WestJet flight attendants issue 72-hour strike notice ahead of Canada’s long weekend
IRCC Tightens ‘Reciprocal Employment’ (C20) Work-Permit Rules to Curb Abuse
Canada Extends and Expands Temporary Immigration Measures for Palestinians
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IRCC quietly tightens C20 “Reciprocal Employment” work-permit rules
IRCC has amended its guidance for C20 reciprocal-employment work permits, requiring that the foreign worker already be on the payroll of an overseas affiliate before transferring to Canada. The change—spotted on 31 July—will make it harder for firms to hire talent first in Canada and create ‘paper reciprocity’ later. Mobility teams should review pending applications and strengthen documentation of genuine two-way exchanges.
Alberta premier tells international students with expired visas: “You need to go home”
Premier Danielle Smith said on 31 July that international students whose visas have expired should leave Alberta, citing pressure on housing and school budgets. School boards estimate hundreds of minors will be out-of-status by the fall because of processing delays. The comments highlight growing provincial frustration with federal immigration backlogs and could dampen Alberta’s attractiveness to foreign students.
June Passenger Traffic at Major Canadian Airports Inches Up 0.6 %: Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada reports that 5.2 million passengers were screened at Canada’s eight busiest airports in June 2026—up only 0.6 % year-over-year. Domestic travel rose 1.8 %, but U.S. transborder volumes slid 2 % for a 17-month losing streak. The flat numbers suggest stable but unspectacular demand and hint at possible capacity adjustments on Canada-U.S. business routes.
First business week on the Gordie Howe Bridge shows major diversion of cross-border traffic
User-reported data on 31 July indicate the Gordie Howe International Bridge has already captured significant truck traffic, cutting wait times between Windsor and Detroit. The new crossing gives supply-chain managers a faster alternative to the Ambassador Bridge and features dedicated FAST/NEXUS lanes. Companies should update routing protocols and watch for stricter U.S. inspections at the new port.
IRCC confirms freeze on citizenship-by-descent files that rely on pre-1867 ancestors
An internal e-mail leaked on 31 July reveals that IRCC has paused all proof-of-citizenship applications that hinge on ancestors born before Canada’s 1867 Confederation. The department is developing guidelines on how to assess such claims. Applicants relying on 19th-century lineage should expect significant delays and may need alternative immigration strategies.
CIBC warns that Statistics Canada may have severely under-counted temporary residents, skewing job data
CIBC economist Benjamin Tal argues that Statistics Canada’s practice of counting expired permits as departures has under-reported Canada’s population by up to 210,000 people per year, masking a weaker labour market. The finding—circulating widely on 31 July—adds pressure on Ottawa to adopt real exit-tracking and could influence future immigration caps.