Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Today, Francesco Sorbara, Member of Parliament for Vaughan-Woodbridge, announced a new Canada-Italy Youth Mobility Agreement on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship.
With the Canada-Italy Youth Mobility Agreement, Canadian and Italian youth now have more opportunities when applying for international work or travel experience through the International Experience Canada Program.
Canada and Italy have long been youth mobility partners, supporting international work and travel opportunities. The program also assists youth in exploring different cultures, languages, and societies while gaining life skills and enhancing their future career possibilities.
The New Canada-Italy Youth Mobility Agreement
There are around 1.5 million Canadians of Italian heritage, making Canada one of the world’s largest Italian communities outside of Italy.
Under the new agreement, youth aged 18 to 35 can work and travel in Canada for up to 12 months and participate in the program twice, making it possible to travel and work for a total of 24 months.
The agreement has also expanded the program to introduce 2 new streams, International Co-op and Young Professionals. In addition, it will assist youth in gaining professional work experience abroad.
- You may also like:
- International Experience Canada – Eligibility & How To Apply
- Canada International Mobility Program – All You Need To Know
- IEC 2022 Countries With High Chances For Invite-August 19!
- Canada Youth Mobility Program – Eligibility & How to Apply!
- Extend Your Stay After IEC Working Holiday – Here Are 5 Ways
IEC Categories that can participate in New Canada-Italy Youth Mobility Agreement
The program allows for three categories of participation:
- Working Holiday participants can acquire an open work permit that enables them to work anywhere in the host nation to fund their travels.
- International Co-op (Internship) participants are provided with an employer-specific work permit, allowing students to get specific experience in their field of study.
- Young Professionals participants receive an employer-specific work permit to get specialized, professional work experience in their field of study or career choice.
This agreement with Italy creates new opportunities for future work and travel, strengthens people-to-people ties, and improves labour market access for Canadian and Italian youngsters.
About International Experience Canada (IEC)
Canada has formal youth mobility agreements in place with 36 countries and territories.
International Experience Canada (IEC) facilitates the management of reciprocal bilateral youth mobility arrangements in Canada. These agreements allow Canadians to travel and work in partner countries and territories while allowing international youth to do the same in Canada.
Nearly 200,000 Canadians have participated in the IEC Program since 2008. Many have returned to Canada with life-changing experiences that benefited their personal and professional lives.
Source: IRCC
- New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
The next Ontario Disability Support Program – ODSP payment is confirmed for Friday, July 31, 2026.
This deposit is the first ODSP payment to carry the full 1.9% inflation increase that took effect on July 1, 2026.
A single recipient can now receive up to $1,436 per month for basic needs and shelter combined under the updated provincial rates.
That is a $28 monthly increase over the previous maximum of $1,408 that had been in place since July 2025.
The increase is automatic for all existing recipients and does not require any application, form, or contact with your caseworker.
It marks the fifth consecutive ODSP rate increase since September 2022. Across those five increases, the maximum for a single recipient has risen by approximately 22%, from the pre-increase rate of $1,169 to $1,436.
Not every component of ODSP rose equally, however, and several flat-rate supplements, including the Special Diet Allowance, remain frozen at their previous levels.
Here is everything Ontario residents need to know about the July 31 ODSP payment, including the new rates for every family type, the full 2026 payment schedule, the $1,000 earnings exemption, asset limits, and eligibility rules.
Table of Contents
ODSP Payment Changes on July 1, 2026
Ontario applies an inflation-based adjustment to core ODSP rates every July, and the 2026 adjustment was 1.9%.
This is the fifth consecutive annual increase since the province tied ODSP to inflation in September 2022.
The cumulative rise since September 2022 now exceeds 22%, according to the Ontario government’s ODSP program page.
Before the inflation indexing began, ODSP rates had remained largely stagnant for years despite rising living costs.
The Income Security Advocacy Centre confirmed the updated figures in its July 2026 rates sheet, cross-referenced against the provincial ODSP income support directives.
Unlike ODSP, Ontario Works rates have been frozen at $733 per month for a single adult since 2018 with no inflation adjustment.
New ODSP Rates for July 2026
The ODSP payment is split into two separate components that behave differently in practice.
Basic Needs covers food, clothing, and everyday essentials and is paid as a flat amount regardless of actual spending.
Maximum Shelter covers rent, mortgage, utilities, and housing costs up to a capped limit based on actual expenses.
For a single person, basic needs rose from $809 to $825 per month and maximum shelter increased from $599 to $611.
If your actual housing costs are below the $611 shelter cap, you receive only what you pay rather than the full maximum.
The following table shows the maximum ODSP income-support amounts for common family types effective July 2026.
Actual payments may be lower when verified shelter expenses are below the applicable maximum.
Family situation Maximum 2026 ODSP amount Single recipient $1,436 Couple, one person with a disability $2,148 Couple, both with disabilities Up to $2,416 Single parent with one child under eighteen Up to $1,927 Single parent with two children under eighteen Up to $2,006 Source: Ontario.ca ODSP program page (updated June 30, 2026). What Increased and What Stayed Frozen
The 1.9% adjustment does not apply equally across every ODSP supplement and allowance.
Several flat-rate supports remain frozen at their existing levels despite rising costs for the items they are designed to cover.
The Special Diet Allowance is one of the most significant frozen components, affecting recipients who require medically prescribed diets.
Component Increased Component Increased Basic Needs (all family types) Yes Special Diet Allowance No Maximum Shelter allowance Yes Pregnancy/breast-feeding Nutritional Allowance No Board and lodging amounts Yes Special Boarder Allowance No Long-term care/specialized residence amounts Yes Personal needs allowance No Double-disabled couple cap Yes Remote Communities Allowance No ACSD (now $678/month) Yes Work-related expenses No Recipients who rely on frozen supplements should not expect their total payment to reflect the full 1.9% increase.
All The 2026 ODSP Payment Dates
ODSP deposits land on the last business day of each month throughout the calendar year.
When the last day of the month falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the payment moves to the preceding business day.
The September 29 date reflects a shift because September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal statutory holiday recognized in Ontario.
Payment Date January 30, 2026 February 27, 2026 March 31, 2026 April 30, 2026 May 29, 2026 June 30, 2026 July 31, 2026 August 31, 2026 September 29, 2026 October 30, 2026 November 30, 2026 To be confirmed The December payment date has not been confirmed yet, but Ontario typically issues it earlier in the month to accommodate year-end banking schedules.
Direct-deposit posting times vary by financial institution, and Ontario does not guarantee that every payment will appear within a specific overnight window.
Recipients receiving payments by cheque should allow for Canada Post delivery time and contact their caseworker if the payment does not arrive within a reasonable period.
The $1,000 Earnings Exemption Explained
One of the most common misconceptions about ODSP is that any employment income immediately reduces your payment.
The first $1,000 of net monthly employment income is fully exempt and does not reduce your ODSP payment at all.
Above the $1,000 threshold, ODSP deducts 75% of each additional dollar earned while you keep the remaining 25 cents.
A single recipient receiving the maximum ODSP amount and earning $1,000 in net employment income would generally face no earnings deduction.
They may also receive the $100 Work-Related Benefit, bringing their ODSP payment to as much as $1,536 and their combined monthly income to as much as $2,536, subject to their individual entitlement and actual shelter costs.
Students attending high school or an approved post-secondary institution have their earnings fully exempt regardless of the amount earned.
The earnings exemption makes ODSP one of the most work-friendly disability programs among all Canadian provinces.
For comparison, Ontario Works only exempts the first $200 per month with a 50% clawback above that threshold.
ODSP Compared to Ontario Works
The gap between ODSP and Ontario Works has widened significantly because only ODSP receives annual inflation adjustments.
Ontario Works has been frozen at $733 per month for a single adult since 2018, covering the eighth consecutive year without any increase.
Since 2018, prices in Ontario have risen by approximately 25%, meaning Ontario Works purchasing power has fallen dramatically.
Feature ODSP Ontario Works Maximum (single) $1,436/month $733/month Earnings exemption $1,000/month fully exempt $200/month; 50% clawback above Asset limit (single) $40,000 $10,000 Inflation indexed Yes (annually in July) No (frozen since 2018) Disability requirement Yes No The Income Security Advocacy Centre estimates that a single adult on Ontario Works has effectively lost nearly $140 per month in real purchasing power since 2018.
ODSP Rate Increase History Since 2022
Ontario increased core ODSP rates by 5% in September 2022, raising the maximum for a single recipient from $1,169 to $1,228.
The province then began applying annual inflation-based adjustments every July.
Across the five increases, the single-person maximum has risen by approximately 22.8% from the pre-September 2022 rate of $1,169 to the July 2026 maximum of $1,436.
Effective Date Increase New Single Max September 2022 5.0% $1,228 July 2023 6.5% $1,308 July 2024 4.5% (approx.) $1,368 July 2025 2.8% $1,408 July 2026 1.9% $1,436 The 1.9% adjustment in July 2026 is the lowest single increase in the series so far, reflecting moderating inflation in Ontario throughout 2025.
Canada Disability Benefit Stacks on Top of ODSP
Ontario has formally exempted the federal Canada Disability Benefit from counting as income for ODSP purposes.
This means eligible recipients can collect both ODSP and the CDB in full without one payment reducing the other.
The CDB maximum increased from $200 to $204.20 per month under a 2.1% CPI indexation effective with the July 16, 2026 deposit.
A single ODSP recipient also qualifying for the maximum CDB can receive up to $1,640.20 per month in combined support.
To qualify for the CDB, you must hold a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate from the Canada Revenue Agency and be aged 18 to 64.
The CDB is not taxable, does not need to be reported on your annual return, and is administered by Service Canada.
ODSP Asset Limits for 2026
The liquid asset limit for a single ODSP applicant or recipient is $40,000.
For a couple, the limit is $50,000 with an additional allowance for each dependent child in the household.
These limits are significantly higher than the $10,000 single-person cap under Ontario Works.
Several major assets are fully exempt from the calculation, including your primary residence, one vehicle, and all RDSP holdings.
Prepaid funeral arrangements are exempt from the ODSP asset calculation, with no prescribed maximum, provided the funds remain committed to the prepaid funeral.
An inheritance or lump-sum payment received without advance planning can push assets above the $40,000 threshold and suspend benefits.
Anyone expecting a substantial inheritance or lump-sum payment should obtain advice from a qualified lawyer familiar with ODSP rules before receiving the money.
