Starting September 1, 2026, Nova Scotia will charge non-refundable application fees under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program: $1,000 for worker streams and $2,000 for the Entrepreneur stream. Submitting an Expression of Interest stays free. Fees apply only once a candidate is selected for assessment, with payment windows ranging from seven days to six months depending...
A CBSA intelligence report and renewed opposition criticism have put Canada’s study permit vetting under scrutiny, following data showing more criminal charges among permit holders and gaps flagged by the Auditor General. For genuine applicants, the practical impact is likely stronger document checks and possibly longer processing, not new eligibility barriers. What Sparked The Latest...
New research analyzing two decades of Canadian census data finds that immigrant fertility rates have moved closer to those of Canadian-born residents, with the gap narrowing from 0.24 to 0.11 births per woman between 2001 and 2021. The trend suggests immigration alone won’t fully offset Canada’s demographic pressures, reinforcing why thoughtful, well-planned settlement and family...
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada opened its first Express Entry Transport draw round in more than two years on August 7, 2026. Express Entry transport draw #434 went out to 300 candidates who had at least twelve months of recent experience in one of four transport-related occupations. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score needed for...
British Columbia continued its targeted approach to economic immigration on August 6, 2026, issuing invitations across key sectors facing persistent labour shortages. The BC PNP Skills Immigration draws invited candidates working in childcare, healthcare, veterinary care, and construction trades, with minimum score requirements ranging from 72 to 102. The largest share of invitations went to...
Manitoba has approved five joint projects with New Brunswick for 2026-27 under their Co-operation and Exchange Agreement, backing French-language education, arts, and community development. The two provinces are jointly funding the initiatives with a combined $40,000, coordinated through Manitoba’s Francophone Affairs Secretariat. What Was Announced, and by Whom? Glen Simard, Manitoba’s Minister of Municipal and...
Ontario has opened its Expression of Interest portal for the new Workforce Priority stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. The stream replaces eight older nomination pathways and covers foreign workers with an Ontario job offer across all skill levels, plus self-employed physicians billing through OHIP. Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development...
An IRCC evaluation report has concluded the federal Self-Employed Persons Program is no longer fit for purpose, citing a 69% average refusal rate and processing times exceeding ten years. Intake has been paused since April 2024 and suspended indefinitely since December 2025, and IRCC is now developing options to redesign it. Launched in 1978 as...
IRCC’s Express Entry draw #433, held August 6, 2026, was a French-language proficiency draw. It issued 5,000 invitations at a CRS cut-off of 391, the lowest French-category threshold of the year so far, with a tie-break of March 18, 2026 at 23:32:40 UTC. This marks the ninth French-language round of 2026 and the third consecutive...
