Canada overhauls Express Entry CRS to reward high-wage Canadian experience
Canada overhauls Express Entry to reward high-wage Canadian experience – LMIA no longer required
Low-wage LMIA freeze expands to cover 30 Canadian cities after fresh unemployment data
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Low-wage LMIA freeze expanded to 30 Canadian cities
ESDC has added six urban areas to its low-wage LMIA refusal list, bringing the total to 30 CMAs where Service Canada will not process low-wage foreign-worker applications until at least 7 January 2027. Employers in the affected cities must switch to high-wage streams, relocate roles, or hire domestically.
Atlantic universities lose nearly half of their international students since 2024 study-permit clampdown
Atlantic Canadian universities report a 48 % collapse in international enrolment since federal study-permit curbs began in 2024, threatening campus finances and the region’s long-term labour-market needs. Institutions are pressing Ottawa for regional relief, while employers may face a tighter talent pool.
Ebola immigration order extended; 25,000 documents remain frozen
Canada has prolonged its Ebola-related suspension of immigration decisions for residents of the DRC, South Sudan and Uganda until 27 November 2026. Roughly 25,000 issued documents and 34,000 in-process applications remain on hold, affecting visitor, study and work mobility from the three countries.
Government rejects calls to cap study permits by nationality, citing Charter rights
Ottawa has ruled out nationality-based study-permit quotas, saying they would violate the Charter’s equality clause. Instead, existing system-wide reforms – higher funds thresholds, intake caps and stronger school compliance rules – will remain the levers for curbing fraud and asylum misuse.
Atlantic universities report 48 % plunge in international enrolment since 2024 reforms
New survey data show Atlantic universities have 48 % fewer international students than before Ottawa’s 2024 study-permit crackdown. The loss hurts university finances and reduces a key pipeline of future workers for a region already facing severe demographic pressures.
IRCC revives Application Status Tracker, giving applicants daily insight into file progress
IRCC has relaunched its daily-updating Application Status Tracker for Express Entry, family sponsorship, study, work and visitor files, giving applicants and employers unprecedented visibility into section-by-section progress and outstanding actions.
IRCC relaunches Application Status Tracker, giving applicants daily case updates
IRCC’s online tracker is live again, allowing applicants and their representatives to see daily updates on each step of their file. The restored visibility will help employers manage employee expectations and speed responses to IRCC document requests.
Ontario Adds 3,600 Seats at Queen’s University in $1.7 Billion Capacity Push
Ontario will pay for 3,600 extra places at Queen’s University, part of a multi-year plan to expand post-secondary capacity in high-demand fields. More seats improve admission prospects for international students and ultimately feed skilled-worker immigration pipelines.
British Columbia Targets Child Care, Health and Construction Workers in Latest PNP Round
B.C.’s latest Skills Immigration draw issued 284 invitations to candidates in early-childhood education, health care, construction trades and veterinary care, underscoring the province’s focus on essential service sectors. Targeted credentials and competitive scores remain key to success.
Canada invites 2,500 Canadian-experience candidates in largest Express Entry draw since June
IRCC issued 2,500 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates on 15 October 2026 with a CRS cut-off of 519. The larger-than-usual round helps clear the inventory of in-Canada skilled workers ahead of the 2027-2029 immigration plan and gives employers a faster path to retain foreign talent permanently.
Former Alberta premiers join forces to oppose immigration questions in 19 October referendum
Three former Alberta premiers from different parties jointly called on voters to reject five immigration-related questions in the 19 October referendum, saying the measures would make Alberta less attractive to needed talent. The non-binding vote could still reshape provincial policy on newcomers’ access to health care, education and jobs.
Ontario funds 3,600 additional seats at Queen’s University to train talent for in-demand sectors
Ontario will spend part of a $1.7 billion post-secondary expansion fund on 3,600 new seats at Queen’s University, mainly in STEM, health, education and trades programs. The move expands capacity for domestic and international students and aligns training output with Ontario’s immigration selection priorities.
Ottawa to Invest $6 Million in Manitoba’s Practice-Ready Pathway for International Doctors
The federal government intends to spend up to $6 million to enlarge Manitoba’s Practice-Ready Assessment pathway, aiming to licence 90 internationally trained family doctors by 2029. The funding complements new immigration streams for physicians and tackles rural health-care shortages.
New Brunswick reopens Atlantic Immigration Program to almost all occupations, except four low-skilled roles
New Brunswick has scrapped most job restrictions under the Atlantic Immigration Program, letting designated employers endorse candidates in virtually any occupation except four low-skilled roles. The move immediately broadens permanent-residence options for workers in the province but quota caps and paused employer designations mean competition for endorsements will remain tight.
Former Alberta Premiers Unite Against Immigration-Related Referendum Questions
Three former Alberta premiers from opposing parties have called on voters to reject five immigration-focused questions in Alberta’s 19 October referendum, warning that the measures would deter talent and damage the province’s economy. The debate highlights rising provincial activism on immigration policy.
New Brunswick Opens Atlantic Immigration Program to Nearly All Occupations
Effective 14 October 2026 New Brunswick will allow AIP endorsements for all but four occupations, vastly expanding employer access to the federal–provincial fast-track to permanent residence. The province will still prioritise candidates already working locally and in key sectors, and its pause on new AIP employer designations remains in force.
New Brunswick lifts most occupation bans under Atlantic Immigration Program
As of 14 October 2026, New Brunswick will accept Atlantic Immigration Program endorsement applications for all but four specified occupations, significantly widening eligibility. The change benefits in-province employers and temporary workers but competition for limited endorsement spots remains fierce.
British Columbia targets care and construction talent in latest PNP draw
B.C. invited at least 284 candidates in health care, child care, construction and veterinary care on 8 October 2026, publishing results on 15 October. The sector-focused strategy helps plug acute labour gaps and offers in-demand workers a streamlined path to permanent residence.
Ottawa to invest $6 million to fast-track licensing for 90 internationally trained doctors in Manitoba
The federal and Manitoba governments unveiled a plan to inject up to $6 million into Manitoba’s Practice-Ready Assessment route, creating space for 90 internationally educated family physicians by 2029. The expansion tackles physician shortages outside major centres and dovetails with federal immigration measures that favour licensed health professionals.
IRCC relaunches online Application Status Tracker, expanding access to 4.5 million applicants
IRCC has rebuilt and relaunched its Application Status Tracker, adding work-permit, study-permit and visitor-visa files to the online portal and fixing previous security and data-accuracy flaws. The nightly-updated tool provides granular status information and lets authorised HR representatives monitor cases, promising to cut call-centre volumes and give employers clearer visibility on talent-mobility timelines.
Canada warns travellers after missile strike forces Riyadh airport closure
After missile attacks closed Riyadh’s main airport, Global Affairs Canada updated its travel advisory on 15 October 2026, warning Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia and to arrange exit through neighbouring countries. The warning has immediate implications for business travellers and expatriate staff on expiring visas.
IRCC’s official processing-times data refresh shows slight improvements for CEC and visitor visas
The 15 October scrape of IRCC’s processing-times portal shows CEC applications back on a six-month track and average visitor-visa decisions down to 24 days. Although family and business immigration streams remain sluggish, the data give employers firmer timelines for upcoming assignments and travel.
Cross-Border Travel Rebounds Despite Canada-US Trade Tensions
New Statistics Canada data show cross-border trips rose sharply in September even as Canada and the U.S. traded new tariffs. The resilience of business and leisure travel suggests that, for now, political friction is not impeding people movement between the two countries.