The best is yet to come
OK
Log out of UNA?
Log out
Cancel
Get Personalized Immigration Plans in 5 Minutes
Tools
CRS CalculatorExpress Entry Invitations
My Appointments
Welcome to UNA
Sign In
English中文(简体)中文(香港)中文(台灣)
Canada's New Immigration Minister Takes Office, Policy May Shift Towards "Sustainability"
Published Date: May 14, 2025

Canada's political landscape is witnessing a new phase. After the Liberal Party successfully formed a government in the recent federal election, new Prime Minister Mark Carney made key adjustments to his cabinet members. Among them, Ms. Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, has been formally appointed as the new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), succeeding Ms. Rachel Bendayan, who previously held the position.

Cabinet reshuffles are a routine operation in the Canadian political system after elections, designed to allow the new Prime Minister to optimize their core leadership team based on the policy platform, priorities, and evolving policy objectives. It is worth recalling that the last major change of Immigration Minister occurred in March 2025, when Rachel Bendayan replaced Marc Miller.

The New Immigration Minister: A Wealth of Experience and Diverse Background

Ms. Lena Metlege Diab brings a profound political track record and legal expertise to this key position. Before entering federal politics, she had accumulated extensive experience in local politics. From 2013 to 2021, Ms. Diab served for a long period as Nova Scotia's Minister of Immigration. During this time, she was not only the first woman of Lebanese descent elected to a legislature in Canadian history but also groundbreakingly became the province's first female Attorney General and Minister of Justice, earning high praise for her outstanding achievements.

As Nova Scotia's head of immigration affairs, Ms. Diab made significant contributions to diversifying and modernizing the province's immigration programs. Her main achievements include: successfully attracting a record number of new permanent residents, actively promoting and establishing new immigration streams for immigrant entrepreneurs, and pioneering the innovative integration of provincial nominee programs with the federal Express Entry system, launching multiple pilot projects.

In addition to her distinguished work in immigration, Ms. Diab also held the following important positions in Nova Scotia, concurrently or successively:

  • Acadian Affairs and Fracophonie; and
  • Labour and Advanced Education.

Ms. Diab was born and raised in Halifax to Lebanese immigrant parents. She holds a commerce degree from Saint Mary’s University and a law degree from Dalhousie University, and is fluent in English, French, and Arabic, which is undoubtedly a significant advantage in handling complex immigration matters. Before entering politics, she was a practicing lawyer and owned a small business in Halifax. Ms. Diab has a particularly strong connection with the Lebanese Canadian community, having served seven terms as president of the Canadian-Lebanon Society of Halifax, and was the society's first female president. According to her public information from her campaign for MP of Halifax West, Minister Diab’s core values are deeply rooted in “diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and fairness.”

Immigration Policy Outlook Under Prime Minister Mark Carney

Under the leadership of new Prime Minister Mark Carney, the future direction of Canada's immigration policy is thought-provoking. Although specific ministerial mandate letters have not yet been publicly released, Prime Minister Carney has previously revealed some preliminary ideas and priority directions for immigration policy. The new government is expected to take action in the following areas:

  • Scaling permanent immigration back to a “sustainable” level;
  • Supporting further economic immigration to Canada;
  • Increasing francophone immigration levels; and
  • Reducing temporary resident levels.

Immigration Affairs: A Core Pillar of Canada's National Strategy

Immigration affairs occupy a pivotal position in Canada's national strategy and are an indispensable part of Canada's economic development, demographic optimization, and multicultural fabric. Immigration is not only a key way to address labour market shortages but also the core driver of Canada's population growth—currently, immigration accounts for almost all of Canada's labour force growth and population growth.

Given its foundational role in Canadian society, any adjustment to immigration policy easily becomes a focal point of policy debate and intense media scrutiny. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has considerable discretionary power, able to enact and implement public policies that have direct and far-reaching impacts on workers, students, family reunification applicants, and employers nationwide. For example, the Immigration Minister has the authority to initiate or suspend specific temporary public policies without prior parliamentary approval, such as adjusting work permit eligibility criteria or setting caps on off-campus work hours for international students.

Facing complex and diverse challenges and opportunities, all eyes will be on how the new Minister, Lena Diab, will use her extensive experience and policy tools under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney to write the next chapter of Canada's immigration policy.

