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.

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.

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).

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 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.

On December 18, 2025, the Government of Manitoba conducted its latest provincial nomination draw, issuing 63 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under the Skilled Worker category. The draw focused on strategic recruitment initiatives, prioritizing Francophone candidates and applicants currently working in Manitoba, and covered multiple pathways including Employer Services, the Francophone Community, Regional Communities, and a Temporary Public Policy stream.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held its first draw of December on December 5, 2025, issuing 184 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) — the highest number since October. This draw continued Manitoba’s trend since June of selecting candidates primarily through strategic recruitment initiatives, spanning both the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas pathways. Candidates linked to the Temporary Public Policy (TPP) category received the majority of invitations. The province reminds applicants that Manitoba Support Letters for TPP-related open work permit applications must be submitted by December 16, while the federal policy itself expires on December 31.

On November 28, 2025, Nova Scotia announced a major shift in its immigration intake system, confirming that all submissions under the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) will now be processed through an Expression of Interest (EOI) model. Under the new rules, all submissions—regardless of submission date—are considered EOIs, and having a case ID or meeting eligibility criteria no longer guarantees file processing. The province will conduct periodic draws based on current labor market and economic priorities, with priority sectors such as healthcare, construction, trades, STEM, natural resources, and manufacturing. The shift aligns with broader trends driven by reduced provincial nomination allocations from IRCC. With increased immigration targets set for 2026, applicants may soon see improved chances of receiving selections.