As Immigration Minister Lena Diab develops the forthcoming immigration targets for 2025-2027, economic experts are advocating for the inclusion of an estimated 500,000 undocumented residents in Canada's population calculations.
CIBC's deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal emphasized that accurate population data is "a necessary condition" for effective immigration, housing, and economic policies.
The Government of Canada previously committed to creating pathways for undocumented workers, including a proposed program for 6,000 construction workers announced in March, but implementation remains pending amid ongoing consultations.
#undocumented_residents, #immigration_targets, #permanent_residency, #housing
August 15, 2025
Federal data reveals a significant increase in Canadian immigration application refusals across multiple categories since 2023, with temporary resident applications experiencing the most dramatic rise.
While policy changes have contributed to higher rejection rates for study permits (65.4%) and visitor visas (50%), immigration experts suggest that pressure to reduce the growing backlog of 2.19 million applications may be compromising decision quality.
Critics point to hasty reviews, boilerplate rejections, and potential over-reliance on analytical tools as officials struggle to manage volume while facing departmental cutbacks.
#visa_refusals, #immigration_backlog, #study_permits, #temporary_residents, #application_processing, #visitor_visas
August 14, 2025
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant policy change requiring all Express Entry permanent residence applicants to complete medical examinations before submitting their applications.
Currently, applicants submit their complete permanent residence application first, then await IRCC instructions to complete required medical exams.
This change will not affect applications submitted before the implementation date or non-Express Entry permanent residence applications.
Effective August 21, 2025, the change aims to reduce processing times by ensuring all medical requirements are fulfilled upfront, which may help eliminate delays caused by medical exam scheduling and results verification after application submission.
#express_entry, #canada_immigration, #permanent_residence #medical_exam_changes, #ircc, #immigration_medical_exams, #pr_application_process
August 14, 2025
The Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have apprehended three individuals involved in orchestrating illegal border crossings.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of Tolga Yilmaz, 34, at Montreal-Trudeau Airport on August 8, linked to the illegal entry of 44 individuals near Stanstead on August 3.
Two additional suspects, Can Volkan, 25, and Kurey Recep, 27, were arrested on August 10 while attempting to smuggle 11 foreign nationals in the Valleyfield region. All face charges under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Customs Act.
#border_security, #human_trafficking, #cbsa_rcmp_collaboration, #immigration_enforcement, #national_security, #illegal_border_crossing, #law_enforcement
August 13, 2025