Friendly reminder: There are many pathways to immigrate to Canada. We recommend first using UNA AI to generate an objective and neutral immigration plan, so you can gain an initial understanding of the possible immigration pathways and their requirements, and then choose to proceed with one-on-one consultations with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant partnered with UNA.
Tags
Immigration News
More
安大略省四轮定向抽签发出逾1,800份移民邀请，医疗保健类占近九成
Ontario Issues Over 1,800 Immigration Invitations Across Four Targeted Draws, Healthcare Accounting for Nearly 90%
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted four targeted draws on April 8, 2026, issuing a total of 1,828 invitations to apply (ITAs) across four categories: healthcare and early childhood education, Francophone candidates, the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot, and physicians. The healthcare and early childhood education draw dominated with 1,635 invitations — nearly 90% of the total — while the Foreign Worker stream minimum score dropped to just 20, down sharply from 36 in the February 2 healthcare draw, signaling Ontario's intensified push to fill critical staffing gaps in these sectors. This marked the province's sixth set of draws in 2026, with all targeted candidates required to hold a valid work or study permit and currently reside in Canada. Notably, these draws come as Ontario prepares for a sweeping overhaul of its immigration system, with legal amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act set to take effect on May 30, 2026, revoking all existing nomination categories — including the Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills streams used in these draws.
04/10/2026
加拿大拟全面重塑快速通道：三大联邦技术移民项目或将被单一新类别取代
Canada Moves to Overhaul Express Entry: Three Federal Skilled Immigration Programs May Be Merged Into a Single New Class
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has proposed a sweeping restructuring of its flagship Express Entry system in its newly released Forward Regulatory Plan: 2026–2028, under which the three federal economic immigration programs currently managed through Express Entry — the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) — would be repealed and replaced by a single new class with streamlined eligibility requirements, which IRCC says would help support Canada's economy and businesses by building a more diverse pool of international talent while making the system easier for applicants, employers and partners to navigate; the department has indicated that the reform is still in the proposal phase and plans to consult partners, stakeholders and the public in spring 2026, and if implemented, the change would represent the most significant overhaul of Canada's federal high-skilled immigration framework since Express Entry was launched in 2015.
04/09/2026
阿尔伯塔省AAIP新增135加元意向书提交费用 4月7日起正式生效
Alberta Introduces $135 Fee for Worker Expression of Interest Submissions Under AAIP, Effective April 7
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has confirmed that, starting April 7, 2026, foreign nationals submitting a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) will be required to pay a new $135 fee, a step that ends the previously free submission process and applies across every worker stream and pathway — including the Alberta Opportunity Stream, the Alberta Express Entry Stream (covering the Accelerated Tech Pathway, the Law Enforcement Pathway and priority sector draws), the Dedicated Health Care Pathways, the Rural Renewal Stream and the Tourism and Hospitality Stream — while remaining entirely separate from the existing $1,500 application fee; the change follows the February 25, 2026 addition of new wage and hours-of-work fields to the WEOI form and comes as more than 44,000 WEOIs sit in the selection pool, with Alberta holding a 2026 allocation of 6,403 nominations from IRCC, of which 1,475 had been issued as of April 1 and 4,928 remain available, with upcoming draws expected to prioritize health care, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture and occupations tied to designated Rural Renewal communities.
04/08/2026
加拿大2026-27年度外国资质认证计划锁定58项协议，惠及逾三万名海外专业人才
Canada Targets 58 Funding Agreements Under Foreign Credential Recognition Program for 2026-27, Aiming to Support Over 32,000 Professionals
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has set a concrete annual target for its Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program in its 2026-27 Departmental Plan: 58 funding agreements expected to benefit approximately 32,000 internationally trained professionals (ITPs) seeking to work in their fields in Canada. Alongside this target, the federal government has formally committed $97 million CAD over five years, beginning in 2026-27, to establish the FCR Action Fund — a dedicated funding stream designed to work with provinces and territories to improve the fairness, transparency, timeliness, and consistency of credential recognition processes, with a particular focus on the healthcare and construction sectors. These developments signal a shift in Ottawa's approach from project-level funding toward systemic reform of Canada's credential recognition framework.
04/06/2026
加拿大4月起实施八项移民新规：护照涨价、公民权费上调、超级签证门槛放宽
Eight Immigration Changes Take Effect in Canada as of April 1, 2026
