World Cup visitors file 175 asylum claims in Canada; 25 Ghanaians among applicants
WestJet drops change fees as cabin-crew strike looms over August long-weekend travel
British Columbia launches inaugural Rural/Remote Health Support immigration draw, inviting 60 essential workers
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British Columbia launches first draw for new rural-health permanent residence pathway
B.C. invited 60 hospital cleaners and security guards in the first draw of its new Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative, offering an unusually low 50-point cut-off and a fast track to permanent residence. The pilot addresses critical hospital-support shortages after federal quota cuts and may be copied by other provinces.
IRCC debuts ‘Skilled Military Recruits’ Express Entry category with record-small draw
IRCC has run the first Express Entry draw for the new ‘Skilled Military Recruits’ category, inviting only four candidates with CAF job offers—making it the smallest round in the program’s history. The pilot aims to help the Canadian Armed Forces fill chronic skill shortages and shows Ottawa’s growing preference for micro-targeted immigration draws.
Daily IRCC data refresh shows longer queues for family sponsorship, steady times for work permits
The 24 July automated scrape of IRCC’s official tool shows spousal sponsorship times inching up to 17 months, while in-Canada work-permit extensions hold at 122 days. The divergence signals tightening capacity in family streams even as economic and temporary-worker files remain stable.
Gordie Howe International Bridge Port of Entry officially unveiled as Canada’s most advanced land border facility
CBSA has published final details of the Gordie Howe International Bridge Port of Entry, set to open on 27 July 2026. The 24-lane, 24/7 facility will relieve pressure on the Windsor-Detroit trade corridor, add dedicated NEXUS / FAST lanes, and deploy cutting-edge screening technology. Businesses are advised to update logistics plans and enrol drivers in trusted-traveller programs to maximise the new crossing’s efficiency gains.
Filipino newcomers warned of rising immigration-fraud schemes in Canada
A B.C. community investigation highlights sophisticated scams deceiving Filipino nationals with fake job offers and immigration guarantees. Employers and mobility managers should step up due-diligence and direct candidates to the CICC registry to avoid compliance risks.
British Columbia launches first rural health-support draw, inviting 60 frontline workers to seek permanent residence
British Columbia has issued 60 invitations in the first draw of its new Temporary Rural / Remote Health-Support Initiative, targeting cleaners and security guards working for health authorities outside major urban centres. With a record-low cut-off score of 50, the one-time stream aims to grant up to 250 nominations before 31 August 2026, helping employers retain vital support staff while giving foreign workers a clear path to permanent residence. The pilot illustrates how provinces are reshaping nominee programs after federal quota reductions.
UK updates Canada travel advice: Ebola-related entry restrictions highlighted
The UK’s FCDO added new wording to its Canada travel advisory noting that anyone who has been in an Ebola-affected country within 21 days cannot enter Canada, aligning with Ottawa’s temporary health measures. Companies must screen employee itineraries to avoid last-minute boarding denials.
WestJet waives change fees as flight-attendant strike deadline looms for long weekend travellers
With 3,100 flight attendants poised to strike this weekend, WestJet is offering all passengers free one-time itinerary changes for travel 26–29 July. The proactive waiver aims to minimise chaos during a peak period and gives corporate travel planners time to reroute essential trips before any walkout materialises.
IRCC quietly expands Francophone Student Pilot to include open work permits—and narrows humanitarian discretion
IRCC has amended the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot to offer a three-year open work permit to graduates who apply for permanent residence, while separate guidance instructs officers that humanitarian arguments cannot override public-policy eligibility rules. The changes expand work options for French-speaking graduates but heighten the stakes for submitting complete applications.
IRCC’s weekly update shows mixed movement in temporary-residence processing times
IRCC’s July 23 processing-time update shows faster in-Canada work-permit decisions but longer overseas waits for Pakistan and the Philippines, while visitor-visa times improved slightly. The weekly shifts underscore the need for employers and relocation managers to monitor figures in real time when planning assignments and family travel.
IRCC publishes July 22 processing-time update for work, study and visitor visas
IRCC’s July 22 processing-time table shows faster decisions for in-Canada work-permit extensions and visitor visas but longer waits for work-permit applicants in Pakistan and the Philippines. Study-permit timelines are unchanged at five-to-seven weeks. The figures help employers and international students plan fall travel and onboarding.
IRCC refreshes weekly processing times: work-permit waits rise for Pakistan, visitor visas speed up for North America
IRCC’s 22 July processing-time dashboard shows a three-week jump for Pakistani work-permit applicants and faster visitor-visa decisions for files lodged in Canada and the U.S. No changes were recorded for study permits. Employers should pad timelines for Pakistani assignees but can shorten lead times for North-American visitor visas.
IRCC launches first-ever Express Entry draw for skilled military recruits
On July 23, IRCC issued four Invitations to Apply in its first Express Entry draw dedicated to skilled military recruits, with a CRS cut-off of 368. The move opens a new permanent-residence pathway for ex-service personnel in high-demand defence and cyber roles and underscores IRCC’s trend toward tightly targeted selection rounds.
Canada invites 5,000 French-speaking candidates in record-low CRS draw
IRCC’s July 22 Express Entry draw targeted French-speaking candidates, inviting 5,000 applicants at a CRS cut-off of 399—the lowest for this category since March. The round strengthens Ottawa’s push for francophone immigration and gives employers rapid access to bilingual talent.
French-language Express Entry draw sends 5,000 ITAs as CRS dips below 400
On 22 July, IRCC invited 5,000 French-speaking candidates with a record-low CRS cut-off of 399—the eighth and largest francophone Express Entry draw of 2026. The move cements French proficiency as one of the fastest pathways to Canadian permanent residence and signals continued emphasis on bilingual recruitment.
Ottawa runs micro-draw for skilled military recruits in first-ever Express Entry category
IRCC issued just four ITAs on 23 July in its first-ever Express Entry draw dedicated to skilled military recruits, with a CRS cut-off of 368. The micro-draw pilots an immigration pathway that will let the Canadian Armed Forces hire up to 1,000 foreign nationals a year in critical occupations, signalling further category-based selection to come.
International arrivals to Canada rose 11 % in May as Europe rebounds—StatCan
Statistics Canada’s July 23 Frontier Counts show overseas arrivals up 11.7 % year on year in May 2026, led by Europe and Latin America. The figures confirm a solid recovery in Canada-bound travel ahead of the autumn business-conference season.
Flight-attendant union urges Air Canada’s incoming CEO to repair ‘deteriorated’ labour relations
CUPE’s flight-attendant arm warns that relations with Air Canada have soured since last year’s strike and asks incoming CEO Anko van der Werff to prioritize dialogue. The appeal signals potential labour-relations risk that could affect schedule reliability in 2027.