ISSofBC is often approached by international, national, and local media to feature in articles about policy, or to provide client stories and insights.
In the News
We received over 30 requests from primarily BC-based media outlets. Media coverage this year reflected a notable shift in Canada’s immigration narrative—from growth and welcome to questions of capacity, coordination, and sustainability. Major reporting themes included sweeping levels plan reductions, stricter temporary worker caps, slashed international student allocations, overhaul proposals for Express Entry, and asylum policy updates.
Top media stories 2025–26
These stories highlight a more complex and, at times, contested public discourse. They also underscore the continued importance of clear information, effective services, and community support for newcomers across the country.
In its 2025 federal budget, the Carney government announced a significant reduction to Canada’s immigration intake, stabilizing permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually for three years —down from 395,000 in 2025—while dramatically cutting the number of temporary residents Canada will admit, from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026. International students bore the sharpest cuts: Ottawa halved previous targets, planning to admit just 155,000 in 2026 and 150,000 in each of 2027 and 2028, compared to a prior target of 305,900. The government cited an “unprecedented rate of growth” in temporary residents—from 3.3% of the population in 2018 to 7.5% by 2024—as putting unsustainable pressure on housing, healthcare, and schools.
Canada entered 2026 set to tighten immigration rules and accept considerably fewer new residents, students, and temporary workers—a shift driven by the consequences of rapid population growth in the preceding years. Immigration Minister Marc Miller argued that lower immigration numbers would help ease the housing shortage, estimating that by 2027 Canada would need to build 670,000 fewer homes to close the gap. While programs like Express Entry faced little to no change, others, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, were expected to be more significantly affected, and the government also planned to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec to 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027.
On February 18, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the 2026 categories under Canada’s Express Entry system, part of the International Talent Attraction Strategy to attract and retain highly skilled immigrants while returning immigration to sustainable levels. Five new categories were introduced, targeting candidates with Canadian work experience or job offers in priority fields: medical doctors (to address physician shortages), researchers and senior managers, transport occupations, and certain military recruits. Minimum work experience requirements for renewed categories were also raised to one year, reflecting an intent to prioritize candidates with stronger Canadian ties before they apply for permanent residence.
On March 26, 2026, Bill C-12—the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act —received Royal Assent, strengthening Canada’s immigration and asylum systems across four key areas. These include tighter asylum claim eligibility rules, a modernized asylum process, expanded domestic information-sharing between federal and provincial authorities, and new powers to manage immigration documents and applications—including the ability to cancel or suspend groups of documents in cases involving fraud or security concerns. The legislation also gave law enforcement agencies stronger tools to combat transnational organized crime, illegal fentanyl, and illicit financing, while expanding the Canadian Coast Guard’s role in border security.
The federal government announced it is suspending the Home Care Worker Immigration pilot projects starting in 2026, citing demand that far exceeded the program’s annual cap of 5,500 spaces, with IRCC stating it would focus on processing existing applications and has no plans to reopen the program that year. When the pilots opened on March 31, 2025, the rollout was marred by technical difficulties due to the sheer volume of applicants, leaving many unable to submit paperwork before the cap was reached. The suspension leaves caregivers—many of whom are international students who pursued PSW credentials and then secured temporary visas—with no dedicated federal route to permanent residency, at a time when demand for in-home care for Canada’s aging population is projected to grow significantly.