Manitoba held its latest provincial nominee draw on June 12, inviting 36 skilled workers from overseas. The draw was highly targeted, with all invitations going to candidates selected directly through the province's Strategic Recruitment Initiative and requiring a minimum score of 613. Amid potential changes to provincial nomination allocations, this move underscores the critical role of employer-linked immigration pathways for applicants.

After a four-month hiatus, the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP) has recently resumed issuing invitations. Following a large-scale draw on June 3, the province held another targeted draw on June 6 for the Greater Sudbury region, inviting 72 candidates. More significantly, Ontario has announced a major reform to its Expression of Interest (EOI) system for Employer Job Offer streams, transitioning from an "applicant-led" to an "employer-led" model effective July 2. This change is expected to profoundly impact the future application process.

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.

As the peak summer travel season approaches, many are planning to visit Canada to see family, friends, or attend events. However, Canada's stringent entry screening system may catch some visitors with criminal records off guard. Under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, non-citizens with a criminal record may be deemed "criminally inadmissible" and denied entry. This article will detail the conditions that lead to inadmissibility and introduce the three official pathways to overcome this barrier: the Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), Deemed Rehabilitation, and individual Criminal Rehabilitation, to help affected individuals prepare in advance.

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.

Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador held its third provincial immigration draw of the year on May 29, 2025, issuing a total of 405 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). This marks a new single-round record since the province adopted its new Expression of Interest (EOI) system in February of this year. The draw included candidates from both the Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), demonstrating the province's accelerated pace in recruiting skilled talent and new immigrants after successfully securing a larger federal immigration allocation.

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.

The province of Alberta conducted its latest provincial nominee draw on June 3, 2025, issuing 36 invitations to healthcare professionals through its Dedicated Healthcare Pathway, which is aligned with the federal Express Entry system. With a remarkably low minimum score requirement of 60, the draw highlights the province's focused strategy to attract and retain foreign talent to address labour shortages in its healthcare system. Data shows that nearly half of the province's annual nomination allocation has been used, while competition within the healthcare stream remains high.

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.