of growth , with the unemployment rate dropping to 6.9%. The gains were particularly pronounced among men aged 25 to 54 and younger workers aged 15 to 24. Wholesale and retail trade, transportation, and information sectors led the expansion, while Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador posted notable r
Nov 10


Ottawa updated processing times for LMIA streams
On November 6, 2025, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated the processing times for the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under various streams. Based on statistics from all processing centres, the current average LMIA processing time has increased across all streams. Global Talent Stream - 10 business days (+2 days) Agricultural stream – 16 business days (+3 days) Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 11 business days (+4 days) Permanen
Nov 10
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