Depending on how the funds are structured, held and used, trust and other asset exemptions may be available.
Who Qualifies for ODSP
To qualify for ODSP income support, you must be an Ontario resident aged 18 or older and meet the financial need criteria.
You must have a substantial physical or mental disability that is expected to last one year or more.
The disability must create a significant barrier to employment, daily living activities, or community participation.
The application involves two parts: a financial eligibility review handled by your local ODSP office and a disability determination assessed provincially.
The application does not have a single 90-day timeline from initial contact to final approval.
If no additional information is required, ODSP says the initial financial-eligibility decision may be made within 15 business days.
Applicants then have 90 calendar days to submit their completed Disability Determination Package, and the Disability Adjudication Unit says it will normally issue its decision letter within 90 business days after receiving the completed package.
Applicants can receive Ontario Works payments as interim financial support while waiting for the ODSP decision.
CPP Disability recipients, people aged 65 or older without OAS, and those with qualifying letters from Developmental Services Ontario can bypass the disability adjudication step.
What to Do if Your ODSP Payment Does Not Arrive on Time
If your payment does not appear in your bank account on the scheduled date, wait a few business days before taking action.
Bank posting times can vary depending on your financial institution, especially around weekends and statutory holidays.
Log into your MyBenefits account to check whether a payment was issued and look for any holds or changes on your file.
Delays or holds may result from banking-information changes, unresolved eligibility verification, unreported changes in circumstances, income-reporting issues or an administrative hold on the recipient’s file.
If the payment still has not arrived after several business days, contact your ODSP caseworker directly for a status update.
Setting up direct deposit through your caseworker or MyBenefits account is the fastest way to receive ODSP payments and avoid mail delays.
The July 31, 2026 ODSP deposit delivers the first payment at the new 1.9% indexed rate for more than 500,000 Ontario recipients.
Combined with the federal Canada Disability Benefit and other income-tested supports, total monthly income for eligible recipients is now higher than at any point since ODSP began.
Set up direct deposit, keep your MyBenefits profile updated, and file your income tax return every year to protect your eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a person receiving ODSP also apply for subsidized housing through municipal waitlists in Ontario?
Yes, ODSP recipients are eligible to apply for subsidized housing through their local service manager or housing authority. Receiving ODSP does not disqualify you from municipal housing waitlists, and a subsidized unit can significantly reduce your shelter costs. However, waitlists in major Ontario cities often span several years. Your ODSP shelter allowance is adjusted to reflect your actual housing costs once you move into subsidized housing, which means the shelter portion of your payment may decrease to match the lower rent.
Does receiving a financial gift from a family member affect ODSP eligibility?
ODSP generally exempts up to $10,000 in gifts and voluntary payments during any 12-month period for each member of the benefit unit. Amounts above that limit are not automatically deducted in every situation. Additional exemptions may apply when money is used for approved disability-related items or services, an RDSP or RESP contribution, a principal residence, an exempt vehicle, or first and last month’s rent. Gifts should be reported promptly because any non-exempt amount may be treated as income or an asset.
What happens to ODSP health benefits if a recipient starts working full-time and earns too much to qualify for income support?
An ODSP recipient who becomes financially ineligible for income support because of employment, paid training or self-employment may qualify for the Transitional Health Benefit if comparable employer coverage is unavailable. There is no fixed 36-month limit. Eligible recipients may continue receiving the benefit until comparable health coverage becomes available through their employer, subject to continued eligibility and annual verification.
Are Registered Disability Savings Plan withdrawals counted as income that reduces ODSP payments?
No, RDSP assets and withdrawals are fully exempt from the ODSP income and asset tests. This makes the RDSP one of the most valuable long-term savings tools for ODSP recipients, because contributions, government grants, bonds, and investment growth can all accumulate without affecting your monthly payment or eligibility. The federal government also contributes matching Canada Disability Savings Grants and Canada Disability Savings Bonds into eligible RDSPs, further increasing the benefit of having one while on ODSP.
How does the ODSP medical review process work, and how often does it happen?
ODSP may assign a medical review date when the Disability Adjudication Unit determines that a person’s condition may improve. There is no universal two-to-five-year review schedule, and some recipients are approved without a future medical review date. When a Medical Review Package is issued, the recipient generally has 90 calendar days to submit it or request an extension. Financial eligibility is reviewed separately as circumstances change or when ODSP requests updated information; there is no standard 24-month financial-review rule applying to every ODSP recipient.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- Mark Carney Unaware Of Student Hunger Strike, Smith Tells Them To Leave Canada
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly admitted he had no knowledge of an ongoing hunger strike by international students in Calgary when he was asked whether his government is prepared to deport them.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, standing beside him at a press conference in Red Deer on July 29, 2026, gave a more direct answer.
Smith said that international students whose visas have expired and who have not secured permanent residency “need to go home.”
The exchange happened during a media availability tied to an upcoming Alberta referendum on immigration that will put nine questions to voters on October 19, 2026.
A reporter from Juno News asked Carney directly whether he was prepared to deport the Portage College graduates who have been staging a hunger strike in Calgary to protest mass post-graduation work permit refusals issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada this summer.
Carney responded that he was not familiar with the specific case but acknowledged that a process exists for individuals who do not have authorization to remain in Canada and who do not have a right to claim asylum.
Table of Contents
What Carney Said About Immigration Control
Before the Portage College question came up, Carney used the press conference to make broader claims about his government’s track record on immigration since taking office roughly 16 months ago, building on themes from the First Ministers’ Meeting held in Charlottetown on July 23.
He stated that his government has “taken back control” of immigration after inheriting a system where the levels of foreign students, temporary workers, and asylum seekers had grown far beyond what was planned.
According to Carney, the flow of asylum seekers into Canada is now down by roughly one-third compared to the period before his government took power.
He said temporary foreign workers are down by approximately half, and the number of new international students arriving in Canada has dropped by about two-thirds.
Those reductions align broadly with the federal government’s 2026 Immigration Departmental Plan, which projects new temporary resident arrivals of 385,000 for 2026, representing a 43% reduction from the 2025 level of 673,650.
Carney argued that restoring control over the numbers has created room for a policy discussion that was not possible when arrivals were overshooting targets by half a million to a million people in any given period.
He framed the current moment as an opportunity for first ministers and premiers to discuss how to select economic migrants based on the skills that provinces actually need, a point that connects directly to the proposed Express Entry overhaul currently under public consultation.
Mark Carney Unfamiliar With The Portage College Crisis
The Juno News reporter, identified as Alexa, asked a pointed question about whether the Prime Minister was prepared to deport the students of Portage College who are on a hunger strike to stay in Canada despite having no permit to remain.
Carney said he was not familiar with the details of the case.
He acknowledged that processes exist for handling individuals who are in Canada without authorization and who do not have a valid asylum claim, and he said those processes need to be followed.
The students at the centre of this crisis are mostly graduates of non-credit continuing education programs delivered by the Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy in Calgary under a partnership with Portage College.
Starting in late June 2026, IRCC began issuing refusal letters stating that their programs were classified as non-credit and therefore did not meet the eligibility criteria for a post-graduation work permit under regulation R205(c)(ii).
The department updated its PGWP eligibility webpage on June 24, 2026, to explicitly state that non-credit programs, with the exception of certain flight school programs, do not qualify for a PGWP.
IRCC maintains that this was a clarification of an existing rule rather than a new policy change, but affected graduates say they enrolled and completed their programs long before the clarification appeared online.
An estimated 480 graduates from Portage College partner-delivered programs have received refusals, with community organizers claiming that up to 1,500 graduates in Calgary may be affected.
Roughly 1,000 former students have been protesting outside IRCC offices in Calgary, and five to six graduates have escalated the protests into a round-the-clock hunger strike demanding that IRCC review their rejected applications.
Danielle Smith Tells Students Without Status To Go Home
The same reporter also asked Alberta Premier Danielle Smith whether she was prepared to start decertifying diploma mills in the province.
Smith pushed back on the framing of the question, saying she would not describe Portage College as a diploma mill.
She acknowledged that unscrupulous operators have set up diploma-granting programs in the past that took advantage of students, and she suggested that Portage College may have “overstated the pathway to permanent residency” for its international graduates.
Smith then stated plainly that if students come to Canada on an international student visa and that visa expires without them obtaining permanent residency, they need to leave the country.
At the same time, she qualified that statement by noting that if those students have skills that Alberta needs, the province should be positioned to offer them a pathway to permanent residency.
Alberta Has 6,400 PNP Spots Against 40,000 Applicants
Smith used the press conference to draw attention to a major structural gap in how Canada allocates provincial nominee program spots.
She said Alberta currently has approximately 6,400 spots available through its provincial nominee program for permanent residency.
Against that allocation, roughly 40,000 people have applied to the province for permanent residency, creating a gap that leaves tens of thousands of temporary residents without a clear pathway from their work permit to permanent status.
Smith compared Alberta’s allocation unfavourably with Quebec, which is able to select approximately 45,000 of its permanent residents through a separate program governed by the Canada-Quebec Accord.
She argued that Alberta needs significantly more autonomy to make its own immigration decisions and that a greater allocation would allow the province to address the pressures that are generating headlines across the country.
If the province were able to select more of its own nominees, Smith suggested, it could create clearer pathways for graduates whose programs lead to jobs that cannot be filled by Alberta workers, reducing the kind of uncertainty that has pushed the Portage College graduates to protest.
What This Means For International Students In Canada
The exchange in Red Deer highlights a widening gap between the pace of federal immigration enforcement and the reality that many international students face on the ground in 2026.
Carney’s admission that he was unaware of the hunger strike is notable because the Portage College PGWP refusals have been a developing story for weeks, covered across Canadian media outlets and generating a Change.org petition calling on IRCC to halt all refusals and reopen previously denied files.
Smith’s willingness to publicly state that students without status should leave Canada puts her in the position of giving a harder answer than the Prime Minister himself was prepared to offer at the same event.
The broader backdrop includes the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which holds permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually and projects a sharp reduction in temporary residents entering the country.
International student arrivals have plunged dramatically since the study permit cap was introduced in 2024, with new arrivals falling by as much as 97% in certain months compared to the peak.
The federal government’s Bill C-12 asylum reforms, which became law in March 2026, have also expanded the government’s enforcement powers over individuals whose immigration status has lapsed.
For graduates who received PGWP refusals, the options are narrowing as their temporary status runs out and Express Entry draw volumes slow for the second half of 2026.
