Canada’s immigration backlog continues to gradually decrease
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reports that the number of applicants in inventory has decreased from approximately 2.2 million to just over 2.1 million over December. In an email to CIC News, IRCC provided updated data, which is current as of January 2-3. The inventory across all lines of business has progressed as follows…
The IEC 2023 pool is now open
The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is accepting applications for its 2023 pool. Learn more about Canadian immigration and discover your options The opening of the application pool comes following last year’s announcement, that the IEC would be expanding its program intake, allowing close to 90,000 applicants from partner countries the opportunity to work and…
Study: International students face unique disadvantage when trying to become permanent residents in Canada
A recent study called From Student to Immigrant? Multi-step Pathways to Permanent Residence suggests that too many Canadian international students face multi-step, indirect pathways to Canadian permanent residence (PR). The Conference Board of Canada is a non-profit research organization that focuses on analyzing economic trends, organizational performance and issues related to public policy. Immigration, Refugees…
British Columbia and Manitoba issue invitations to apply for provincial nominee programs
British Columbia and Manitoba have issued invitations to apply to candidates through their most recent rounds of provincial nominee program (PNP) draws. Most Canadian provinces and territories (except for Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own PNPs. Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for provincial nomination. Receiving a provincial nomination can be…
December 2022 Labour Force Survey: Employment across Canada rises by over 100,000 to wrap up the year
According to the latest Labour Force Survey (December 2022) released by Statistics Canada, employment in Canada rose 0.5 percentage points over the month (+104,000 jobs), as the national unemployment rate dropped to 5.0% (-0.1% month-over-month). General employment trends across Canada Many immigrants to Canada come to this country seeking a better life, which often includes…
The national response to Quebec’s French-language preserving Bill 96
The turn of the calendar to 2023 (January 1) marked exactly seven months since Quebec’s divisive Bill 96 received royal assent and was officially passed into law on June 1, 2022. This law was designed, in the words of former Quebec language minister Simon Jolin-Barette, “to promote [and] protect the French language.” This is according…
Internal IRCC audit recommends the creation of clear guidelines for Pilot Programs
An internal memo from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on July 18, 2022, recommends the implementation of clear guidelines for the establishment of pilot programs following an internal audit conducted last March by the Internal Audit and Accountability Branch of IRCC. There have been 11 pilot programs established since April 2013. Of these programs,…
IRCC announces additional funding for Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot Program
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced its intent to provide an additional $5.8 million in support for 10 projects under the Racialized Women Newcomers Pilot Program. The announcement was made in Halifax on December 9 as part of a 16-day awareness campaign about ending gender-based violence against women. The Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot…
Why do Express Entry candidates need an educational credential assessment (ECA)?
Skilled workers hopeful of becoming permanent residents (PRs) of Canada normally apply to Express Entry. What is Express Entry? Express Entry is a key immigration pathway for the Canadian government. There are several skilled worker programs managed under Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program…
Canada reached highest-ever target for admissions of permanent residents in 2022
Today, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that Canada reached a record-breaking target for admissions of permanent residents in 2022. The target, set to 431,645 new permanent residents in one year, surpasses the 2021 record of 401,000 and is the highest number of new permanent residents to arrive in one year recorded in Canadian…