A new initiative, "Pathways to Teach Canada," has recently been launched to help internationally educated teachers obtain their professional certification in Canada more easily. Through a partnership with World Education Services (WES), the program provides a centralized portal for credential and language assessments, covering nine Canadian provinces and territories. This development, combined with the new education-specific category under Canada's federal Express Entry system, creates an unprecedented opportunity for education professionals worldwide to immigrate to Canada.

Recent data from Statistics Canada reveals that national population growth nearly stalled in the first quarter of 2025, with an increase of only about 20,000 people, or 0.0%. This significant slowdown is primarily attributed to a series of restrictive immigration policies implemented by the federal government to address domestic pressures on housing and social services, including sharp cuts to temporary resident numbers and lower targets for permanent resident admissions. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the key policy measures driving this change and their specific impacts on various visa applicants.

Facing a landscape of significant federal cuts to provincial immigration allocations for 2025, the province of New Brunswick has announced a unique agreement with the federal government. By committing to welcome up to 400 asylum claimants over the next two years, the province has successfully secured an additional 1,500 spots for its nominee program. This move increases its total annual immigration allocation to 4,250, effectively mitigating the pressure from an earlier 50% cut. The agreement not only breathes new life into New Brunswick's priority sectors but also serves as a potential model for other provinces grappling with similar challenges.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has recently announced a fundamental overhaul to its highly sought-after Employer Job Offer streams. Starting July 2, 2024, the application process for these streams will shift from the current "applicant-led" model to an "employer-led" one. This change means employers must now initiate the process by submitting job details to the province through a new online portal before a foreign national can register an Expression of Interest (EOI). This reform will have significant implications for all current and prospective applicants.

On June 12, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw, issuing 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 529. As the fourth draw of the month, its significant size marks a return to the large-scale CEC draws that were common in 2024 and earlier this year, sending a positive signal to individuals who already have Canadian study and work experience.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw on June 10, 2025, once again targeting candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). A total of 125 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 784. This is the third draw of the month and the first series of invitations under the new Minister of Immigration, Lena Diab. Data shows that the PNP remains the dominant stream for invitations in 2025. Concurrently, IRCC has underscored the importance for all candidates to maintain accurate profile information to avoid severe penalties for misrepresentation.

Quebec's Immigration Minister, Jean-François Roberge, announced the province's draft immigration plan for the next four years (2026-2029) on June 5, 2025, signaling a major policy shift. The new strategy focuses on strictly controlling and reducing the number of temporary residents while shifting the selection focus entirely to in-province candidates with French language skills and work experience. To facilitate this transition, Quebec has immediately suspended intake for the popular PEQ experience program and plans to consider raising its permanent residence targets only after the federal government commits to a significant reduction in temporary residents. The draft plan is now open for public consultation.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw on June 4, specifically targeting candidates in the "Healthcare and Social Services" category. A total of 500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence were issued, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 504. This marks the second targeted draw for this category this year, further signaling Canada's clear policy of prioritizing specific professional fields to address labor market shortages. To date, Canada has issued 35,217 ITAs through the Express Entry system in 2025.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), under its new minister, conducted the first Express Entry draw of the month on June 3rd, issuing 277 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) exclusively to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 726. So far in 2025, Canada has issued 34,717 ITAs via the Express Entry system, with PNP streams significantly leading in both invitation volume and draw frequency.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced significant revisions to the "Maintained Status" provisions for temporary residents, effective May 28, 2025. The new rules specify that if a temporary resident's initial extension application, submitted while on maintained status, is refused, a subsequent application filed after the expiry of their original permit will no longer automatically allow them to maintain legal status in Canada. This change has profound implications for temporary residents submitting multiple extension applications and requires close attention.