The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) is calling on the federal government to expand access to open work permits for seriously injured or ill migrant workers in Canada. The advocacy group says migrant workers holding employer-specific work permits can face significant challenges if they become seriously injured or develop a medical condition while working in...
Compulsory health insurance for international students at 22 publicly funded Ontario universities is rising by roughly 20 percent, effective September 1, 2026. Individual UHIP premiums increase from 792 to 948 dollars a year, while a family of three now pays 468 dollars more. Most international students must buy this coverage because they do not qualify...
Ontario is investing 3 million dollars through the 2026 to 2027 Francophone Community Grants Program, funding 75 projects that expand French language services, bilingual workforce training, and community support across the province. For French-speaking immigrants and newcomers, this means more settlement resources, mental health support, and employment programs in their own language. Why Is Ontario...
International students are becoming more cautious about studying abroad as visa uncertainty and rising living costs increasingly influence their decisions. A 2026 Navitas Agent Perception Survey of 870 education agents across 64 countries found that students are placing greater importance on predictability, affordability and the likelihood of securing a visa before choosing a study destination....
Canada continues to process millions of immigration and citizenship applications in 2026, with new figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) providing an update on application volumes and processing progress. As of June 30, 2026, IRCC had welcomed 162,020 new Canadian citizens, while 326,190 citizenship grant applications remained pending. The latest data also shows...
As of August 19, 2026, IRCC’s processing time estimates rose in most categories compared to the previous week. Work permit applications from Pakistan improved the most, dropping five weeks, while U.S. super visa and Pakistan visitor visa applications lengthened by at least two weeks. IRCC had finalized more than 1.5 million temporary residence applications in...
Foreign home care workers in Canada may face employment uncertainty while waiting for permanent residence decisions under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. The issue follows clarification from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that applicants under these pilots are not eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). This means eligible caregiver applicants cannot...
A recent policy analysis outlines seven recommendations to strengthen public confidence in Canada’s immigration system: a unified security command structure, expanded biometrics, stronger human review of high-risk files, faster asylum processing, consistent removal enforcement, targeted use of detention, and updated legal definitions for modern security threats. What Is a Unified Immigration Security Command Structure? Right...
The Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, BC forced more than 20,000 residents to evacuate, displacing roughly 100 temporary foreign workers in the Okanagan. Federal supports now available to affected workers include the Migrant Worker Support Program, employer transfers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, and up to six months to restore or extend status for...
