ETS announces a significant development for Canadian immigration applicants as the TOEFL Essentials test gains approval from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as a designated language testing option.
This efficient 90-minute assessment evaluates all four core language skills through practical tasks relevant to daily life in Canada.
While implementation details are forthcoming, this accessible English proficiency test will soon provide immigrants with a reliable pathway to demonstrate their language capabilities, supporting Canada's 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan aimed at attracting skilled talent across healthcare, engineering, technology, and trades sectors.
#canada_immigration, #toefl_essentials, #english_proficiency, #language_testing, #ets, #immigration_requirements, #skilled_workers, #permanent_residence
August 22, 2025
Experts are raising alarms about Bill C-2, Canada's Strong Borders legislation, which could prevent persecuted dissidents, journalists, and human rights activists from obtaining asylum hearings if they previously visited Canada.
The bill's current language starts the one-year eligibility period after "first entry," potentially barring individuals who attended conferences or visited as children years before facing persecution.
Legal experts advocate for exceptions protecting genuine asylum seekers with previous Canadian connections, calling for "clear carve-outs" for those fleeing political violence or state persecution.
#refugee_protection, #bill_c_2, #human_rights_defenders, #asylum_seekers, #political_dissidents, #refugees, #safe_haven
August 21, 2025
The Ontario government is investing $70 million to help workers impacted by U.S. tariffs and global trade shifts retrain and secure better jobs.
This includes $20M for new Protect Ontario Workers Employment Response (POWER) Centres, which will provide rapid-response training, career services, and job search support, and $50M for Better Jobs Ontario, expanding access to up to $35,000 for skills training, tuition, and child care.
By working with unions, colleges, and community groups, the province will proactively support workers facing layoffs, youth, and those on social assistance, ensuring faster retraining and stronger career opportunities.
Premier Doug Ford emphasized that Ontario will not leave its workers behind, while Labour Minister David Piccini highlighted the government’s commitment to giving people the tools they need for secure, good-paying jobs.
These measures are part of Ontario’s broader plan to build a resilient workforce and strengthen the province’s competitiveness on the global stage.
#Ontariojobs, #workforce, #Ontario_economy, #skills_training, #Ontario_workers #careers, #job_support
August 21, 2025
A Haitian family was separated at the Quebec-U.S. border this spring due to a "legal glitch" in the Safe Third Country Agreement that immigration lawyers fear could affect more migrants fleeing the United States.
After CBSA officers allowed only the father to enter Canada based on his close relative connection, his pregnant wife, facing medical complications, paid smugglers $4,000 to cross the border with their seven-year-old daughter through melting snow.
Experts cite an oversight in the definition of "anchor relative" that doesn't include pre-removal risk assessment applicants, potentially preventing legitimate asylum seekers from having their cases considered.
#border_crossing, #family_separation, #cbsa, #refugee_rights, #safe_third_country_agreement, #humanitarian_concerns, #asylum_seekers
August 20, 2025
