Canadian employers who hire temporary foreign workers are operating under real enforcement pressure right now, and the numbers back that up. Employment and Social Development Canada completed nearly 1,500 compliance inspections in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, and roughly one in eight employers inspected were found non-compliant. Penalties issued to...
As of July 15, 2026, IRCC has stopped accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms under the Parents and Grandparents Program, though it does not affect anyone already in the queue — roughly 60,500 applicants remain in the system, and IRCC still plans to finalize permanent residence for up to 15,000 parents and grandparents in...
On July 20, 2026, Ontario released the full points system and requirements for its new Workforce Priority Stream, which replaced all eight former OINP streams. Scoring favors higher-skill occupations, wages of $40+/hour, longer time already worked in Ontario, and jobs located outside Toronto, while self-employed physicians follow a separate track based on...
Effective September 15, 2026, DHS is replacing the open-ended "duration of status" system for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders with a fixed admission period capped at four years — meaning students needing more time must file a formal Extension of Stay with USCIS, along with a $470 fee, and the post-graduation...
CUSMA gets the spotlight, but Canada has signed 15 free trade agreements covering more than 50 countries, and several offer the same LMIA-exempt fast track for workers who hold neither American nor Mexican citizenship. CETA opens the door for European Union citizens — particularly independent contractors, engineers, and scientific consultants coming to...
While Canada has tightened many of its temporary work streams over the past year, one route remains wide open for skilled Americans and Mexicans: the CUSMA work permit, the successor to the old NAFTA framework. The biggest draw is that CUSMA applicants skip the Labour Market Impact Assessment entirely — no lengthy...
Effective June 26, 2026, Ontario retired all eight streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and replaced them with a single Workforce Priority Stream. The new system sorts applicants into three tracks: skilled workers in TEER 0–3 occupations with a permanent job offer, essential workers in TEER 4–5 roles, and a standalone...
Ontario has announced a significant overhaul of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), restructuring it to more directly connect skilled immigration with real labour market demand. The changes, announced June 26, 2026, by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, are already in effect under O. Reg. 422/17 of the...
Canada recently reported its first quarterly population decline in years, highlighting the country's continued reliance on immigration to support economic growth, workforce development, and demographic stability. While immigration levels have been adjusted and temporary resident numbers have decreased, Canada continues to face labour shortages across healthcare, construction, transportation, technology, education, and skilled...
Thousands of individuals around the world may have a claim to Canadian citizenship through a parent, grandparent, or other Canadian ancestor. Recent changes to Canada's citizenship-by-descent rules have expanded opportunities for many families to explore their eligibility. At the same time, immigration authorities are taking a closer look at supporting documentation and...
