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The Government of Canada updates CMA unemployment rates for LMIA processing in January 2025

The Government of Canada made seven Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) eligible for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), as their unemployment rates fell below the 6% threshold. Vancouver, Abbotsford, Winnipeg, Brantford, Kingston, Ottawa-Gatineau, and Trois-Rivieres now qualify for low-wage stream LMIA applications, while Saint John, Guelph, and Barrie have become ineligible. Effective January 10, 2025, this update impacts employers’ ability to hire foreign workers, particularly in regions where unemployment rates influence LMIA application processing. …

On January 14, 2025, the Government of Canada implemented significant changes to open work permit (OWP) eligibility for family members of temporary residents. Starting January 21, 2025, only certain family members of international students and foreign workers will be eligible for OWPs. The new policy includes spouses of students enrolled in master’s (16+ months), doctoral, or selected professional programs. Similarly, only spouses of foreign workers in specific occupational categories, including healthcare, construction, and natural sciences, will qualify for OWPs if the worker has at least 16 months remaining on their permit. …

On January 6, 2023, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated the processing times for the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under various streams. Based on statistics from all processing centres, the current average LMIA processing times have increased for all streams.
• Global Talent Stream – 10 business days (+1 day)
• Agricultural stream – 21 business days (+5 days)
• Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program – 13 business days (+8 days)
• Permanent residence Stream – …

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced four groundbreaking permanent residency pathways set to launch in 2025 despite reduced immigration targets. The new initiatives will include two enhanced caregiver pilot programs offering immediate PR upon arrival, a Rural Community Immigration Pilot aimed at strengthening smaller communities, and a Francophone Community Immigration Pilot designed to support French-speaking populations outside Quebec. These programs represent a strategic shift towards community-centred immigration, addressing labour shortages while promoting linguistic diversity across the nation. …

On January 3, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant updates to several Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) effective October 1, 2024. The modifications primarily standardize language regarding wages, educational requirements, and spousal work permits across agreements, including CUSMA, CCOFTA, CUFTA, CPFTA, and CPAFTA. These changes affect various categories, such as intra-company transferees, professionals, investors, and technicians. The updates aim to create more consistent immigration processes across different trade agreements, particularly benefiting international workers and their families. …

Canada has announced comprehensive details for its new Rural Community Immigration Class, a permanent residence pathway designed to address labour shortages in designated communities outside Quebec. The program requires applicants to meet specific criteria, including continuous work experience, language proficiency, and education requirements. Notably, candidates must secure a job offer from a designated employer and demonstrate their intention to reside long-term in the rural community. International graduates from eligible Canadian post-secondary programs may qualify for work experience exemptions, …

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a new policy that allows certain work permit holders to pursue education without obtaining a study permit. This provision applies specifically to individuals who applied for their work permits before June 7, 2023, and will remain in effect until June 27, 2026. Under this policy, eligible permit holders can enroll in educational programs if their work permit remains valid. This measure represents Canada’s ongoing commitment to providing flexible pathways for immigrants to enhance their skills and education while contributing to the workforce. …

As Canada’s Express Entry system marks its 10th anniversary in 2025, immigration experts anticipate significant changes in the selection process. Predictions suggest larger Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 invitations monthly while maintaining high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-offs above 510 points. The system will likely continue prioritizing French-speaking candidates with monthly draws, alongside quarterly selections for healthcare and trades workers. Additionally, there’s speculation about eliminating job offer points amid concerns over Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) fraud, …

Recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that immigrants continue to drive Canada’s economic prosperity, contributing to 75% of the country’s population growth. Despite shifting public sentiments and government plans to reduce permanent resident numbers from 500,000 in 2023 to 380,000 by 2026, immigration remains crucial for addressing critical labour shortages. With an aging workforce and projections showing that five million Canadians will retire by 2035, leading to a concerning 2:1 worker-to-retiree ratio, …

According to a recent memo from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to the Deputy Minister dated July 2024, the department plans to increase Express Entry invitations for candidates already in Canada while suspending category-based draws for STEM, Transport, and Agriculture sectors through 2024. This strategic shift aims to streamline the immigration process by maximizing invitations for in-Canada candidates and providing more predictable outcomes for provinces and territories. A notable impact of this policy change is the expected decrease in Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws, …

Blog

The Government of Canada updates CMA unemployment rates for LMIA processing in January 2025

Canada tightens open work permit rules for international students and workers families

ESDC updated processing times for LMIA applications

IRCC will launch four new permanent residency pathways in 2025

Canada updates multiple Free Trade Agreements to standardize immigration requirements

Ottawa unveiled the details of the new rural immigration pathway

IRCC clarified which work permit holders may continue to study in Canada without a study permit

Express Entry 2025: Major changes and predictions for Canadian immigration

Immigration remains vital for Canada’s economic growth despite public concerns

IRCC to prioritize In-Canada immigration candidates for remainder of 2024