The Alberta Referendum Adds Another Layer Of Pressure
The press conference in Red Deer was triggered by questions about Alberta’s upcoming October 19 referendum, which will ask voters nine questions on immigration and constitutional reform.
The first question asks whether Albertans support the provincial government taking increased control over immigration to decrease levels, prioritize economic migration, and give Alberta residents first priority on new jobs.
Additional questions, detailed on the Alberta Referendum 2026 government website, address whether the province should charge temporary residents for health care and education services and whether temporary residents should need to establish 12 months of Alberta residency before qualifying for provincial benefits.
The referendum results will be non-binding, but a strong vote in favour of provincial control would give Smith significant political leverage in negotiations with Ottawa over how PNP allocations and immigration authority are distributed.
For the roughly 1,500 Portage College graduates caught in the PGWP refusal wave, the referendum represents an additional layer of uncertainty about whether Alberta will become a more or less welcoming destination for international graduates in the years ahead.
What Affected Portage College Graduates Should Do Now
Portage College has stated on its official PGWP updates page that it has no involvement in the review, assessment, or determination of individual immigration applications and cannot reverse IRCC’s PGWP decisions.
The college stopped issuing letters of support on July 15, 2026, after receiving legal advice that such letters would not be relevant to IRCC’s assessment of PGWP applications.
Affected graduates should retain all original documents, including their Letter of Acceptance, transcripts, tuition invoices, and any correspondence from Portage College or its partner institutions.
Immigration professionals reviewing files have noted that not all Portage College graduates are in the same position, as eligibility may vary depending on whether the program was delivered through the main campus, through the CIOT Calgary partnership, or through another partner site.
Two students who completed programs with the same diploma name may receive entirely different decisions depending on the credit classification of their specific program stream.
The press conference in Red Deer captured two distinct approaches to the same crisis unfolding in Calgary.
Carney offered process and distance, while Smith offered directness and a conditional pathway.
Neither answer provides immediate relief for the graduates whose post-graduation work permits have been refused.
What happens next depends on whether IRCC reviews the refusals, whether affected students pursue legal remedies, and whether the federal and provincial governments reach an agreement on expanding Alberta’s PNP allocation before the October referendum.
For now, the hunger strike outside IRCC’s Calgary offices continues, and the students at the centre of this dispute remain in legal limbo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Did Mark Carney say he would deport the Portage College students?
Carney did not directly say he would deport them. He said he was not familiar with the specific case but acknowledged that a process exists for people who are in Canada without authorization and who do not qualify for asylum and that this process needs to be followed.
What exactly did Danielle Smith say about the students?
Smith said international students whose visas have expired and who have not obtained permanent residency need to leave Canada. She also said Portage College is not a diploma mill but may have overstated the pathway to permanent residency for its graduates. She added that if those students have skills Alberta needs, the province should be able to offer them a PR pathway through an expanded provincial nominee program.
How many students are affected by the PGWP refusals at Portage College?
Immigration professionals estimate that at least 480 graduates of Portage College partner-delivered programs have received formal PGWP refusals, with community organizers claiming up to 1,500 may be affected across Calgary and Edmonton.
Why are these PGWP applications being refused?
IRCC is classifying the affected programs as non-credit, which disqualifies them from PGWP eligibility under regulation R205(c)(ii). The department updated its PGWP eligibility webpage on June 24, 2026, to explicitly state this, though IRCC maintains the rule itself has not changed. Affected students say they enrolled and completed their programs before the clarification appeared and were led to believe they would qualify.
What is the Alberta immigration referendum about?
Alberta will hold a non-binding referendum on October 19, 2026, asking voters nine questions on immigration control, services for temporary residents, and constitutional reform. The first question asks whether Albertans support the provincial government taking increased control over immigration levels and prioritizing economic migration.
Fact-Checked: All statements attributed to the Prime Minister and the Premier of Alberta in this article are sourced from the joint press conference held in Red Deer, Alberta, on July 29, 2026. Background details have been verified against official IRCC and Portage College communications published through July 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or licensed immigration lawyer for guidance specific to your situation.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- New Canadian Passport Renewal Changes Now In Effect
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
The Government of Canada has officially removed the cap on online passport renewal applications, effective July 28, 2026.
Every eligible adult Canadian citizen whose home and mailing address are in Canada can now renew a passport entirely online without competing for a limited number of daily slots.
The application, a commercially taken digital passport photo and payment can all be submitted electronically through the IRCC Portal on Canada.ca.
Mail-in and in-person services remain available for those who prefer or need them.
Online Canadian passport renewal is not new; IRCC began a limited rollout to a restricted number of eligible adults in December 2024.
What changed yesterday is that the daily application cap has been permanently eliminated, opening the service nationwide to all qualifying applicants at once.
The eligibility rules themselves have not changed, and that is where this gets complicated.
Not every Canadian passport holder qualifies, and certain applicants who try the online route will trigger an irreversible cancellation of their current passport before they even know whether the renewal will be approved.
Understanding exactly who is eligible, what the processing timeline actually looks like and what happens to your existing passport the moment you click submit could save you from a serious travel disruption this summer.
This article explains every detail confirmed by the official IRCC announcement and the Canada.ca eligibility page.
Table of Contents
What Changed for Canadian Passport Renewals on July 28
The Government of Canada announced on July 28, 2026, that online passport renewal is now available to all eligible adult Canadians in Canada.
The announcement was made in Vancouver by the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, refugees, and Citizenship.
The single most important change is the removal of the application limit.
Since the service launched in December 2024, IRCC had been capping the number of people who could start an online renewal application each day.
The cap reset twice daily, at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and applicants who missed the window had to try again later.
That restriction is now gone. Any eligible adult can create an account through the IRCC Portal and begin their renewal at any time without hitting a capacity wall. The underlying eligibility requirements have not changed.
IRCC has also emphasized that this expansion is part of a broader push to modernize passport services.
Earlier improvements include the online passport application status checker, expanded access to in-person 10-business-day service at select Service Canada Centres, and the 30-business-day processing guarantee that took effect on April 1, 2026.
The passport changes were among the 10 major immigration changes that reshaped April 2026.
Quick Answers About the Canadian Passport Renewal Expansion
Question Answer When did the expansion take effect? July 28, 2026 Who can use it? Eligible adult Canadian citizens living in Canada What was removed? The daily limit on online renewal applications Can child passports be renewed online? No Standard processing time Up to 20 business days, plus mailing time Is urgent or express service available online? No Is a commercial digital photo required? Yes Is the current passport cancelled after applying? Yes, immediately after the online application is submitted Can applicants change their name or gender identifier? No Are mail and in-person applications still available? Yes Full Online Passport Renewal Eligibility Checklist
Not every Canadian passport holder qualifies for online renewal. Applicants must satisfy every requirement on this list, not just some of them.
Meeting most but not all of the criteria means the application cannot proceed online.
- You are renewing your own passport, not someone else’s.
- Your home address and mailing address are both in Canada.
- You will be in Canada to receive the new passport by mail.
- Your existing passport is already expired or will expire within the next six months.
- You do not need the passport for the next 20 business days, plus mailing time.
- You are keeping the same name, date of birth, place of birth and gender identifier that appear on your current passport.
- Your current passport is not damaged, seized or surrendered.
- Your current passport does not contain an observation, which is a note on a separate page explaining special circumstances such as a name that was too long to print in full.
- You are not attempting to use a previously reported lost or stolen passport that was later found.
- Your previous passport was issued when you were at least 16 years old.
- It is a regular blue Canadian passport.
- It was valid for either five or ten years.
- It displays your place of birth.
- It was issued within the last 15 years.
Every single requirement must be met. If even one condition does not apply to your situation, you must renew by mail or in person instead.
Who Cannot Renew a Canadian Passport Online
The online renewal service is specifically designed for straightforward adult renewals where no personal information is changing. The following applicants must use a different method.
- Children under 16, because child passports cannot be renewed at all; a new child passport application must be submitted each time until the child qualifies for an adult passport.
- First-time adult passport applicants who have never held a Canadian passport.
- Canadians living outside Canada, since IRCC does not currently deliver passports renewed online to addresses outside the country.
- People whose passport expires more than six months from the application date.
- People changing their name, date of birth, place of birth or gender identifier.
- People whose passport is damaged, seized or surrendered.
- People whose passport contains an observation.
- People who need urgent, express or 10-business-day service.
- Applicants whose previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
- Applicants whose previous passport was issued before they turned 16.
The child passport point deserves extra emphasis for families. There is no renewal pathway for a child’s passport.
Parents must submit a new application with two printed photos signed by a guarantor each time until the child reaches age 16 and qualifies for an adult passport.
Critical Warning: Your Current Passport Is Cancelled Immediately
This is the most consequential rule nobody is talking about, the entire online renewal process and the one most likely to catch travellers off guard.
The moment you submit an online passport renewal application, your existing passport is cancelled. It is no longer valid for travel, even if it has months of validity remaining.
You cannot retrieve it, reactivate it, or use it at a border crossing, airport or embassy appointment after the application is submitted.
If you have a trip planned in the next 20 business days plus mailing time, do not apply online.
People who need their passport sooner must apply in person at a Service Canada Centre or passport office that offers 10-business-day, express or urgent service.
This is especially critical for Canadians booking summer travel and those dealing with airfare changes and short booking windows.
How the Online Passport Renewal Process Works
The online renewal process involves the following steps, each completed through the IRCC Portal.
- Visit Canada.ca and confirm you meet every eligibility requirement listed above.
- Register for an IRCC Portal account or sign in with your existing GCKey credentials; two-factor authentication is required.
- Complete the renewal application form online, entering your personal details and current passport information.
- Upload your commercial digital passport photo in JPEG or JPG format.
- Provide the photographer’s or studio’s name, address and the date the photo was taken.
- Provide the names and contact details of your references; an adult renewal does not require a guarantor.
- Pay the applicable passport fee online.
- Submit the application; your current passport is cancelled at this point.
- Track the status of your application through real-time updates in your IRCC Portal account.
- Receive the new passport by mail at your Canadian address.
IRCC provides status updates as the application moves through processing, which is a feature not available for mail-in applications.
This is one practical advantage the online channel offers beyond the convenience of not visiting a Service Canada Centre.
Digital Passport Photo Requirements for Online Renewal
The digital photo is where most online renewal applications are expected to encounter rejection. You cannot upload a selfie, a home photograph or a scanned copy of a printed passport photo.
