Jul 23, 2019 – Quebec immigration authorities have initiated the process of implementing a Settlement Agreement reached in the class-action suit filed by applicants to Quebec’s Regular Skilled Worker programme (QSWP). The QSWP applicants had alleged that Quebec’s Immigration Ministry and the provincial government had acted in bad faith by refusing to reimburse the application fees

July 16, 2019 – Canada Border Services Agency officers are to be equipped with batons, pepper spray and bulletproof vests when they are working with detained migrants. The new national policy has raised concerns that asylum seekers are being criminalized. It follows the decision to move immigration detainees out of provincial jails and into immigration

July 16, 2019 – Ontario immigration has announced a plan to launch its own Regional Immigration Pilot to help bring skilled labour to the province’s smaller communities. Canada’s largest province says it will work with communities on new ways to help them attract and retain new immigrants. The pilot will be aimed at communities with

July 15, 2019 – Ontario immigration has conducted a first-ever Tech Draw, issuing Notifications of Interest to a mammoth 1,623 Express Entry candidates. The July 12 Human Capital Priorities stream draw saw invites issued to candidates scoring as low as 439 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. To qualify, candidates needed to have created an Express Entry

July 15, 2019 – Ontario immigration has moved to add three new occupations under the Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills Stream. Canada’s largest province has also reduced the work experience requirement through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program stream, to nine months within the last three years. Previously, candidates were required to have 12 months of

July 12, 2019 – Newfoundland & Labrador immigration will open its International Entrepreneur category to a fourth round of Expressions of Interest during August. The Atlantic province says the Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) stream will open from August 9 to 15. International Entrepreneur candidates must wish to settle in the province and

July 12 2019 – Canada is launching a new Agri-Food Immigration Pilot to address labour shortages in the agriculture industry, the federal government announced on Friday July 12. The three-year pilot is the first industry-specific immigration stream to be launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. It will see a maximum of 2,750 candidates, plus

July 11 2019 – The latest draw for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program saw 218 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates. In the July 9 draw, invitations were issued across five British Columbia immigration streams. Skilled workers and international graduates through both direct provincial streams required a minimum score of 105 points.

July 10, 2019 – Quebec immigration has announced the temporary suspension of applications for the Quebec Graduate Stream of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). The suspension – from July 10 to November 1, 2019 – aims to prioritize ‘the selection of people with jobs in Quebec during this period’, a Quebec immigration ministry (MIDI) statement said.