Quebec Holds First Skilled Worker Draw for Intermediate and Manual Skills Stream – 273 Invited

On July 31, 2025, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) issued 273 invitations under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), specifically targeting the Intermediate and Manual Skills stream for the first time. This marks a significant step in Quebec’s immigration system, which recently shifted from the Regular Skilled Worker Program to the […]

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IRCC Holds New Express Entry Draw: 192 PNP Candidates Invited with 800 CRS Cut-Off

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its latest Express Entry draw on August 18, 2025, inviting 192 candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 800, making it the second-highest CRS cut-off of the year. The highest so far in 2025 was 802 […]

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Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) August 2025 Payment Arriving Soon – Full Details

The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is once again in the spotlight as the second round of payments is set to roll out on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Launched in July 2025, the CDB is a new federal income support program designed to help low-income Canadians living with disabilities by providing direct monthly financial relief. Administered […]

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Canada Tightens Scrutiny on Cash Job Work Experience for Immigration Applicants

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced stricter scrutiny on the use of cash job work experience in immigration applications, particularly for Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). For decades, many applicants from countries where cash payments are common have relied on employer reference letters citing cash salaries as proof of work experience. […]

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Canada’s Rural PR Pathway Sees Unprecedented Demand, Communities Tighten Rules to Manage Applications

Canada’s new Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) — a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers — has witnessed overwhelming demand from both employers and applicants in participating rural regions, prompting several communities to impose stricter rules, intake caps, and even temporary pauses on applications. The RCIP is designed to address local labour shortages […]

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Canada to Make Biometrics Mandatory for All Citizenship Applicants by 2027 – A Major Shift in Policy

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed a major upcoming change to the Canadian citizenship process: mandatory biometric collection for all citizenship grant applications. This new requirement—covering both fingerprints and facial recognition data—will become a standard part of the process starting 2027, marking a significant departure from past practices. What’s Changing Historically, citizenship applicants […]

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Canada’s Cut to Foreign Workers Pushes Ontario Resorts Toward Crisis

Ontario’s multi-billion-dollar tourism sector is facing an unprecedented staffing crisis, as sweeping federal cuts to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) begin to take effect. Resorts, particularly in rural and seasonal destinations such as Blue Mountain and Totem Resorts, are being forced to scale back operations due to staffing shortages — with some even considering […]

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IRCC Releases August 2025 Processing Times for Canadian Immigration

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated processing timelines across multiple immigration streams as of August 2025. These estimates—now based on real-time data covering 80% of applications—bring clarity for applicants amid shifting volumes and updated policies. Here’s everything you need to know: Detailed Processing Times Breakdown Category Subcategory Processing Time (Aug 2025) Change […]

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Super Visa Emerges as Accessible Alternative for Parents and Grandparents Seeking Family Reunification in Canada

Canada’s Super Visa program has become an increasingly popular pathway for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with their parents and grandparents for extended stays, especially for those who miss out on the lottery-based Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Unlike the PGP, which grants permanent residence but is limited to lottery invitations from a […]

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Turbulence Ahead: Air Canada Cancels Flights as Flight Attendants’ Strike Threatens Nationwide Disruption

Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, is bracing for major nationwide travel disruptions as more than 10,000 flight attendants prepare to strike this weekend, citing stagnant wages and unpaid labor. With a 72-hour strike notice issued by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on Wednesday, August 13, the airline has begun cancelling flights in […]

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