India’s Consulate General in Toronto expressed deep anguish after a 20-year-old Indian doctoral student was shot dead near the University of Toronto Scarborough on Tuesday, local time. Toronto Police said officers responded to reports of a shooting in the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area, where the student was pronounced dead at the scene.
A new audit by Canada’s Auditor General Karen Hogan finds Immigration has no effective system to track foreign students once their visas expire. The report points to weak enforcement, lack of action on thousands of high-risk cases, and documented fraud, raising questions about how well the student program is protected even as some overstayers later tried to remain legally.
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Police have arrested a third suspect in connection with the April 13 fatal shooting of Chris Leggett in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Michael James Ryan, 34, was taken into custody in Moncton on April 23. Two other suspects, Sean Eugene Patriquin and Natasha Deborah Austin, were arrested earlier. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the case.
Canada will tighten recruitment for low wage roles under its Temporary Foreign Worker Program starting April 1, 2026. Employers must advertise positions for eight weeks and demonstrate efforts to hire youth aged 15 to 30 before applying for an LMIA. The policy is designed to prioritize Canadians and permanent residents and safeguard the domestic labour market.
Canada will eliminate the need for a separate co-op work permit for eligible post-secondary international students starting April 1, 2026. Students can use their study permit for internships and practicums, reducing paperwork and speeding up authorization. The government is also consulting on additional proposals to broaden work rights for students and graduates.
Canada will temporarily boost the hiring cap for low-wage foreign workers in rural areas to 15% from 10%, starting April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. The change targets ongoing labour shortages in smaller communities and applies to participating provinces and territories, giving employers greater flexibility to fill roles where local supply lags.
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Canada’s Student Direct Stream (SDS) will now accept Pearson PTE Academic test centre scores for all applications. The change expands proof-of-English options beyond CELPIP and IELTS General Training, enabling eligible students from select countries to pursue an expedited study permit route when applying to Canadian study programs.
Canada will relax income requirements for sponsors under its Parents and Grandparents Super Visa starting March 31, 2026. The change allows a longer income assessment period and even permits using part of the visitor’s income to meet eligibility thresholds. The move is designed to make family reunification easier while still keeping financial safeguards in place.
Alberta will start charging a $135 fee for foreign worker profile submissions under its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program from April 7, 2026. The Worker Expression of Interest profiles, previously free, will now cost money to file. If candidates are selected, they must still pay a separate $1,500 fee for the full application.
Canadian universities say they are extending relief to international students affected by the Middle East conflict. Schools including the University of Victoria, Queen’s, Carleton, and McGill are offering exam deferrals, longer tuition deadlines, additional financial assistance, and expanded mental health services to help students stay on track during disruption.
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Canada has rolled out a temporary policy for eligible foreign workers in Quebec to extend employer-specific work permits by up to 12 months. The move is designed to help workers transition toward permanent residence through Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program, ensuring they can keep working while their applications are processed.
Canada has introduced special temporary immigration measures from April 1, 2026 through November 30, 2028 for international students, foreign workers, and visitors affected by natural disasters. The program provides an extended six-month window to restore or extend immigration status, helping people keep work and study on track. Fee exemptions also apply for foreign emergency workers.
Canada has launched a new immigration pathway aimed at attracting highly skilled workers, including specialized military recruits. The government says its existing system has become unsustainable and is being overhauled. Under the plan, foreign military applicants will fall into a new skilled recruits category that can include doctors, nurses, and pilots, alongside traditional defense roles.
A U.S. move in Caracas and plans to take control of Venezuela’s oil assets are reviving heavy crude exports. Because many U.S. refineries are already configured for Venezuelan grades, Canada could struggle to defend its market share. That pressure may hit Canadian oil revenues and in turn weigh on the Canadian dollar.
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Protests have spread across Canada as Indian students and recent graduates react to new federal immigration rules that they say threaten their ability to stay and build their lives. With more than 70,000 international student graduates now facing uncertainty, students have organized rallies and set up encampments in multiple provinces, demanding clarity and relief.
Canada plans a major overhaul of its Express Entry system by consolidating three existing immigration programs into one streamlined pathway. Officials say the move will simplify eligibility rules and better match economic immigration to real labor market needs. Consultations are expected in Spring 2026, with final decisions coming after feedback.
A Canadian Auditor General audit reports that more than 150,000 international students were flagged for possible study permit rule breaches, but only a fraction were investigated. Even more troubling, around 800 cases of fraudulent documents and misrepresentation from 2018 to 2023 reportedly received no departmental action, later enabling some applicants to pursue other immigration routes. The findings raise concerns about integrity and accountability.
Ontario is introducing new laws that formally prioritize medical residency applicants with provincial ties. The policy includes international graduates, giving preference to those who have studied or lived in Ontario. Officials say the change is meant to retain and attract doctors by making residency placement priorities explicit, rather than leaving them to informal decisions.
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Canada has updated its business visitor category to clarify who can enter without a work permit. The guidance says listed activities are only illustrative, and applicants must show an international scope and that foreign sources provide primary payment. Documentation expectations are higher, including employer letters and evidence of personal funds, while final approval remains discretionary.
Canada is expanding its Provincial Nominee Program for 2026 by 31% over 2025, giving provinces and territories more allocation to nominate foreign workers. The increase should translate into more permanent residence opportunities, with notable gains reported for major destinations such as Ontario and Alberta. For prospective migrants, this could mean a wider pool of applications and faster access to PR routes.
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