Canada

IRCC officials discuss study permit backlog and new recommendations at CBIE symposium Report recommends increased transparency and more collaboration between IRCC, the provinces and designated learning institutions

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is reporting an unprecedented surge in demand for study permits from international students. According to ICEF Monitor, the numbers are continuing to increase as pandemic restrictions are loosen around the globe and students are returning to Canada to begin or complete their post-secondary education.

By Edana Robitaille

IRCC sent work permit extension instructions to wrong e-mail addresses Canada's immigration department says it is investigating a privacy breach, where work permit extension candidates received emails intended for someone else.

Expired and soon-to-expire Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders and Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence (TR2PR) applicants were told to wait for an email with instructions on how to extend their status. One day later, several reports surfaced on social media that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had sent the emails containing names, application numbers, […]

By Shelby Thevenot

Canada opens new PR pathway for overseas family members of air disasters Families of the Canadian victims of Ethiopian and Ukrainian air disasters may be eligible for permanent residency.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has created a new permanent residency program for families of the Canadian victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.

By Shelby Thevenot

Canada continues to have very low unemployment rate Canada's unemployment rate was at 4.9% again in July, according to Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey.

Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.9% in July, matching the record low from the month before.

By Shelby Thevenot

Alberta and British Columbia each issue over 100 invitations to apply for provincial nomination Alberta invites 120 Express Entry candidates and BC targets tech occupations.

Alberta and British Columbia released Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw results this week.

By Edana Robitaille

IRCC’s Anti Racism Strategy for 2021-2024 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched an Anti-Racism Strategy for 2021 to 2024 in response to findings of racism within the department.

In 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) began looking deeper into the departments’ internal environment through an anti-racism lens. An employee survey found that significant proportion of racialized employees considered racism to be a problem. In response to this, focus groups were held to gain greater insight into the problem. A total of 54 […]

By Julia Hornstein

Canada still has over one million job vacancies While Canada continues to experience high job vacancies, the employment rate is decreasing in most sectors for the first time since May 2021.

Statistics Canada has released its monthly payroll employment, earnings, hours, and job vacancy report for May 2022. Based on the report, the number of employees in Canada receiving pay or benefits from their employer has decreased for the first time since May 2021.

By Edana Robitaille

British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario release PNP draw results Western Canada invites hundreds of candidates to apply for provincial nomination.

This past week, four Canadian provinces released Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw results.

By Edana Robitaille

Why Canada is yet to introduce an open work permit for expired PGWP holders Canada announced in April that PGWP holders would get an extension. Now in July, these international student graduates still have no way to apply and are losing their legal status.

Months after introducing a special measure to allow certain Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders to apply for a new open work permit that would allow them to keep working in Canada, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser is blaming technical issues for the delay.

By Shelby Thevenot