Canada is rolling out online passport renewals for select applicants, aiming to reduce wait times and improve accessibility. Service Canada has expanded 10-day passport services to Iqaluit and Yellowknife, while a new policy guarantees passport processing within 30 business days—or
Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025 will accept 10,000 applications, but only from those who submitted an interest-to-sponsor form in 2020. No new submissions will be accepted. Processing times remain at 24 months for non-Quebec applicants and 48
Canada is introducing new immigration measures to strengthen its construction workforce and tackle the housing crisis. A new tripartite advisory council will assess labour shortages, while an expanded pathway will allow out-of-status construction workers to obtain legal status. Additionally, foreign
March is Fraud Prevention Month, and Canada is ramping up efforts to combat immigration fraud that affects thousands of applicants each year. The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, warns that fraudsters are preying on hopeful newcomers,
Canada is making another move to support workers by increasing the federal minimum wage to $17.75 per hour, effective April 1, 2025. This adjustment reflects a 2.4% increase from the previous rate and is part of the government’s commitment to
Canada has once again adjusted its immigration strategy to better align with evolving labour market needs. The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has announced new Express Entry categories for 2025, including a major addition—an education category.
New research on immigrant-owned firms from 2001 to 2020 shows that businesses with immigrant majority ownership are, on average, about 9.4% less productive than those owned by Canadian-born individuals, while immigrant minority-owned firms slightly outperform them. At the same time,
British Columbia’s lowest-paid workers will receive a 2.6% wage increase on June 1, 2025, raising the general minimum wage from $17.40 to $17.85 per hour. The increase, part of a legislated annual adjustment tied to inflation, also applies to residential
Canada has introduced stricter immigration regulations, granting officers greater authority to cancel temporary resident visas (TRVs), electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), work permits, and study permits. Effective January 31, 2025, these changes target visa fraud, overstays, and administrative errors to strengthen
Rural and Francophone minority communities play a crucial role in Canada’s economy and cultural identity. However, these communities often face labour shortages and demographic challenges as most newcomers settle in urban centres. To address these issues and enhance regional immigration,
To strengthen its International Student Program and ensure sustainability, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced new measures for study permit allocations in 2025. These changes build on the 2024 study permit cap, further refining the system to balance
Ontario has introduced significant changes to its immigration programs to address critical healthcare labor shortages. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has now made it easier for self-employed physicians to qualify for provincial nomination, removing previous barriers that prevented many
Canada continues to strengthen family reunification efforts through its Super Visa program, allowing parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to stay in Canada for extended periods. Recent updates to the program provide greater flexibility in obtaining mandatory
Ontario is adapting its international student policies following the federal government’s decision to further reduce study permit allocations for 2025. The province remains committed to prioritizing public postsecondary programs that prepare students for high-demand jobs critical to Ontario’s labor market.
The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program plays a critical role in supporting Canada’s economy by allowing employers to hire foreign workers temporarily when qualified Canadian workers are not available. However, program misuse by some employers has led to concerns over
