WestJet flight attendants file 72-hour strike notice, threatening long-weekend travel
WestJet Issues 72-Hour Strike Notice; Offers Free Rebooking for 30 Jul – 4 Aug Travel
WestJet flight attendants serve 72-hour strike notice, threatening long-weekend travel
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Prime Minister Carney, Alberta Premier Smith Clash Over International Student Hunger Strike and Immigration Policy
• During a July 29 press conference, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was unaware of an international-student hunger strike over PGWP refusals but stressed that people without status must follow established processes. • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told the same media scrum that students whose visas expire “need to go home,” underscoring provincial frustration with federal immigration allocations. • Nearly 500 Portage College graduates were refused PGWPs after IRCC clarified on June 24 that non-credit programs do not qualify; about 1,000 graduates are protesting, and several are on hunger strike. • The incident exposes gaps in federal-provincial coordination on immigration and raises business-mobility risks for employers who depend on PGWP talent.
IRCC launches nationwide client survey for 2026 Canadian passport holders
On July 30, IRCC announced an email-based client-experience survey targeting everyone who received a Canadian passport in the first half of 2026. Feedback will shape future automation and service standards—issues that directly affect assignees who rely on timely passport renewals. Employers should encourage mobile staff to participate.
Canada Launches Online Passport Renewal Option for Eligible Citizens
IRCC and Service Canada have opened a national online passport-renewal portal as of July 28 2026. Canadians aged 16+ with passports issued in the last 15 years can now complete the entire renewal digitally, cutting average processing to 20 business days and reducing in-person queues. The change offers greater flexibility for business travellers and corporate mobility programs while traditional renewal options remain available.
Canada opens online passport renewals to all eligible adults
IRCC and Service Canada have launched a 24-hour online portal that allows most adult Canadians to renew their passports without visiting an office. The digital option is expected to cut wait times, reduce line-ups and give business travelers more flexibility, while supporting Ottawa’s new 30-day service guarantee.
Daily IRCC Data Show Visitor-Visa Processing Drops to 23 Days as of July 28
ImmiSignal’s July 28 2026 data scrape of IRCC’s official processing-time tool shows the global median visitor-visa decision time dropping to 23 days and study-permit times to 72 days. The improvement suggests Ottawa’s efforts to shrink temporary-resident backlogs are working, giving employers and schools more certainty when scheduling arrivals.
York police charge two Ontarians in bogus ‘Passport Express’ online renewal scheme
York Regional Police have arrested two GTA residents accused of operating fake IRCC-style websites that charged Canadians hundreds of dollars for non-existent ‘express’ passport renewals. The alleged scam highlights growing cyber-fraud risks as Ottawa shifts vital travel documents online and serves as a caution for employers and travellers to verify official URLs.
Ottawa reissues ‘Avoid All Travel’ advisory for Russia amid escalating security risks
Global Affairs Canada has refreshed its advisory for Russia, again telling Canadians to avoid all travel as drone attacks, partial mobilization and financial restrictions deepen. The heightened warning raises duty-of-care stakes for companies with staff or operations in Russia, urging immediate contingency and evacuation planning.
B.C. and Northwest Territories issue air-quality warnings that could disrupt regional travel
Environment Canada has posted high-risk air-quality advisories across parts of B.C. and the Northwest Territories, warning of poor visibility and health hazards from wildfire smoke. Airlines may delay or cancel regional flights, and ground-transport operators are imposing speed limits—issues global-mobility teams should factor into itineraries and duty-of-care planning.
Toronto Pearson installs digital kiosks to connect arriving travellers with Indigenous tourism businesses
Toronto Pearson has rolled out interactive kiosks that help travellers book Indigenous tourism experiences across Ontario. The project strengthens Canada’s cultural tourism offer, supports Indigenous-owned businesses and gives arriving business travellers quick, curated options for meaningful leisure activities.