The image must be taken in person by a commercial photographer and supplied as the original digital file.
The following specifications apply to every digital passport photo uploaded for online renewal.
Specification Requirement File format JPEG or JPG only Aspect ratio 3:2 portrait orientation Minimum resolution 1,800 pixels high by 1,200 pixels wide Maximum resolution 4,500 pixels high by 3,000 pixels wide File size Between 200 KB and 5 MB Face measurement Chin to crown must be 45% to 50% of the photo height Taken within Six months before the application date Background Plain white or light-coloured Expression Neutral, eyes open, mouth closed Lighting Uniform, no shadows, glare or flash reflections Colour Colour or black and white The photo must remain completely unaltered. Filters, AI modifications, facial retouching, background replacement, cropping around the head and shoulders, sharpness adjustments and colour corrections of any kind will result in rejection.
When you upload the photo, you must also enter the studio or photographer’s name, address and the date the photo was taken.
If you are planning ahead, ask your photographer for both a digital copy and a printed copy so you have a fallback if the online route does not work for you.
Current Canadian Passport Renewal Fees
Passport fees increased on March 31, 2026, for the first time since 2013. The current fees for Canadians living in Canada are listed below. There is no separate or discounted fee for online renewal.
Passport Type Current Fee (CAD) Five-year adult passport (age 16 and older) $122.50 Ten-year adult passport (age 16 and older) $163.50 Five-year child passport (under age 16) $58.50 These fees took effect on March 31, 2026, and will now be adjusted annually under the Service Fees Act to keep pace with inflation.
The annual adjustment is tied to the All-Items Consumer Price Index for Canada. This was covered in detail in our earlier report on the two passport rules that took effect in April 2026.
Processing Times and When Your Passport Is Cancelled
Online passport renewals follow a service standard of up to 20 business days. Mailing time is additional and is not included in that estimate.
This is the same processing standard that applies to simplified adult renewals submitted at most Service Canada Centres and by mail.
IRCC has not stated that online renewal applications are processed faster than mail-in applications. The 20-business-day timeline applies equally to both channels.
Your current passport is cancelled after the online application is submitted. This point appears here a second time because it is directly tied to the processing timeline.
If you apply online and your passport is cancelled, you will have no valid travel document for at least 20 business days plus however long Canada Post takes to deliver the new one.
Online applicants do receive real-time status updates during processing, which provides visibility that mail-in applicants do not have. However, tracking does not accelerate processing.
Online renewal is not an urgent, express or 10-business-day service. Canadians who need a passport faster must apply in person at a Service Canada Centre or passport office that offers expedited options.
The latest IRCC processing times show that passport services continue to operate within their published standards.
The 30-Business-Day Refund Guarantee
A separate federal passport guarantee took effect on April 1, 2026.
Under this guarantee, a full passport or travel document fee refund is issued automatically when the processing of a complete application exceeds 30 business days.
Processing starts when the complete application is received. Mailing time is not included in the 30-business-day count.
This guarantee is distinct from the 20-business-day online service standard. The 20-day figure is IRCC’s target processing window.
The 30-day figure is the threshold at which the government must refund your fee. Do not confuse the two.
What to Do When Travel Is Approaching
If you have a trip coming up and your passport is expired or nearing expiration, your decision depends on when you leave.
- If your departure is more than 20 business days away, plus a buffer for mailing, online renewal may be feasible, but your current passport will be cancelled immediately upon application.
- If your departure is within the next 10 to 20 business days, apply in person at a Service Canada Centre that offers 10-business-day service.
- If your departure is within the next two to nine business days, seek express service at a passport office.
- If your departure is within the next business day, urgent pickup service may be available at select passport offices.
Additional fees apply for urgent and express service. Under the new fee schedule, urgent pickup costs $125.75 on top of the standard passport fee. Weekend or statutory holiday service costs $383.50.
Canadians heading to the United States should also review our reporting on the five travel rules for entering the U.S. in 2026 and the latest Canada travel advisory for the United States before finalizing plans.
Do You Still Need a Guarantor or References?
An adult passport renewal does not require a guarantor. This applies to online, mail-in, and in-person renewals equally.
However, renewal applicants still need qualifying references. You will be asked to provide the names and contact information of people who can confirm your identity.
Those references should be reachable by IRCC if contacted during processing.
These two terms are not interchangeable. A guarantor certifies the identity of a first-time applicant and signs the back of a printed photo.
References are people listed on a renewal application who can be contacted to verify your identity.
Renewing by Mail or In Person
The expansion of online renewal does not eliminate the other two channels.
Canadians can still renew by downloading the renewal form from Canada.ca, completing it by hand, attaching two printed photos and mailing everything to the Passport Program office.
In-person service is available at Service Canada Centres and passport offices across the country.
Select locations offer 10-business-day service, which is the fastest standard option.
Express and urgent services are available only at passport offices in select cities.
Canadians applying for a passport from outside Canada must do so by mail or by visiting a Government of Canada office abroad.
Online renewal is not available for addresses outside Canada.
Fraud Warning: Use Only Official Passport Pages
The timing of this expansion coincides with a federal enforcement action against alleged passport service fraud.
On July 28, 2026, the same day as the online renewal expansion announcement, the Competition Bureau disclosed that criminal charges had been laid before the Ontario Court of Justice against two Ontario individuals.
They are alleged to have operated a business under the names Passport Online and Passport Express, using a website and online advertisements that allegedly misled Canadians into believing they were dealing directly with the Government of Canada for expedited passport services.
The charges include offences under the deceptive marketing provisions of the Competition Act, as well as Criminal Code charges of fraud over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime.
The alleged conduct took place between 2016 and 2020. These allegations have not been proven in court. York Regional Police laid the charges on July 22, 2026, on behalf of the Competition Bureau.
This development is a reminder that no unofficial company can guarantee government approval, bypass official processing times or provide legitimate passport services on behalf of the federal government.
Canadians should verify that they are on an official Canada.ca page before entering any personal or payment information.
The only legitimate portal for online passport renewal is the IRCC Portal, accessible through Canada.ca.
The expanded online Canadian passport renewal system is live and the application cap is gone.
Eligible adult Canadian citizens can now renew from anywhere in Canada without competing for a limited number of daily slots.
But eligibility is strict, your current passport is cancelled the moment you apply, and the processing timeline has not shortened.
Before you apply, verify your eligibility directly on Canada.ca. Make sure you have no travel in the next 20 business days plus mailing time.
Get your commercial digital passport photo taken before you start the application. And confirm you are on an official government page before entering any personal information.
For the latest developments on Canadian immigration news, Express Entry draws, IRCC processing times, and provincial nominee program updates, save this page and return regularly as policies evolve throughout 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I renew my Canadian passport online if I am currently outside Canada but plan to return before it arrives?
No, IRCC requires that both your home address and mailing address are in Canada at the time you apply. The online system does not deliver passports to addresses outside the country. You would need to return to Canada first and apply from a Canadian address or contact a Government of Canada office abroad to submit a mail-in application.
What happens if my online passport renewal application is rejected after my current passport has already been cancelled?
Once you submit the application, your existing passport is cancelled regardless of the outcome. If IRCC rejects your online application for any reason, including a non-compliant digital photo, you will need to submit a new application through another channel, either by mail or in person. You will not have a valid passport during this period, so you should not have imminent travel plans when applying.
Does the 30-business-day refund guarantee apply to online passport renewal applications?
Yes, the federal passport guarantee that took effect on April 1, 2026, applies to all complete passport applications regardless of how they are submitted. If IRCC takes longer than 30 business days to process a complete online renewal application, the passport fee is refunded automatically. Mailing time does not count toward the 30 days.
Will my renewed passport have the same passport number as my current one?
No, a renewed passport is a completely new document with a new passport number, a new expiry date and a new photo. Any visas, entry stamps or travel authorizations tied to your old passport number may need to be updated with the issuing authorities. If you hold a valid visa from another country linked to your old passport, check with that country’s embassy or consulate about transfer procedures before applying for renewal.
Can I choose between a five-year and a ten-year passport when renewing online?
Yes, as long as you are 16 or older. The online system allows you to select either a five-year passport at $122.50 or a ten-year passport at $163.50. On a per-year basis, the ten-year option costs approximately $16.35 per year compared to $24.50 per year for the five-year passport. It also means fewer renewals and fewer encounters with future fee increases, since passport fees are now indexed annually to inflation.
Fact-Checked: All claims in this article have been verified against the official IRCC news release published on July 28, 2026, the Canada.ca online passport renewal eligibility page, the official passport fee schedule, and the Competition Bureau announcement dated July 28, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Passport eligibility is determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on a case-by-case basis. Verify your eligibility directly on Canada.ca before applying.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- New OAS Payments Coming This Week With An Increase
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Canadian seniors will receive their next Old Age Security – OAS payments and Guaranteed Income Supplement deposits on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, and this payment carries the largest confirmed quarterly increase so far in 2026.
The Canadian government has confirmed a 1.2% increase in OAS benefits for the July to September 2026 quarter, pushing maximum monthly payments to $751.97 for seniors aged 65 to 74 and $827.17 for those 75 and over.
It is important for newcomers, prospective immigrants, and long-term residents alike to understand how Canadian public pension system works because OAS and GIS eligibility are built on years of Canadian residency rather than employment history.
This quarterly adjustment is more than ten times the size of the 0.1% bump that seniors received during the April to June quarter, reflecting a meaningful acceleration in consumer prices driven by elevated gasoline costs and persistent food inflation through the spring.
July is also the most consequential month in the OAS calendar for a second reason that goes beyond the quarterly CPI increase.
Service Canada uses the July payment to recalculate every Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor amount based on the recipient’s 2025 tax return, replacing the 2024 income data that governed GIS payments from July 2025 through June 2026.
The OAS recovery tax threshold also resets with the July payment, moving from the 2024 income-based clawback to a new calculation rooted in 2025 net world income.
Three separate mechanisms landing on the same deposit date means that many seniors will notice a meaningful change in their July 29 payment compared to what they received on June 26, whether that change is an increase, a decrease, or a complete suspension of GIS, depending on how their 2025 income compares to 2024.
This guide covers the confirmed July to September payment amounts, the exact CPI calculation behind the 1.2% increase, the annual GIS income reset, the updated OAS recovery tax thresholds, an early projection for the October 2026 adjustment, and everything seniors need to know about confirming their payment.
