Canada Unveils 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Cuts Temporary Resident Intake by 45 %
Graduate Students Exempted from Study-Permit Cap; Doctoral Files Fast-Tracked to Two Weeks
IRCC Confirms 148 000 One-Off PR Admissions Sit Outside Planned ‘Cuts’
Latest News
Quebec Extends Freeze on Low-Wage LMIA Work Permits in Montréal and Laval Until 2026
Québec has extended its ban on processing low-wage LMIAs for Montréal and Laval until the end of 2026, preventing employers from hiring or renewing foreign workers earning under CAD 34.62/h through the TFWP. Businesses in retail and hospitality will feel the pinch, while exemptions exist for select sectors and high-wage roles.
French-Language Requirement Introduced for Long-Term Temporary Workers in Québec
Starting 17 December 2025, foreign workers with three years’ experience in Québec must prove spoken French at NCLC 4 to renew or obtain TFWP permits. Employers must budget for language training or risk losing key staff, adding another compliance layer for assignments in Canada’s second-largest province.
IRCC November Update Shows Processing Times Stabilising for Digital Streams, Lagging on Paper PNP
IRCC’s November 7 dashboard shows Express Entry and digital PNP files are processed in 5–6 months, but paper-based PNPs still take 16 months and inland spousal sponsorship 34 months. Employers should favour digital submissions and build bridging-permit costs into budgets for applicants using slower pathways.
Ottawa boosts Provincial Nominee Program quotas by 66 % for 2026
The 2026 Immigration Levels Plan sets a record 91,500 spaces for the Provincial Nominee Program, a 66 % jump from this year. The decision empowers provinces to attract and retain skilled workers and gives employers a larger permanent-residence channel at a time when federal policy is cutting back on temporary workers.
Quebec unveils 2026-2029 plan: immigration cut to 45,000 and new French-language focus
Quebec’s new four-year immigration blueprint lowers the permanent-resident cap to 45,000, mandates higher French proficiency, and scraps the fast-track PEQ route. Employers will face tighter language rules and fewer spots for both permanent and temporary newcomers.
PEQ sunset looms as Quebec opts for “moderate” cut to 45,000 newcomers a year
Quebec confirmed it will end the Quebec Experience Program on November 19 as part of its plan to cap immigration at 45,000 annually. The closure removes a six-month pathway to permanent residence for graduates and in-province workers, forcing employers to seek alternative routes.
Humanitarian permanent-residence spaces cut by 15 % as Ottawa prioritises economic intake
Canada’s 2026 quota for refugee and humanitarian permanent residents drops to 49,000, a 15 % reduction. Existing protected persons inside Canada will receive a one-time regularisation boost, but future resettlement arrivals face tighter caps.
Bill C-12 under fire: Amnesty warns Canada risks violating refugee rights
Amnesty International says Bill C-12 could deny many asylum seekers a fair hearing and violate international law. The proposed Strong Borders Act fast-tracks refusals for people in Canada longer than a year and expands enforcement powers, raising compliance and duty-of-care concerns for employers.
IRCC pushes 5 % temporary-resident cap to 2027 and clarifies data source
A November 6 analysis shows Ottawa has delayed its 5 % temporary-resident population target to 2027 and will use Statistics Canada data to measure progress. The extra year offers employers and schools limited breathing room but signals continued cuts to study and work permits.