CBSA to Shut Chief Mountain Border Crossing for Winter Season on September 30
PAL Airlines Crews Seek Federal Mediation, Raising Spectre of Strike
StatsCan Study Tracks Earnings of Childhood Immigrants Turned Journeypersons
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Express Entry Update: Senior Managers Land PR with CRS 389, Beating CEC by 130 Points
IRCC’s September 16 targeted draw invited senior managers with CRS 389—far below the 519 points required for Canadian Experience Class candidates a day earlier. The three senior-manager draws held in 2026 have already issued 1,000 ITAs, with cut-offs dropping 40 points since March. Employers should align executive roles with eligible NOC codes to capitalise on the lower thresholds.
CBSA to close Chief Mountain Port of Entry for winter on September 30
The CBSA has announced that the seasonal Chief Mountain crossing will close at 6 p.m. MDT on September 30 and reopen in spring 2027. Traffic is being redirected to Carway, Del Bonita and Coutts, potentially adding up to 150 km to cross-border routes. Employers and travel managers should adjust ground-transport schedules and advise staff to check CBSA wait-time updates.
British Columbia Raises Cut-Off in Latest Entrepreneur Immigration Draw
BC PNP invited up to 15 entrepreneur candidates on 22 September with a cut-off score of 119, the highest since February. The tightening reflects strong demand for business immigration pathways as British Columbia’s economy accelerates, signalling that prospective applicants will need sharper business plans and higher investments to stay competitive.
Construction advisory: CBSA warns of possible delays at Windsor-Detroit Tunnel through mid-September
The CBSA’s September 23 update reiterates that construction at the Windsor–Detroit Tunnel may generate intermittent back-ups through September 19, even though live wait-time data currently shows no delays. Businesses moving staff or freight across the tunnel should monitor the CBSA dashboard and consider alternate crossings during afternoon peak hours.
IRCC Expires Special Policy for Previously Undeclared Family Members
A special IRCC policy that let refugees sponsor previously undeclared spouses and children ended on 10 September 2026; the department confirmed the expiry in a 23 September industry update. Future family-reunification cases must now rely on humanitarian discretion, creating fresh challenges for refugee employees and their employers.
Ottawa Tightens LMIA Rules, Cracking Down on Staffing Agencies and Misclassification
New LMIA guidance effective this week blocks staffing agencies from securing work permits for third-party placements and bans treating Temporary Foreign Workers as independent contractors. Companies must show they directly employ and pay foreign hires or face refusals and penalties. HR and mobility teams need to revise LMIA strategies and audit contractor relationships immediately.
CBSA to Close Chief Mountain Port of Entry for Winter Season
CBSA will close Alberta’s Chief Mountain port of entry at 6 p.m. MDT on 30 September 2026, rerouting traffic to Carway, Del Bonita or Coutts for the winter. The seasonal shutdown impacts tourists, local businesses and companies running cross-border assignments, making advance route planning essential.
CBSA seizes 13 firearms and prohibited weapons at Windsor–Detroit crossings
CBSA officers in Windsor seized 13 handguns and other prohibited weapons during the week of September 7-14, details of which were released on September 23. The interceptions triggered temporary secondary-inspection surges but avoided major freight delays. Businesses moving goods or personnel through Windsor should brief drivers and transferees on Canada’s strict declaration requirements.
Refugee Claim Backlog Drops Below 260,000, Says New Analysis
ImmigCanada reports the refugee claim inventory fell to 259,085 in August 2026, thanks to record monthly processing by the Immigration and Refugee Board. The declining backlog could speed labour-market integration but raises concerns about due-process safeguards.
U.S. President Trump Slams Canada’s Immigration Policy, Claims Country Is ‘Destroying Itself’
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on social media that Canada’s immigration approach is ‘unchecked’ and threatens to ‘destroy’ the country, despite data showing falling intake numbers. The rhetoric could foreshadow tighter U.S. border scrutiny, making it prudent for businesses to review cross-border travel documentation and contingency plans.
IRCC tightens employer attestation and inspection rules for foreign worker hires
IRCC has refreshed the wording of the employer attestation that accompanies every LMIA-exempt job offer and has updated its inspection playbook. Employers must now keep six years of records proving they delivered the wages, duties and conditions promised in the Employer Portal, or risk monetary penalties and bans from Canada’s foreign-worker programs. The change forces Canadian and multinational employers alike to tighten internal compliance on cross-border assignments.
Nation-wide rallies press Ottawa to grant permanent status to migrants as Parliament reconvenes
Eleven coordinated rallies across Canada on 22 September urged the federal government to abandon new caps on temporary residents and to create a broad pathway to permanent residence. The protests, fuelled by concern over Bill C-12, highlight rising compliance risks for employers dependent on the Temporary Foreign Worker and international student streams.
International graduate student visas issued in Q2 2026 more than double last year’s total
IRCC issued 6,455 new graduate-level study permits in Q2 2026—up 109 % year-over-year—while extensions of existing permits also doubled. Exemptions from Ottawa’s undergraduate cap and generous post-study work rights are driving the boom, giving employers access to a larger pool of advanced STEM talent but also putting pressure on student housing and settlement services.
IRCC data show 69 % drop in asylum claims as Canada hits permanent-resident targets
An IRCC progress report shows asylum claims down 69 % year-to-date while student and worker arrivals have also fallen sharply. Despite the cutbacks, Canada remains on pace to meet every permanent-resident quota. The shift eases processing pressure and gives foreign nationals already in Canada a better shot at permanent status—key intelligence for global mobility managers.