On March 18, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the Express Entry system to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required in this round was 393, dropping below the 400-point threshold and marking a notable development in recent French-language category-based draws. This selection was not only the 17th Express Entry draw of 2026, but also the third consecutive day of invitations this week, and the third draw this year targeting candidates with French-language ability. Although only three French-language draws have been held in 2026 so far, the category has already received 18,000 ITAs, ranking second among all draw types after the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) officially opened its Employer-Driven and Francophone Streams on March 9, 2026. The Employer-Driven Stream has transitioned to an Expression of Interest (EOI) selection model, with its inaugural draw scheduled for March 25, when up to 65 eligible candidates will be invited to submit full applications. The Francophone Stream will continue accepting direct applications on a first-come, first-served basis. For the 2026 cycle, the federal government has allocated 197 nomination spaces to the Northwest Territories.

On March 4, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the 13th Express Entry draw of the year, issuing 5,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was set at 397, marking the lowest threshold for this category in more than a year. This was also only the second French-language category-based draw of 2026. Year-to-date, French-language category candidates have received a cumulative total of 14,000 invitations, ranking second among all programs and categories. Meanwhile, the overall trend in Express Entry draws throughout 2026 suggests that IRCC is prioritizing immigration candidates already residing in Canada, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience.

Manitoba’s three communities participating in Canada’s federal Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)—Altona/Rhineland, Brandon, and Steinbach—have released their 2026 priority sectors and 25-occupation lists, with notable overlap across sectors and roles. RCIP is an employer-driven permanent residence pathway requiring candidates to secure a qualifying job offer from a community-designated employer and meet eligibility criteria for work experience, education, language, and settlement funds. Officials also indicate that candidates may still be considered with job offers outside a community’s priority occupation list, depending on local priorities and the demonstrated benefit to the community.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) conducted its first draw of February this week, formally issuing Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to candidates under the "Skilled Worker in Manitoba" and "Skilled Worker Overseas" streams. This draw was primarily based on current Strategic Recruitment Initiatives, designed to address local labor market shortages through specific recruitment channels. A total of 29 applicants were successfully invited in this round, including a proportion of candidates registered in the federal Express Entry system.

The Province of Manitoba has recently implemented significant adjustments to its Temporary Resident Retention Pilot (TRRP), aiming to provide greater flexibility in retaining skilled technical talent within the province. Under the new policy, Manitoba has designated 16 specific skilled trade occupations as "sector-exempt," meaning employers across all industries can now support work permit extensions for employees in these roles. However, the policy also tightens the scope of eligible sectors, officially removing "Hospitality and Food Services" from the list. Aside from the exempt occupations, applications from employers in this sector submitted after February 4, 2026, will no longer be accepted. As an employer-driven initiative, the TRRP allows eligible businesses to facilitate rapid work permit renewals for long-term employees without requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its latest Express Entry draw on February 6, 2026, specifically targeting candidates with strong French language proficiency. The department issued a total of 8,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), marking the largest category-based selection in the history of the Express Entry system. With a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 400, this draw—the sixth of the year—underscores a clear trend in 2026: the immigration department is heavily prioritizing applicants already within Canada, particularly those with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience, alongside a significant push for Francophone talent.

On January 29, 2026, Manitoba held its latest Expression of Interest (EOI) draw under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), issuing 47 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to Skilled Worker Stream candidates who declared in their EOI profiles that they had received an invitation through a provincial strategic recruitment initiative. The draw continues Manitoba’s hiring-oriented approach seen earlier this year, with the Employer Services initiative making up the largest share of LAAs. Six of the 47 LAAs went to candidates who also declared a valid Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code. Manitoba again warned that applicants in regulated occupations must be fully licensed to work, or they risk refusal and the loss of the non-refundable CAD $500 application fee.

On January 19, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially announced the reallocation of 5,000 permanent residence (PR) admissions spaces from the federal inventory to provinces and territories. This strategic move is designed to increase the intake of French-speaking newcomers through provincial pathways, expanding the focus beyond the federal Express Entry system. Concurrently, officials confirmed that Canada has exceeded its Francophone immigration target for the fourth consecutive year, achieving an admission rate of 8.9% outside of Quebec in 2025.

On January 15, 2026, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) conducted its first immigration draw of the year. This round of invitations targeted candidates within the Skilled Worker streams, specifically requiring them to have declared a direct invitation under a provincial "Strategic Recruitment Mission" in their Expression of Interest (EOI). Statistical data indicates that the province issued only 55 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs). Compared to the same period in 2025, this marks a significantly smaller scale and a later start to the province's immigration activities for the year.