Immigration | October 12, 2026 Canada Expands Low-Wage Work Permit Freeze

1. Canada Expands Freeze on Low-Wage Work Permits to Six More Cities

Source: CIC News

Canada's freeze on work permits for low-wage temporary foreign workers expanded again this week. According to a government webpage updated on October 9, six more areas were added to the freeze: Halifax, Fredericton, Kingston, St. Catharines-Niagara, Regina and Lethbridge, while the 24 previously affected regions remain on the list.

From October 9, 2026 to January 7, 2027, employers in the affected regions cannot initiate hiring or renew work permits for non-exempt jobs paying less than 120% of the provincial or territorial median wage. The freeze targets Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) under the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, and was lifted in Kamloops and Chilliwack.

Low-wage hourly thresholds vary by province, for example $36.92 in Ontario, $38.40 in British Columbia and $37.50 in Alberta. Exemptions exist for private households hiring nurses, childcare providers or personal support workers as in-home caregivers, and case-specific exemptions are available for highly mobile jobs such as workers for concerts, carnivals or fairs. The next update to the list of affected regions is scheduled for January 8, 2027.

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2. Canada Eases Study Rule for Temporary Workers, but Experts Say It Will Not Fill Professional Gaps

Source: Narcity

Temporary workers pursuing some health care careers in Canada gained new flexibility this week: they can take short-term training without obtaining a study permit. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) identified nurses, laboratory technicians and tradespeople among workers who could develop in-demand skills while continuing to work.

IRCC said the new regulation is intended to address labour gaps and help workers obtain short-term licensing, education and training. In effect, the change corrected a technical restriction: foreign nationals were already allowed to study without a permit for programs lasting six months or less, as long as their studies could be completed within the period of stay authorized when they entered Canada, and the new temporary policy exempts eligible holders of valid work permits from that time limit.

But researchers say the temporary measure, which has a six-month limit, is unlikely to remove larger barriers. Marshia Akbar, director of Toronto Metropolitan University's BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab, said six months of study could be useful for technical training, language instruction, bridging programs or professional exam preparation, but it will not help temporary workers enter regulated professions. John Shields, professor emeritus at the same university, cautioned against reading too much into the policy, saying the change is more applicable to short, job-specific qualifications, and added that there is not a lot one can pick up in a six-month period. Nova Scotia Community College said that although its continuing care certificate program runs about 24 weeks, no one had inquired about it in the month since the policy was announced.

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3. Canada to Launch New Asylum Claim Process on November 3

Source: CIC News

IRCC announced this week that it will cut over to a new online process for asylum claims, effective November 3, 2026. The impact on claimants depends on the stage they are at immediately before the cutover, which takes place at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 2, 2026.

Specifically, if a claim was started in the IRCC Portal but not submitted, the claimant will need to answer new questions and review old responses before submitting; if the claim was submitted, there is no impact. Claims not linked to an IRCC Portal account require re-entering details about the claimant and their family after linking. The change was communicated on October 1 through updates to the government web pages on claiming asylum from within Canada and at the border.

Since 2022, Canada has had a public policy allowing referred claimants to apply for an open work permit while awaiting their hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB); on June 19, 2026, Canada took the first step to make early access permanent through regulatory changes. If a claim is rejected or found ineligible for referral, the person may, on CBSA advice, apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). Successful applicants are typically granted protected person status, can remain in Canada indefinitely and may apply for permanent residence, and after 1,095 days can apply for citizenship.

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4. Ontario Raises Scores for High Earners Under New Permanent Residence Pathway

Source: CIC News

Ontario's Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) this week raised scores for candidates earning at least $80,000 a year, giving them a better chance of being selected for provincial nomination and, in turn, Canadian permanent residence. On October 7, 2026, Ontario announced that top-earning candidates now receive 10 points under the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS).

The change took effect on October 5, 2026 and was applied automatically to affected profiles. The OINP added a higher scoring bracket to the Canadian work experience: earnings history factor; the previous top bracket was $70,000 or more, worth 8 points. The revised brackets are: $80,000 or more for 10 points; $70,000 to $79,999 for 8 points; $50,000 to $69,999 for 6 points; and $30,000 to $49,999 for 4 points. Earnings are based on a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment issued within the past five years.

OWPS is currently the only available way for foreign nationals to pursue provincial nomination for permanent residence from Ontario. The OINP opened intake for OWPS to eligible Ontario employers, workers and self-employed physicians on August 4, after unveiling the ranking system on July 20; the province launched OWPS on June 26 and revoked all its previous provincial permanent residence pathways on May 30, 2026. A second phase will include three other streams, but no launch date had been announced as of writing.

