New data shows Ontario's distribution of international student permits has created significant imbalances across the province's post-secondary landscape.
In 2024, colleges received 189,416 Provincial Attestation Letters but utilized only 55 percent, while universities used 82 percent of their smaller 35,460 allocation.
The disparity widened further within sectors—Humber College distributed nearly its entire allotment, yet Northern College used just 28 percent.
The fallout has been severe: over 10,000 faculty and staff positions eliminated, 600 programs suspended, and Northern College forced to close a private partnership. For 2025, Ontario's total allocation dropped to 181,590 permits, now including graduate students for the first time.
#international_students, #ontario_colleges, #pal_allocation, #provincial_attestation_letters, #study_permits, #ontario_universities
January 14, 2026
On January 13, 2026, the Government of Canada announced a $640,000, three-year investment to support the "Culture d’entreprise" project, an initiative led by the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF) and Culture pour tous.
This funding aims to facilitate the integration of French-speaking newcomers into the workforce by developing intercultural toolkits that bridge the gap between business environments and Francophone culture.
As part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028, the project focuses on fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring the long-term retention of talent within Francophone minority communities across the country. As demand for skilled labour continues to grow, attracting and retaining French-speaking talent is a strategic priority for national economic growth.
#Canada, #francophonie, #immigrationtoCanada, #culture_d_entreprise, #business_integration, #official_languages
January 14, 2026
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has reported a significant milestone: pending refugee protection claims reached 300,163 by December 2025.
Despite processing 6,724 finalizations during the month, the new intake of 7,397 claims continues to outpace the resolution.
The backlog has grown steadily throughout the year, reflecting ongoing challenges in the refugee determination system. Meanwhile, refugee appeals have also increased, with 4,665 cases pending by year-end, up from 3,303 at the start of 2024.
Immigration appeals showed similar trends, with non-stayed pending cases climbing to 2,550. These figures underscore the mounting pressure on Canada's immigration infrastructure as authorities work to balance processing efficiency with fair case reviews.
#canada_immigration, #refugee_claims, #irb_statistics, #immigration_appeals, #refugee_backlog, #refugees
January 13, 2026
Canada's labour market showed minimal employment change in December 2025, adding just 8,200 jobs while the employment rate remained at 60.9%.
However, the unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 6.8% as more Canadians entered the job search.
Employment gains were concentrated among workers aged 55 and older, with a 33,000 increase, while youth employment declined by 27,000.
The healthcare and social assistance sectors led job growth, adding 21,000 new positions, offsetting losses in professional services and accommodation.
Regionally, Quebec posted employment gains of 16,000, while Alberta and Saskatchewan experienced declines. Average hourly wages grew 3.4% year-over-year to $37.06, reflecting continued but moderating wage pressure.
#canada_labour_market, #employment_statistics, #unemployment_rate, #statistics_canada, #job_market_trends, #healthcare_jobs
January 12, 2026