Table of Contents
Why July Is The Biggest OAS Payment Change Of 2026
Old Age Security uses a quarterly adjustment cycle that recalibrates payments in January, April, July, and October based on the Consumer Price Index.
The January 2026 quarter delivered a 0.3% increase, and the April quarter added 0.1%, raising the maximum monthly OAS pension by $2.96 for seniors aged 65 to 74 and by $3.26 for those aged 75 and over compared with the October to December 2025 rates.
The July quarter changes that trajectory entirely with a confirmed 1.2% jump, adding approximately $8.92 per month for seniors aged 65 to 74 and $9.81 per month for those 75 and over.
Over the full year from July 2025 to July 2026, OAS has now increased by 2.3%, layered across four separate quarterly reviews.
The published OAS rates are protected from decreasing solely because of falling CPI under the Old Age Security Act, although an individual recipient’s actual payment can still change because of income, residency, or eligibility factors.
The same 1.2% adjustment applies to all OAS benefits simultaneously, including the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Allowance, and the Allowance for the Survivor.
Maximum OAS Amounts Landing On July 29
Seniors aged 65 to 74 with 2025 net world income below $152,062 can receive up to $751.97 per month in OAS beginning with the July 29 deposit.
That maximum rose from $743.05 during the April to June quarter, an increase of $8.92 per month or approximately $26.76 over the three-month quarter.
Seniors aged 75 and over with 2025 net world income below $157,923 can receive up to $827.17 per month.
That figure reflects the permanent 10% enhancement introduced in July 2022 for seniors over 75, applied on top of the standard base rate and all quarterly adjustments.
The 75 and over maximum rose from $817.36 to $827.17, an increase of $9.81 per month or approximately $29.43 over the quarter.
These amounts apply only to seniors who accumulated 40 or more years of Canadian residency after age 18 and qualify for the full pension.
Partial pensions apply to seniors with between 10 and 39 years of residency after turning 18, calculated as a proportion of the full amount based on qualifying years.
Your situation 2025 net world income must be Maximum monthly payment Age 65 to 74 Less than $152,062 $751.97 Age 75 and over Less than $157,923 $827.17 2026 OAS Quarterly Rate History
Quarter Age 65 to 74 Age 75 and over Quarterly increase January to March 2026 $742.31 $816.54 0.3% April to June 2026 $743.05 $817.36 0.1% July to September 2026 $751.97 $827.17 1.2% A senior aged 65 to 74 receiving the full pension throughout all of 2026 will collect three different monthly rates across the year, starting with the $742.31 base set in January, with the possibility of a fourth if the October quarter produces another adjustment.
The CPI Calculation Behind The 1.2% Increase
The quarterly OAS adjustment compares the average Consumer Price Index over two separate three-month periods to determine whether benefits should rise.
For the July to September 2026 calculation, the most recent three-month period for which CPI data was available at the time of calculation was February, March, and April 2026.
The comparison period is the last three-month window where a CPI increase triggered an OAS benefit increase, which was November and December 2025 and January 2026.
Most Recent Three-Month Period
Month CPI index value February 2026 165.9 March 2026 167.4 April 2026 168.0 Three-month average 167.1 Reference Period (Last Period That Triggered An Increase)
Month CPI index value November 2025 165.4 December 2025 165.0 January 2026 165.0 Three-month average 165.1 The percentage increase is calculated as (167.1 minus 165.1) divided by 165.1, which equals 1.21%, rounded to 1.2% for the official quarterly adjustment.
The spring CPI acceleration was driven primarily by higher gasoline prices linked to Middle East supply disruptions, with Statistics Canada reporting that gasoline prices reached their highest level since June 2022 in May 2026.
Food prices also contributed to the acceleration, with grocery inflation running at 4.3% year over year in May 2026 before moderating to 3.9% in June according to Statistics Canada.
GIS Amounts For The July To September 2026 Quarter
The Guaranteed Income Supplement received the same 1.2% quarterly increase effective with the July 29 deposit.
A single, widowed, or divorced senior with 2025 annual net income below $22,800 can receive up to $1,123.17 per month in GIS, up from $1,109.85 in the April to June quarter.
A married or common-law senior whose partner also receives a full OAS pension can receive up to $676.09 per month, provided their combined income stays below $30,096.
A senior whose partner receives the Allowance can also receive up to $676.09 per month, with a combined income ceiling of $42,144.
A senior whose partner does not receive an OAS pension or Allowance can receive up to $1,123.17 per month, with a combined income threshold of $54,624.
GIS amounts are non-taxable and do not count toward the net income thresholds used for the OAS recovery tax calculation.
GIS generally decreases as other income rises, but the calculation is not a flat 50% reduction in every situation.
The first $5,000 of annual employment or self-employment income is fully exempt from the GIS income test, and 50% of earnings between $5,000 and $15,000 is also exempt, giving working low-income seniors meaningful room to earn without losing their full supplement.
Your situation 2025 annual net income must be Maximum monthly payment Single, widowed, or divorced Less than $22,800 $1,123.17 The partner receives full OAS pension Combined less than $30,096 $676.09 The partner receives the allowance. Combined less than $42,144 $676.09 The partner does not receive OAS or allowance. Combined less than $54,624 $1,123.17 Combined OAS And GIS Maximum Monthly Amounts (July to September 2026)
Your situation OAS maximum GIS maximum Combined monthly total Single, aged 65 to 74 $751.97 $1,123.17 $1,875.14 Single, aged 75 and over $827.17 $1,123.17 $1,950.34 A single senior aged 75 and over with no other income could receive a combined OAS and GIS deposit of $1,950.34 per month starting with the July 29 payment, representing the highest combined maximum monthly amount the program has reached.
The Annual July GIS Reset Based On 2025 Tax Returns
Every July, Service Canada recalculates Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, and Allowance for the Survivor entitlements using the most recent tax return on file.
The July 2026 recalculation switches from 2024 income data to 2025 net income as reported on returns filed by the April 30, 2026 deadline.
This annual income reset means that your July GIS payment can change in two separate and independent ways: the 1.2% quarterly CPI increase that applies uniformly to all recipients and an individual recalculation based on whether your 2025 income was higher or lower than your 2024 income.
Seniors whose income dropped between 2024 and 2025 may see GIS payments rise substantially beyond the standard 1.2% quarterly adjustment starting with the July 29 deposit.
Seniors whose income rose may see reduced GIS payments starting in July or a complete suspension of the supplement if their 2025 income exceeded the applicable threshold.
Late filers risk a temporary suspension of GIS payments starting in July because Service Canada cannot complete the recalculation without a current tax return on file, as explained in our coverage of CRA processing times.
Even seniors with zero income must file a return every year to maintain continuous GIS eligibility and avoid payment gaps.
Payments suspended due to late filing may be retroactively restored once Service Canada processes the return, but the gap in income during the interim can last several weeks or months depending on when you file.
Allowance And Allowance For The Survivor
The Allowance supports Canadians aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner receives both GIS and a full OAS pension.
The maximum monthly Allowance payment for July to September 2026 is $1,428.06, up from $1,411.13 in the prior quarter.
Couples qualify for the Allowance only if their combined annual income sits below $42,144 and the younger partner has at least 10 years of Canadian residency after age 18.
The Allowance for the Survivor supports widowed Canadians aged 60 to 64 who have not remarried or entered a new common-law relationship.
The maximum monthly Allowance for the Survivor for July to September 2026 is $1,702.34, up from $1,682.15 in the prior quarter.
Individual annual income must stay below $30,696, and the recipient must have at least 10 years of Canadian residency after age 18.
Both the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor are non-taxable and do not add to reportable income on the annual tax return.
Benefit Income requirement Maximum monthly payment (Jul-Sep 2026) Previous quarter (Apr-Jun 2026) Allowance Combined less than $42,144 $1,428.06 $1,411.13 Allowance for the Survivor Individual less than $30,696 $1,702.34 $1,682.15 OAS Recovery Tax Thresholds For July 2026 To June 2027
The OAS pension is fully taxable and subject to a recovery tax when a recipient’s net world income exceeds the annual threshold, a rule that affects higher-income benefit recipients across the country.
For the July 2026 to June 2027 recovery period, the minimum income recovery threshold is $93,454, based on 2025 net world income as reported on your tax return.
Every dollar of 2025 net world income above $93,454 triggers a 15-cent reduction in monthly OAS payments, with the recovery tax spread across 12 monthly deposits from July 2026 through June 2027.
OAS is fully eliminated at $152,062 of 2025 net world income for seniors aged 65 to 74 and at $157,923 for seniors aged 75 and over.
The higher elimination threshold for the 75 and over group exists because their maximum OAS pension is larger due to the permanent 10% enhancement.
Net world income used in the clawback calculation includes the OAS pension itself plus all other reportable income on the T1 return, meaning the pension can partially trigger its own recovery at certain income levels.
GIS, Allowance, and Allowance for survivor payments are not taxable and do not factor into the recovery tax calculation.
A separate and higher threshold of $95,323 applies to 2026 income and will govern OAS payments from July 2027 through June 2028, as covered in our CRA clawback thresholds guide.
Recovery period Threshold (clawback begins) Full elimination (65-74) Full elimination (75+) Based on income year July 2026 to June 2027 $93,454 $152,062 $157,923 2025 July 2027 to June 2028 $95,323 $155,109 $161,088 2026 Example: How The Recovery Tax Reduces Your Monthly OAS A senior aged 65 to 74 with 2025 net world income of $110,000 exceeds the $93,454 threshold by $16,546.
The recovery tax is 15% of $16,546, which equals $2,481.90 per year or $206.83 per month deducted from their OAS payments.
Instead of receiving the full $751.97 maximum, this senior would receive approximately $545.14 per month after the clawback from July 2026 through June 2027.
OAS Deferral At The New July Rate
Seniors who do not need OAS income at age 65 can defer the pension for up to 60 months to boost their permanent monthly amount.
Each month of deferral adds 0.6% to the monthly payment, accumulating to a maximum 36% increase at age 70.
At the July 2026 base rate, a senior aged 65 to 74 who deferred from 65 to 70 would receive approximately $1,022.68 per month instead of $751.97.
When that senior turns 75, the permanent 10% enhancement would apply on top of the deferred amount, pushing the monthly payment to approximately $1,124.95.
Deferral makes the most sense for seniors who continue earning high employment income between 65 and 70 that would otherwise trigger the OAS recovery tax.
Seniors who defer OAS past 65 can request a retroactive start date for up to 11 months, but months counted as a deferral period do not count toward retroactivity.
