A recent study from HEC Montreal reveals that the route immigrants take into Canada matters more than their qualifications alone.
Workers arriving with closed permits typically earn higher incomes than other groups, while foreign students show the fastest wage growth once they enter the job market.
The research, which surveyed 2,500 university-educated immigrants in 2025, found that the current points-based selection system does not always identify candidates who will perform best economically.
Researchers suggest that while temporary-to-permanent pathways can work well for students, having prior Canadian experience does not guarantee better outcomes for all groups. The study recommends refining selection criteria based on actual labour market performance.
#skilled_workers, #canada_immigration, #labour_shortage, #foreign_students, #work_permits, #hec_montreal, #immigration_research, #international_students
February 25, 2026
Canada's controversial Bill C-12 has cleared a major hurdle after the Senate National Security Committee approved all immigration measures without changes on February 23, 2026.
The decision came despite strong pushback from the Social Affairs Committee, which had recommended removing controversial sections that grant sweeping powers to cancel permits and impose strict asylum deadlines.
Proposed amendments—including extending the one-year refugee claim deadline and protecting minors—were rejected. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab hinted at possible regulatory exemptions for children but offered no guarantees.
The bill faces a final vote by February 26 and could become law by March 2026, affecting thousands of applicants.
#bill_c_12, #canada_immigration, #asylum_seekers, #refugee_claims, #refugees
February 25, 2026
Employers who break the rules of Canada's temporary foreign worker program now face much steeper penalties. Fines have jumped from $102,250 across 74 companies in 2018-19 to $4.8 million for 147 companies last fiscal year.
McMaster University professor Catherine Connelly notes the government shifted from an educational approach to a deterrence strategy.
The change comes as public scrutiny of the program intensified.
Despite larger penalties, experts believe many violations still go undetected. Meanwhile, employer applications for the program dropped sharply from 150,000 in 2023-24 to just 63,000 in the current fiscal year.
#canada_immigration, #foreign_workers, #tfwp, #temporary_foreign_worker_program
February 24, 2026
Saskatchewan employer faces multiple charges for alleged exploitation of foreign workers Rodney Sidloski has been charged with six offences under Saskatchewan's immigration legislation for allegedly exploiting two foreign workers at HELP International Shelterbelt Center near Weyburn between 2022 and 2024.
The charges include producing false payroll records, misrepresenting employment terms, and taking advantage of the workers' trust and lack of knowledge.
These alleged violations occurred at the tree farm operation and involve breaches of the Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act and the Immigration Services Act. The Ministry of Immigration and Career Training's Program Compliance Branch continues its work to protect vulnerable foreign workers across the province.
#saskatchewan_immigration, #foreign_workers, #worker_exploitation, #canada_immigration
February 24, 2026