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5. Canada Holds Second Skilled Trades Express Entry Draw of 2026, Inviting 3,500 Candidates

Source: ImmigCanada Immigration Consulting Services

Canada completed its second Skilled Trades Express Entry draw of 2026, issuing invitations to apply for permanent residence to 3,500 candidates. IRCC held Express Entry draw #447 on October 1, 2026 at 12:47:55 UTC, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 476, one point lower than the previous Skilled Trades draw in April.

The earlier Trades Occupations draw took place on April 2 and invited 3,000 candidates with a CRS cutoff of 477, meaning the two 2026 Trades draws issued a combined 6,500 invitations. IRCC's CRS distribution showed 229,904 candidates in the Express Entry pool as of September 27, 2026, with the largest concentration, 73,131 candidates, in the 451 to 500 range.

The report noted that category-based draws can create opportunities for candidates whose scores are not competitive in other Express Entry rounds, but holding trade-related work experience does not automatically mean an invitation: candidates must first meet the applicable Express Entry requirements and then qualify for the targeted category. Immigration eligibility is based on the duties and requirements of an occupation, not simply the job title. It added that a score of 476 reflects only this round and does not set the threshold for the next, and that candidates below it can improve their scores through factors such as language results, education and Canadian work experience.

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6. Canadian Citizenship Certificate Wait Times Soar to Nearly 3 Years

Source: CIC News

For people applying for, or considering, proof of Canadian citizenship, this week's official estimate is worth noting. IRCC says that for a complete application received today, it estimates a 33-month wait for a decision, an estimate based on current application volumes and inventory that may rise or fall in future.

The process has three stages: gathering documents, preparing the application package and waiting for IRCC's decision after submission. Gathering records is often the most time-consuming stage and must be done before IRCC begins processing. IRCC starts the clock when it receives a complete application and processes files on a first-in, first-out basis. Between August and September 2026, the queue grew by about 14,000 people and the wait time increased by eight months. The 33-month figure applies to applications received today and does not reset the clock for people already in the queue.

The report noted that applicants cannot pay IRCC to process faster, but may qualify for urgent processing for reasons on IRCC's list; dual citizens may also qualify if they hold citizenship in a visa-exempt country and can show proof of air travel to Canada within six months of applying. An incomplete application is the main risk applicants control: IRCC will not process an incomplete file, may request more documents or return the application, and a returned file goes to the back of the queue when reapplied.

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7. Vancouver's Language School Sector Faces a New Reality as Two Well-Known Institutions Close

Source: The PIE News

For many international students, studying English in Vancouver has long been a personal goal. But this week's industry developments show that goal has been shaken: EC English announced on September 14 the immediate closure of all 25 of its schools worldwide, including its Vancouver and Toronto operations, and four days later the International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) announced it had filed for bankruptcy protection and immediately ceased operations.

British Columbia's Private Training Institutions Branch confirmed that the ILAC Education Group and several related institutions surrendered their provincial designation certificates effective September 18. Eligible students may claim compensation from the provincial Student Tuition Protection Fund, and Languages Canada is arranging placements in similar programs so students can finish their studies. Industry commentary suggests the Canadian education market is restructuring, for language schools and career programs alike.

The closures come after several years of major changes to Canada's international student system, including federal restrictions on international student numbers and changes to study permits, which have significantly altered the market that private institutions operate in. The report noted that Vancouver's language sector is not disappearing: Languages Canada represents more than 160 accredited language programs across nine provinces. Smaller, specialised and online, exam-focused teaching, for tests such as IELTS and CELPIP, is emerging as a new option.

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8. Ontario Invests $138M in Trent University to Expand Student Housing and Seats

Source: ImmigCanada Immigration Consulting Services

Ontario this week announced a combined $138 million investment in Trent University to expand student housing, academic infrastructure and enrolment capacity in Peterborough. A $100 million investment through the Building Ontario Fund will support two new student residences with 1,400 beds and approximately 134,000 square feet of academic and student space, while a separate $38 million will fund 1,504 additional university seats.

The new residences are at Trent's Symons Campus and are expected to be completed in August 2029. The project is part of a larger $384 million financing package involving Trent University, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan and Knightstone Capital Management. The largest share of the new seats is in STEM programs; some are expected to become available in fall 2026, with the rest planned for fall 2027. The province says the investment is intended to prepare students for in-demand careers and strengthen Ontario's future workforce.

The report cautioned that the announcement does not change Canada's study permit rules or guarantee admission for international students, since it adds physical capacity and international students still need to meet university admission and federal study requirements. It advised students to treat choosing a program, obtaining authorization to study in Canada and planning for possible post-graduation immigration options as three separate decisions, and to assess their own circumstances against the rules in effect at the time. Because the new housing is not expected to be completed until August 2029, it should not be seen as available now.

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