The breakeven calculation for deferral depends on lifespan, tax rates, GIS eligibility, clawback exposure, and personal cash flow needs, so no universal breakeven age applies to every senior.
Seniors in poor health, those who qualify for GIS, or those who need immediate income may benefit more from claiming at 65.
Projected October 2026 OAS Adjustment
The October 2026 quarterly review will compare the May, June, and July 2026 CPI average against the February to April 2026 reference average of 167.1.
Statistics Canada has already confirmed that the all-items CPI index reached 169.6 in May and 169.0 in June 2026.
Headline inflation slowed from 3.2% year over year in May to 2.8% in June, driven by a 10.2% month-over-month decline in gasoline prices as diplomatic talks brought temporary calm to Middle East energy markets.
The July CPI reading will not be released until August 17, 2026, so exact October OAS amounts cannot be confirmed yet.
However, the direction of the adjustment is already clear based on two of the three months of available data.
October 2026 OAS Projection Scenarios
If July 2026 CPI is May-Jun-Jul average Increase over 167.1 reference Projected quarterly increase 168.5 169.03 1.16% ~1.2% 169.0 169.20 1.26% ~1.3% 169.5 169.37 1.36% ~1.4% Oil prices remained volatile throughout July, creating uncertainty around the final July CPI reading.
Under all three scenarios, another OAS increase in October appears highly likely, with the projected range falling between approximately 1.2% and 1.4% depending on July fuel prices.
This projection is not official and the final October adjustment will depend on the actual July CPI reading published by Statistics Canada and the official rates published by Service Canada.
How To Confirm Your July 29 Payment
Direct deposit recipients should receive their combined OAS and GIS payment on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, although individual bank posting times may vary.
Posted cheques may take longer, and the Canadian government recommends waiting five to ten business days after the scheduled date before contacting the program about a missing payment.
My Service Canada Account provides a secure online portal for reviewing payment status, benefit amounts, and historical deposits for every OAS and GIS recipient.
Seniors can log in through their existing GCKey or Sign-In Partner credentials to confirm the July deposit has posted correctly.
The account also allows recipients to update direct deposit banking information, mailing addresses, and voluntary tax withholding preferences.
If the July 29 payment does not arrive, recipients should first confirm bank posting times and My Service Canada Account details before contacting Service Canada.
Recipients can contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to report a missing payment or start a payment inquiry.
Missing payments are most often caused by outdated banking information, stale mailing addresses, gaps in residency records, or a suspended GIS due to a late or missing 2025 tax return.
2026 OAS Payment Dates
The July 29 deposit is the seventh of twelve scheduled OAS and GIS payment dates in the 2026 calendar year.
The remaining deposit dates confirmed by the Canadian government through the official benefits payment calendar are listed below.
Payment date Quarter OAS rate applies July 29, 2026 July to September $751.97 / $827.17 August 27, 2026 July to September $751.97 / $827.17 September 25, 2026 July to September $751.97 / $827.17 October 28, 2026 October to December To be confirmed November 26, 2026 October to December To be confirmed December 22, 2026 October to December To be confirmed OAS and GIS are typically combined into a single deposit on the same date each month, and CPP payments also arrive on the same schedule for most recipients.
The December payment is issued earlier than usual on December 22 to accommodate year-end banking schedules.
Service Canada has not yet released the official 2027 payment calendar as of late July 2026.
The July 29 deposit marks the most significant single-payment shift in OAS income this year, combining the 1.2% quarterly increase, the annual GIS income reset, and the clawback threshold rollover into one event.
Seniors should verify their July payment through My Service Canada Account to confirm the new amounts have been applied correctly, especially GIS recipients whose individual recalculation based on 2025 income may produce a noticeably different deposit.
The next quarterly review in October will be shaped by the May through July CPI data, with early readings suggesting another increase is likely given that two of the three available CPI values already sit well above the 167.1 reference period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I receive OAS if I live outside Canada?
To qualify for OAS while living outside Canada, a person generally must have been a Canadian citizen or legal resident on the day before leaving and must have resided in Canada for at least 20 years after age 18. Seniors who meet the 20-year residency requirement can receive OAS payments while living abroad in any country, and the pension will continue indefinitely even if they never return to Canada. Those with between 10 and 19 years of residency can continue receiving OAS outside Canada for only six months after the month of departure, after which payments are suspended until they return.
Does pension income splitting with a spouse reduce the OAS clawback?
Eligible pension income such as RRIF withdrawals and registered pension plan payments can be split with a spouse or common-law partner for tax purposes by filing Form T1032, which can lower one spouse’s net income below the $93,454 threshold and reduce or eliminate their OAS recovery tax. CPP pension sharing is a separate mechanism that requires both spouses to apply jointly through Service Canada, and it redistributes CPP income between the two tax returns based on each partner’s contributory period during cohabitation. Combining both strategies effectively can keep both partners below the clawback zone, but it requires annual tax planning because income levels change year to year.
What happens to GIS if my income drops suddenly because I retire mid-year?
If your income drops significantly due to retirement, job loss, or reduction in pension income during the current year, you can contact Service Canada to request that your GIS be recalculated using your estimated current-year income instead of your previous year’s tax return. This option requires submitting a Statement of Estimated Income form and applies on a case-by-case basis. Without this request, your GIS amount would remain based on 2025 income until the next annual reset in July 2027.
Do TFSA withdrawals count as income for GIS or OAS clawback purposes?
Tax-Free Savings Account withdrawals are not included in net income for any federal tax purpose, which means they do not affect your GIS entitlement, do not count toward the OAS recovery tax calculation, and do not appear on your T1 return. This makes TFSA withdrawals one of the most effective sources of retirement income for seniors who want to stay below GIS and OAS clawback thresholds. Converting RRSP savings into a TFSA during lower-income years before claiming OAS is a common strategy, though the RRSP withdrawal itself counts as taxable income in the year it occurs.
Will the 10% OAS enhancement for seniors 75 and over ever be extended to younger seniors?
The federal government has not announced plans to extend the 10% OAS enhancement to seniors aged 65 to 74 as of July 2026. The enhancement was enacted through Bill C-30, the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1, which permanently increased the OAS pension by 10% for seniors aged 75 and over beginning in July 2022. However, Private Member’s Bill C-261 proposes extending the 10% increase to all OAS pensioners aged 65 and over while also raising the GIS earnings exemption from $5,000 to $6,500. Bill C-261 is currently at second reading in the House of Commons but has not yet been referred to committee or become law. Private member’s bills also face a more uncertain legislative path than government-sponsored legislation.
Fact-Checked: Payment amounts, income thresholds, CPI index values, payment dates, and adjustment percentages are verified against official Canadian government publications as of July 2026, including the Old Age Security payment amounts page, the GIS benefit page, the benefits payment calendar, and Statistics Canada CPI releases current to July 20, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult Service Canada or a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- New Alberta AISH, ADAP, And Income Support Payments Coming This Week
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Alberta’s next monthly assistance payments are scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and they cover the August 2026 assistance period.
The same payment date applies to three separate programs: Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), and Income Support.
Payments are issued in advance. The deposit lands about four business days before the first of the month, so recipients receive August funds before August begins.
August also brings real program changes, including recalibrated child benefit rates and a new rule for couples who both receive disability assistance. Those changes affect what many households actually receive.
Individual amounts vary. The figures below are program maximums and rules, not a guaranteed deposit for every recipient.
Table of Contents
When Is The Alberta Assistance Payment For August 2026?
The official Government of Alberta payment schedule lists the August 2026 benefit payment date as Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
That timing follows a fixed rule. The monthly payment for AISH, ADAP, and Income Support occurs four business days before the first of the month.
August 1, 2026, falls on a Saturday, so counting back four business days lands on Tuesday, July 28.
This is not an early or late payment. It is the standard schedule that pays recipients ahead of the month they need to cover.
Direct Deposit Versus Mailed Cheque: The Timing Difference
Direct deposit and cheques do not follow the same clock, and the gap matters near month-end.
Benefits issued by direct deposit are deposited four business days before the first of the month. For this cycle, that is July 28.
Benefits issued by cheque are mailed six business days before the first of the month. For this cycle, that means cheques were mailed around Friday, July 24.
Mailed cheques are then subject to standard Canada Post delivery times, so a cheque can arrive several days after a direct deposit would have posted. Direct deposit is the faster and more reliable option, and recipients can sign up through their caseworker.
AISH, ADAP, and Income Support: Quick Payment Summary
These three programs share a payment date but serve different people and pay different amounts.
Program Who it is for Core monthly financial benefit Next payment Employment income fully exempt (single) AISH Adults with a severe, permanent disability that prevents work Up to $1,940 standard living allowance (single, in community) Tue, Jul 28, 2026 $350 / month ADAP Adults with a severe disability that limits, but does not prevent, work $1,740 core benefit (see transition benefit below) Tue, Jul 28, 2026 $700 / month Income Support Individuals and families who cannot meet basic living expenses and satisfy Income Support eligibility requirements Varies by household size, category and shelter costs Tue, Jul 28, 2026 You keep all wages; only a portion of earnings is counted AISH and ADAP are not the same program, and neither is Income Support. Mixing them up is the most common source of confusion about amounts and rules.
What The July 28 Payment Covers
- Assistance month: August 2026, paid in advance
- AISH: monthly living allowance, plus health and personal benefits
- ADAP: core financial benefit, health benefits that continue regardless of employment income, and personal benefits based on eligible needs
- Income Support: help with basic expenses, plus health benefits
- New for the August period: recalibrated child benefit rates and a new 88% benefit level for couples who both receive disability assistance
AISH Payments Maximum Amount And Who Stays On It
AISH supports eligible adults with a severe disability that permanently prevents employment.
The maximum standard living allowance is up to $1,940 per month for a single adult living in the community. The amount a person actually receives depends on other income they, or a spouse or partner, may have.
AISH also includes health benefits, personal benefits and a child benefit for dependent children.
Not everyone moved to the new ADAP program. Under Alberta’s disability assistance changes, certain AISH clients automatically remained on AISH unless they chose to move to ADAP for its higher employment exemptions. According to the official ADAP page, those who stayed on AISH include:
- individuals with a severe and profound developmental disability, or who are eligible for or receiving Persons with Developmental Disabilities services
- individuals with palliative or terminal medical conditions
- individuals living in continuing care homes
- individuals 60 years of age or older
New ADAP Program And Its Transition Benefit
The Alberta Disability Assistance Program is now operational. It provides financial, health and employment supports to Albertans with severe disabilities who are able to work.
