CBSA introduces “Free-Flow” transit: no more customs kiosks for eligible international-to-international connections
Air Canada spreads its new Airbus A321XLR across winter schedule, adding Barbados and right-sizing Europe
Customs kiosks scrapped for transiting passengers as CBSA pilots airline-data clearance
Latest News
Ontario quietly shuts legacy OINP streams, launches ‘Workforce Priority’ model
Ontario has revoked all eight of its traditional OINP streams and will soon replace them with a single “Workforce Priority” pathway that pulls profiles directly from Express Entry. The EOI system is closed until late summer, forcing employers and candidates to rethink nomination strategies.
Severe weather and staffing shortages cause day-long disruption at Toronto Pearson
A morning thunderstorm and chronic staffing gaps triggered 179 flight delays and 11 cancellations at Toronto Pearson on June 28. The knock-on effect stranded connecting passengers and stretched security queues past one hour. Companies should brace for similar disruptions throughout Canada’s peak summer travel season.
IRCC’s real-time tracker shows processing times inching downward across major visa streams
Third-party dashboards scraping IRCC’s June 28 data refresh show Express Entry decisions averaging 6.4 months and super visas at 8–17 weeks—the quickest in three years. While encouraging for employers and families, provincial-nominee paper files still exceed 20 months, underscoring the need for realistic assignment timelines.
Ebola safeguards could suspend 24,000 travel documents, IRCC warns
Documents released June 28 indicate IRCC could invalidate up to 24,000 visas and eTAs if Ebola spreads further, though in-Canada status extensions would continue. Companies sourcing talent from central Africa should brace for sudden travel suspensions and update duty-of-care plans.
CBSA’s weekend IT maintenance freezes electronic data interchange for 24 hours
CBSA shut down its electronic commercial filing systems from June 27–28 for scheduled maintenance, forcing carriers to revert to paper manifests. The blackout collides with quarter-end freight surges, posing clearance delays that could disrupt household-goods moves and just-in-time supply chains.
Federal Court overturns removal order, citing systemic bias against Indigenous U.S. applicant
A June 28 Federal Court ruling quashed a removal order against an Indigenous American, finding the Immigration Appeal Division ignored systemic bias and rehabilitation evidence. The precedent may reshape how criminal inadmissibility is weighed, impacting employers assisting candidates with complex pasts.