Between March 31 and April 1, 2026, the Canadian federal and provincial governments rolled out eight immigration-related changes affecting a wide range of applicants and residents. Canadian passport fees have risen for the first time since 2013, with a 10-year adult passport now costing $163.50, up from $160. At the same time, a new "30 days or free" processing guarantee promises automatic full refunds when applications exceed the 30-business-day window. The right of citizenship fee increased by $3.25 to $123, and permanent residence application fees are set to rise on April 30. The Super Visa program now offers two additional ways for hosts to meet the minimum income threshold, giving more families the chance to bring parents and grandparents to Canada. Provinces and territories have gained greater authority over assessing nominees' intent to reside and economic establishment prospects. Economic-class permanent residents now face a six-year time limit on access to federally funded settlement services, tightening to five years in 2027. Rural employers can hire low-wage temporary foreign workers at up to 15% of their workforce under the TFWP, up from 10%. Saskatchewan has also extended its $500 application fee and $250 second review fee to all SINP worker categories.
04/04/2026
加拿大快速通道2026年首次技工类别抽选：发出3,000份邀请函
Canada Issues 3,000 Invitations in First Express Entry Trades Draw of 2026
On April 2, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the year's first category-based Express Entry draw targeting Trades Occupations, issuing 3,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 477. The draw marks a significant milestone as the first Trades selection since IRCC raised the minimum work experience requirement from six months to one year in February 2026, and represents the twentieth Express Entry draw of the year. Notably, the 3,000 ITAs issued in this single draw already exceed the 1,250 total issued under the Trades category throughout all of 2025, underscoring IRCC's growing emphasis on skilled tradespeople. With 58,830 ITAs issued across all categories in 2026 so far, the Canadian Experience Class and French-language proficiency categories continue to account for the largest share.
04/03/2026
三月收官之战：快速通道再向2,250名加拿大经验类候选人发出邀请
IRCC Wraps Up March with 2,250 Invitations in Canadian Experience Class Draw
On March 31, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) closed out the month with an Express Entry draw targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, issuing 2,250 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence at a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 509. This marked the 19th Express Entry draw of 2026 and the sixth dedicated CEC round this year. With 55,830 ITAs issued across the first three months of the year — 30,250 of which went to CEC candidates alone — the federal government's strategy of prioritizing immigration applicants already living and working in Canada has come into sharp focus.
04/01/2026
加拿大向省提名候选人发放数百份快速通道邀请
Canada Issues Hundreds of Express Entry Invitations to Provincial Nominees
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 356 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in the 18th Express Entry draw of 2026. Candidates in this draw were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 802 and to have created their Express Entry profile before 3:54 a.m. UTC on February 12, 2026. So far in 2026, IRCC has focused its draws primarily on candidates residing in Canada, especially those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience. A total of 53,580 ITAs have been issued to date.
03/31/2026
曼尼托巴省3月26日再邀技术工人，法语社区项目成本轮重点
Manitoba Invites More Skilled Workers on March 26, with Francophone Community Initiative Taking Centre Stage
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held a new selection round on March 26, 2026, issuing 14 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under the Skilled Worker Stream to candidates in Manitoba and overseas. Those invited had declared in their Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles that they had been directly invited by the province through a strategic recruitment initiative. Among the various initiatives, the Francophone Community initiative accounted for the highest number of invitations, with eight LAAs issued. In addition, three invitees declared valid Express Entry profile numbers and job seeker validation codes.
03/30/2026
加拿大《C-12法案》正式生效，移民申请管理、庇护资格与信息共享规则同步收紧
Canada’s Bill C-12 Comes into Force, Tightening Rules on Immigration Application Management, Asylum Eligibility, and Information Sharing
Canada’s federal government has officially enacted the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12) after it received royal assent on March 26, 2026. According to publicly available information from the Canadian government and Parliament, the legislation introduces major changes in four core areas: asylum eligibility, asylum procedures, the immigration department’s information-sharing powers, and public-interest authority over visas, study permits, work permits, and related immigration applications. The new law also imposes stricter asylum eligibility rules and requires that related executive orders be reported to Parliament, while some of its long-term effects will be subject to future parliamentary review.
03/28/2026
BannerFREE Personalized Plan
Sorry, your request failed
Please try again
OK