ADAP’s core financial benefit is $1,740 per month. That is the figure for the program itself.
Clients who transitioned from AISH to ADAP in July 2026 receive a $200 monthly transition benefit. That transition benefit keeps their financial benefit the same as their previous AISH amount until December 31, 2027.
For a transitioned client who previously received the maximum AISH amount, the $1,740 ADAP core benefit plus the $200 transition benefit maintains a total of $1,940 during the transition period.
A newly approved ADAP applicant who did not transfer from AISH may receive up to the $1,740 core benefit, subject to income and individual circumstances.
ADAP is built around work. Single clients can earn up to $700 per month with no impact to their financial benefits, and clients can earn up to $45,240 per year in employment income while continuing to receive support.
Health benefits continue regardless of employment income on ADAP.
AISH Versus ADAP: The Key Differences
Feature AISH ADAP Main purpose Severe, permanent disability that prevents work Severe disability that limits but does not prevent work Core monthly benefit Up to $1,940 (single, in community) $1,740 core; transitioned clients kept at their AISH level via a $200 transition benefit to Dec 31, 2027 Employment income fully exempt (single) $350 / month $700 / month Annual employment income while keeping benefits Lower work-focused limits Up to $45,240 / year Application One combined disability assistance application One combined disability assistance application There is now a single combined application for both AISH and ADAP. An adjudicator reviews the file and places each eligible applicant into the program that best fits their situation.
Employment Income: How Much You Can Earn Before It Affects Your Benefit
Earning money does not automatically end assistance. Each client type has a level of monthly earnings that is fully exempt before benefits are affected.
Client type Monthly earnings before impact to financial benefits AISH single or parent $350 ADAP single $700 ADAP parent (1 or more dependent children) $1,100 AISH or ADAP cohabiting partner $1,500 Above these thresholds, earnings are gradually deducted rather than cut off. On ADAP, the reduction begins at less than a cent per dollar and increases as annual earnings approach the top of the range.
August 2026 Child Benefit Amounts
Child benefit rates under AISH and ADAP were recalibrated to reflect other child-related supports, including the federal Canada Child Benefit.
The new monthly rates apply starting the August 2026 benefit period.
Dependent child Monthly child benefit (August 2026) First child $300 Second child $117 Third child $88 Fourth child $59 Each additional child $30 Alberta states these recalibrated rates will increase child benefits for approximately 7,000 families who receive disability income assistance.
New For Couples: The 88% Household Rule
Starting the August 2026 benefit period, households where two adults both receive disability income assistance (AISH or ADAP) will each receive 88% of the maximum individual benefit.
Alberta describes this as reflecting a couple’s shared household expenses and mutual financial responsibility, in line with how other jurisdictions structure disability benefits.
For affected couples, this rule can change the combined household amount that arrives on July 28, so it is worth reviewing your monthly statement.
Why Individual Payment Amounts Differ
Two people on the same program can receive different deposits. Common reasons include:
- Other income: income you or a spouse or partner receive can reduce the living allowance
- Employment earnings: earnings above your exemption are gradually deducted
- Dependent children: the child benefit adds to your payment based on the number of children
- Household type: the new 88% rule applies when two adults both receive disability assistance
- Living situation: clients in an approved continuing care home receive a modified living allowance
- Benefit adjustments: overpayment recovery or a change in your file can change a given month’s amount
Because of these variables, program maximums are not a promise of a specific deposit. Your monthly statement shows your own breakdown.
Income Support Is A Separate Program
Income Support is distinct from AISH and ADAP. It helps eligible individuals and families who cannot fully cover basic living expenses such as food, clothing and shelter.
Depending on family size, ability to work and situation, Income Support can help with basic expenses like food, clothing and shelter, along with childcare, special diets, work-related expenses and emergencies. Recipients also receive health benefits.
Income Support amounts vary widely by household and category, so there is no single maximum figure. The Income Support page links to the official financial benefits summary for detailed rates.
Income Support recipients are encouraged to work. You keep all of your wages, and only a portion of your earnings is counted when your benefit is calculated.
Remaining 2026 Payment Dates
The dates below come from the official Government of Alberta schedule. Each date pays the following month’s assistance period in advance.
Assistance period Benefit payment date August 2026 Tuesday, July 28, 2026 September 2026 Wednesday, August 26, 2026 October 2026 Thursday, September 24, 2026 November 2026 Tuesday, October 27, 2026 December 2026 Wednesday, November 25, 2026 January 2027 Tuesday, December 22, 2026 What To Do If Your July 28 Payment Does Not Arrive
A missing deposit does not automatically mean your eligibility ended. Work through these steps in order:
- Confirm the date. July 28 is the official deposit date. If the payment is not visible, check with your financial institution and then contact your caseworker or Alberta Supports.
- Check your account and banking details. Look at your bank account or online banking, and confirm your direct deposit information on file is current.
- Read your monthly statement. Review it for any benefit adjustment, overpayment recovery or income change that affected the amount.
- Allow for mail if you get a cheque. Cheques are mailed about six business days before the first and then depend on Canada Post delivery times.
- Contact your caseworker or Alberta Supports. If the payment still has not arrived, call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992.
- Ask about emergency help if needed. For urgent basic needs, ask about emergency financial assistance, available 24/7 at 1-866-644-5135.
Have This Ready Before You Call
- your client or file identification
- your current banking details
- your most recent monthly statement
- details of any recent income, employment or household change
- any notice or letter you received about your file
Important Facts To Know Before July 28
- The payment date is Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
- It covers the August 2026 assistance period and is paid in advance.
- It applies to AISH, ADAP, and Income Support.
- Direct deposit posts on the payment date, while mailed cheques arrive later.
- Amounts vary by income, employment, children and household type.
- August introduces changes, including recalibrated child benefits and the 88% couples rule.
Alberta’s next assistance payments are scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and they cover the August 2026 assistance period.
The date applies to AISH, ADAP, and Income Support, all of which pay four business days before the first of the month. Individual amounts vary by income, employment earnings, dependent children and household type, so program maximums are not a guaranteed deposit.
The August 2026 program changes matter, including recalibrated child benefit rates and the new 88% benefit level for couples who both receive disability assistance, because they can change what actually lands in your account.
If your payment has not arrived, confirm the date, allow for normal bank processing, check your statement for adjustments, and then contact the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992.
Set a reminder for the next date, keep your banking and household details current, and check your monthly statement each cycle to confirm your payment is correct.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can my bank post the July 28 deposit later than midnight on the payment date?
The time a deposit becomes visible may vary by financial institution, although Alberta states that assistance payments are made at midnight on the scheduled date. Check with your bank if the payment is not visible on July 28, then contact your caseworker or Alberta Supports if it remains missing. A missing deposit does not automatically mean that eligibility has ended.
If I changed my bank account close to July 28, could that delay my payment?
It can, if your direct deposit information was updated shortly before a payment date, the change may not take effect in time for that specific deposit, and a payment could be sent to your previous account or issued another way. Banking updates are processed on a schedule, so timing matters. If you recently switched accounts, confirm with your caseworker whether the July 28 payment will use your new details or your old ones. Keeping banking information current well ahead of each payment date is the most reliable way to avoid this kind of delay.
Does moving from AISH to ADAP change my official payment date?
No, AISH, ADAP, and Income Support all follow the same monthly schedule, with payment four business days before the first of the month. Moving between AISH and ADAP does not shift your deposit to a different day, so a transitioned client still receives the July 28 payment for the August period. What can change after a transition is the amount, because ADAP has a different core benefit and different employment rules, with a transition benefit that maintains a former AISH client’s total until December 31, 2027. Review your monthly statement to see your specific breakdown after any program change.
Does earning employment income automatically stop my assistance?
No, both AISH and ADAP allow a level of monthly earnings that is fully exempt before benefits are affected, and earnings above that level are gradually reduced rather than cut off. A single ADAP client can earn up to $700 a month with no impact and can earn up to $45,240 a year while still receiving support. On AISH, a single or parent client has a $350 monthly earnings exemption. Health benefits continue regardless of employment income on ADAP. How your specific earnings affect your payment is calculated by the program, so confirm details with your caseworker.
Can I receive both provincial assistance and federal benefits like the Canada Disability Benefit?
Yes, a recipient can qualify for federal benefits while receiving AISH or ADAP, but federal income may affect the provincial payment calculation. Alberta requires recipients and their spouses or partners to apply for other government income they may be eligible for and report the outcome of Canada Disability Benefit and Disability Tax Credit applications.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- Canada’s PGWP Refusals Leave Hundreds Of Graduates In Limbo
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Hundreds of international graduates in Alberta say Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) refused their post-graduation work permits over a single classification: “non-credit.”
Most studied through continuing-education programs offered by Portage College and delivered at partner sites in Calgary and Edmonton.
They finished their diplomas, applied for a PGWP, and then received refusal letters this summer.
Many had already started jobs while waiting for a decision. A refusal generally means they must stop working the day IRCC notifies them.
Some now face expiring status, lost income and pressure to leave a country where they spent years and tens of thousands of dollars in tuition.
The dispute turns on timing and fair notice. IRCC updated its PGWP eligibility webpage information on June 24, 2026, to spell out that non-credit programs do not qualify.
The department says it clarified an existing rule and changed nothing. Affected graduates say they enrolled and applied long before that wording appeared and that they were led to expect eligibility.
This is not only an Alberta story. It sits at the intersection of federal immigration rules, provincial education oversight and how colleges market programs delivered by private partners.
When those three systems do not line up, students can complete an approved program and still be told, at the finish line, that it never counted.
It also touches a national anxiety about how Canada communicates immigration rules.
If a criterion can be made explicit on a government webpage and applied to people who enrolled years earlier, then every current international student has reason to ask whether the program they are paying for will still qualify when they graduate.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Happened To The Alberta Graduates?
On July 17, 2026, it was reported that the upwards of 480 graduates who completed continuing-education programs through the Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy (CIOT) in Calgary gathered to say their PGWP applications had been wrongfully refused. Similar accounts have come from graduates in Edmonton.
Sikander Singh, who holds an Administrative Professional diploma, told one of the news outlets that when he and his peers began their programs in 2024, they were told PGWP eligibility would follow if they met the criteria. “We did everything on time…then we got our refusal letters in the mail,” he said.
