CUSMA Renewal Clock Ticks: Canada Urges U.S. to Extend Free-Trade Deal to 2042
Ghana star Thomas Partey denied Canadian visa—World Cup side forced to adjust lineup
Russia bars 103 Canadian officials after Ottawa’s latest sanctions package
Latest News
Ottawa halts 36,000 permanent-residence files from Ebola-affected African nations
Citing Ebola outbreaks, Canada has suspended decision-making on about 36,000 PR applications and thousands of temporary files tied to the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan. The unprecedented freeze could delay refugee landings and corporate hires from the region and is backed by new quarantine powers in Bill C-12.
IRCC lets Provincial Nominees get work permits without AOR, easing risk of job loss
IRCC has introduced a temporary rule allowing PNP applicants and their spouses to obtain work permits without waiting for an Acknowledgement of Receipt. The change, in force until 31 December 2026, is expected to protect thousands of workers from status gaps and help employers keep critical talent on payroll.
Refugee-sponsorship ‘Groups of Five’ intake paused as IRCC restructures program
IRCC has stopped accepting new Private Sponsorship of Refugees applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors as of 16 June 2026. The department says the temporary intake freeze will help manage backlogs while it overhauls program procedures, but community groups warn of funding and planning disruptions.
Ontario Scraps All Nine OINP Streams, Forcing Applicants to Seek Alternative Provincial Pathways
Ontario’s government has abolished all existing OINP categories, cancelling active EOIs and forcing would-be nominees to look elsewhere. The province promises a redesigned, occupation-driven system, but timelines are unclear—leaving employers and international graduates scrambling for alternative residency pathways.
Canada Pauses Private Refugee Sponsorship Intake for Groups-of-Five and Community Sponsors
IRCC has stopped accepting new refugee sponsorship files from Groups-of-Five and Community Sponsors effective 16 June 2026. The pause lets the department tackle a ballooning backlog and overhaul fraud-prevention rules. Community groups now face a minimum three-month freeze in filing, which could disrupt local resettlement plans and reduce a future labour-supply channel for employers.
IRCC data show in-Canada work-permit processing time falls to 186 days
IRCC’s latest statistics show the average processing time for in-Canada work-permit applications has dropped to 186 days, the shortest wait so far in 2026 but still above the four-month target. Employers should file renewals early so workers can rely on maintained status until decisions are issued.
IRCC Lets Provincial Nominees Get Work Permits Sooner, Cutting Acknowledgement-of-Receipt Delays
From 9 June 2026 until year-end, provincial nominees inside Canada—and their spouses—can apply for open work permits without waiting for the usual Acknowledgement of Receipt. The move shields employers and applicants from lengthy processing backlogs and eliminates many emergency LMIA filings.
‘Lost Canadians’ Told to Surrender Citizenship Certificates as Ottawa Tightens Proof-of-Descent Rules
IRCC is reviewing—and in some cases rescinding—citizenship certificates issued under 2025’s citizenship-by-descent expansion. Holders must now furnish primary documents proving lineage for every generation, raising uncertainty for newcomers who already changed legal status and employment plans.
Canada Removes LMIA Barrier for Provincial Nominee Work-Permit Applicants
IRCC has scrapped the LMIA requirement for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) holders seeking employer-specific work permits, effective 16 June 2026. The change slashes weeks of red tape for employers, lets nominees start work sooner, and helps provinces plug urgent labour shortages while candidates await permanent residence.
Air Canada Slashes Travel-Agency Commissions, Raising Costs for Corporate Travel Programmes
Facing fuel and operating-cost spikes, Air Canada will slash agency commissions from 1 July 2026, including a zero-per-cent rate on group bookings. Travel agencies warn of revenue hits and higher service fees—expenses that multinational firms must now build into Canadian travel budgets.
‘Lost Canadians’ told ancestry alone is not enough—Ottawa demands fresh proof of citizenship claims
IRCC has issued surrender letters to several recent recipients of citizenship certificates obtained under 2025’s Bill C-3, saying they failed to provide primary evidence of ancestry. Immigration Minister Lena Diab told Parliament that claimants must prove a direct link to Canada in every generation. The move highlights stricter documentary standards and could disrupt employment or sponsorship plans for those whose citizenship is under review.
Canada Slaps New Sanctions on Russia; Moscow Bans 103 Canadians from Entry
Ottawa’s latest sanctions package against Russia targets tanker operators and energy profits. Moscow struck back by banning 103 Canadians from entering Russia, adding new compliance headaches for Canadian firms moving staff or goods through the region.
Explainer: What’s really changing in Canada’s immigration law framework in 2026?
A Pax Law analysis clarifies that Canada has *not* passed a new immigration act; instead, IRPA and IRPR remain the statutes, with rapid policy tweaks happening through Ministerial Instructions. Employers should watch these instructions—rather than legislative bills—for changes to quotas, caps and category-based selection.
IRCC freezes refugee sponsorship intake for Groups of Five and Community Sponsors
IRCC has temporarily stopped accepting new refugee sponsorship applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors, citing workload management. The move freezes community-led resettlement efforts and forces employers or NGOs supporting refugee talent to consider alternative immigration pathways until intake resumes.
Russia bans 103 Canadians after Ottawa targets ‘shadow fleet’—business travel routes tighten
Canada’s latest sanctions on Russia’s clandestine oil-shipping network prompted Moscow to bar 103 additional Canadians from entry. The reciprocal moves deepen compliance risks for Canadian firms and further restrict any residual business travel routes involving Russian territory or Russian-controlled carriers.
Canada suspends 36,000 PR applications from Ebola-affected countries under new public-health powers
Ottawa has halted processing of 36,000 permanent-residence applications and thousands of temporary visas from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan, invoking Bill C-12 to address Ebola outbreak risks. The unprecedented suspension strains employer recruitment channels and signals that public-health contingencies are now an integral factor in Canadian immigration planning.
Air Canada to Restore Daily Vancouver–Seoul Non-stop Service from 2 September
Air Canada will resume daily non-stop flights between Vancouver and Seoul on 2 September 2026, providing faster travel and new cargo capacity between Canada and South Korea. The move strengthens corporate and leisure links and expands Air Canada’s Asia network ahead of winter demand.