Refusals landed in late June and early July. IRCC said in an email statement that “there have been no changes to the eligibility criteria” and that the June update only clarified requirements tied to non-credit programs. That framing is now the heart of the dispute.
Which Students And Programs Are Affected?
The affected graduates are international students from a range of backgrounds. The policy question concerns their program, not their nationality, and applies to affected international graduates regardless of where they come from.
Reported delivery locations include CIOT in Calgary and Campbell College in Edmonton, both described as continuing-education partners that delivered programming associated with Portage College.
Reported programs include Business Management, administrative professional, and Teacher Assistant diplomas.
Immigration professionals reviewing files add detail. Immigration consultants describe clients who completed a Teacher Assistant Diploma via the Campbell College site and a Business Management Diploma via CIOT Calgary, with refusals arriving on July 7 and July 8, 2026.
It was also reported that neither the Calgary Portage delivery site nor CIOT appears on the federal PGWP-eligible institution list, which was modified on July 16.
One nuance matters for readers. A “Business Management Diploma” delivered at a partner site is not necessarily the same credential as a credit-bearing “Business Administration” diploma from Portage’s main campus.
Program identity, start date and delivery arrangement can change the outcome, which is why each file needs individual review.
Why IRCC Is Refusing The PGWP Applications
IRCC’s current “Post-graduation work permit: Who can apply” page lists who is not eligible.
That list includes anyone who “completed a non-credit program of study,” with an exception for qualifying flight schools. The page carries a June 24, 2026, modified date.
The refusals reportedly rely on that classification. Multiple refusal letters reviewed by immigration professionals are said to use substantially similar wording, describing the completed program as “a non-credit program” that “does not meet the criteria for work authorization under R205(c)(ii),” with the application refused under R200(1)(c)(ii).
Those references point to how the PGWP actually works in law. Under section 205 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, the PGWP is work the Minister designates as beneficial to Canada, administered as code C43.
The permit is issued under section 200. Eligibility is therefore set largely through ministerial designation and public guidance, not by a single line in the regulation.
A Timeline From The 2024 Partnership Policy To Now
Date What happened Jan–May 2024 Students report enrolling in the affected Portage-linked programs at CIOT (Calgary) and Campbell College (Edmonton). May 15, 2024 IRCC cutoff for the same-province public-private curriculum-licensing exception. Students who began such a program on or before this date may qualify; those after do not. Early May 2024 Portage says the partnership programs stopped admitting new students as arrangements began winding down. Nov 1, 2024 New field-of-study and language requirements begin applying to many PGWP applicants, based on the study-permit application date. Late 2025–early 2026 Students complete their programs and submit PGWP applications. June 24, 2026 IRCC’s PGWP eligibility page is modified. It now states plainly that non-credit programs are not PGWP-eligible except for qualifying flight schools. Late June–July 2026 Graduates begin receiving near-identical refusals citing the non-credit classification. July 14, 2026 Portage College publishes its PGWP Updates and Supports page acknowledging the refusals. July 15, 2026 After legal advice, Portage stops issuing support letters and says a college letter does not confirm eligibility. July 16, 2026 The federal PGWP-eligible institution list is modified, per LiveWire. July 17–21, 2026 Roughly 480 Calgary graduates gather publicly; Portage meets graduates from CIOT and Campbell College. July 24, 2026 Portage says former Calgary and Edmonton partner campuses are closing as planned, unrelated to the refusals. The May 15, 2024 Grandfathering Dispute
IRCC’s guidance recognizes a narrow exception for public-private curriculum-licensing programs.
If a student began a same-province program of this kind on or before May 15, 2024, they may still qualify, provided they meet every other PGWP requirement.
Some affected graduates say they started before that date. Mukul Rana told LiveWire he began classes on May 8, 2024, about a week before the cutoff. On its face, that timing appears to fall inside the exception.
Here is the knot. The grandfathering exception preserves possible eligibility for the partnership issue. It does not, by its terms, override the separate rule that non-credit programs are excluded.
If IRCC treats a program as non-credit, IRCC can argue that grandfathering the partnership arrangement does not cure that independent problem.
Whether these specific programs are correctly labelled non-credit is exactly what needs to be examined, file by file.
Was The Non-Credit Rule New Or Merely Clarified?
This is the central factual disagreement. IRCC maintains that the June 24, 2026 update clarified an existing requirement and created no new rule.
Students allege the interpretation is being applied to them retroactively because the plain non-credit wording appeared after they enrolled and, in many cases, after they applied.
A webpage modification date does not by itself prove that a legal or policy requirement was newly created that day. Guidance is often updated to restate rules already in force.
At the same time, timing raises a serious question about fair notice when a decisive criterion becomes explicit only after applicants have committed years and tuition.
Immigration News Canada does not assert that IRCC acted unlawfully. We do say the public deserves a clear account of when and how this criterion applied.
Why Some Students Have A Credible Case
Affected graduates raise several arguments worth taking seriously, without treating any of them as a guaranteed win in court.
- Reasonable reliance: students say they enrolled, paid international tuition and completed programs based on the information available to them at the time, including institutional representations.
- Procedural fairness and legitimate expectations: Canadian administrative law recognizes both, but their reach is limited. A legitimate expectation can shape process; it generally cannot manufacture a substantive right to a permit that the rules do not allow.
- Meaningful individual assessment: if refusals use near-identical language, students ask whether officers truly weighed each transcript, letter of acceptance, completion letter and tuition record or applied a template.
- Consistency: reported approvals of apparently similar graduates suggest the outcomes deserve a centralized look to see whether like cases were treated alike.
- The word “credit”: petition organizers note that the term does not appear in the cited regulations themselves, which raises a question about where the non-credit line is drawn and how clearly it was communicated.
IRCC Also Has A Serious Counterargument
A fair account has to state IRCC’s strongest position, which is not weak.
- A study permit or admission to a designated learning institution never guarantees future PGWP eligibility. The permit is a separate decision under separate criteria.
- The partnership cutoff only preserves possible eligibility. It does not switch off every other requirement, including the non-credit exclusion.
- Non-credit programs, IRCC can argue, were never intended to qualify, and the June update made an existing limit explicit rather than inventing it.
- An approval issued to one applicant does not create a legal entitlement for later applicants. Consistency matters, but each file stands on its own facts.
- Apparent inconsistencies may reflect real differences in program identity, delivery site, start date, documentation or the exact credential earned.
Why Were Some Graduates Reportedly Approved?
Students say roughly 50 graduates from apparently similar programs already received PGWP approvals. That claim is theirs, and Immigration News Canada has not independently confirmed the number.
Those approvals justify investigation. They do not, on their own, prove the refusals were unlawful.
Two files that look alike from the outside can differ in ways that matter to an officer: a credit-bearing credential from a main campus versus a non-credit program at a partner site, a start date on one side of the May 15, 2024, line, or stronger documentation.
The honest position is that the inconsistency is a reason to compare the files carefully, not a verdict.
What Responsibility Does Portage College Have?
Portage College has acknowledged the refusals on its PGWP Updates and Supports page.
It says it cannot reverse IRCC decisions, that a college letter does not confirm eligibility, and that after receiving legal advice on July 15, 2026, it stopped issuing support letters.
It has urged graduates to get independent advice and to retain their records.
Fair questions remain, and no finding of wrongdoing has been made against Portage College, CIOT, Campbell College or any named person.
- What did acceptance letters and recruitment materials say about PGWP eligibility, and were students clearly told the programs were non-credit?
- Were students told eligibility was conditional or uncertain, and did materials distinguish the public institution from the physical partner location?
- What information reached students when federal rules changed in 2024, and when did the college first learn IRCC might treat the programs as ineligible?
- Why did the college issue support letters and then stop, and were any recruiters making guarantees the college did not authorize?
- What oversight did Alberta exercise over these arrangements?
The available documents must be examined, and the college and its partners should publicly clarify what students were promised.
Students say they were told they would be eligible. That claim deserves a straight answer.
Immigration News Canada’s Position
The following is the editorial opinion of Immigration News Canada.
We are not claiming that every affected graduate is automatically entitled to a PGWP. Eligibility must still be decided under Canadian law and the facts of each application.
Some of these programs may indeed be non-credit and outside the rules.
But students who entered Canada legally, enrolled in good faith, paid international tuition, completed their programs and followed the published requirements deserve clarity, consistency and procedural fairness.
Canada should not let ambiguity between federal immigration rules, provincial education oversight and institutional marketing sit unresolved until after students have graduated and built their lives around an expected work permit.
If substantially similar graduates received opposite decisions, IRCC owes the public an explanation.
If the non-credit interpretation was not transparently communicated when these students enrolled, transitional protection should be seriously considered.
Students should not carry the entire human and financial cost of a gap involving federal authorities, provincial authorities, a public college and private delivery partners.
The right response is not automatic approval without examination. It is an immediate pause, a transparent investigation, individualized reassessment, and temporary protection from loss of status and employment while the dispute is resolved.
Minister Lena Metlege Diab Must Address This
Immigration News Canada calls on Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, refugees, and Citizenship, and on IRCC to act. Specifically, we urge the Minister and the department to:
- Issue a detailed public statement explaining the legal and policy authority for the non-credit exclusion.
- Temporarily pause refusals involving the same Portage College program-delivery arrangements.
- Establish a centralized IRCC review team, rather than leaving potentially inconsistent decisions to different officers.
- Reopen or reconsider affected refusals without additional government fees where the same disputed issue was decisive.
- Compare the approved and refused applications to determine whether genuinely similar graduates received different outcomes.
- Require individual consideration of program records and institutional evidence in each file.
- Work with Alberta, Portage College and the delivery partners to establish exactly how the programs were classified, approved, advertised and reported to students.
- Publish transitional rules protecting students who enrolled in good faith before the non-credit exclusion was clearly communicated.
There is a lawful tool for targeted relief. Under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Minister may grant, on public-policy grounds, an exemption from applicable requirements and may waive fees. Canada has used this power before for defined groups.
A narrowly tailored temporary public policy could let compliant graduates preserve or restore status and, potentially, keep working while cases are reviewed.
This depends on the Minister’s judgment and legal authority, and relief is not guaranteed. The Minister would set the conditions.
Possible Solutions That Protect Students And Program Integrity
A responsible fix can protect both students and the credibility of the system. None of these steps requires approving ineligible applications.
- Pause and review: a short, defined pause on the affected files, paired with a centralized reassessment team applying one consistent standard.
- Fee-free reconsideration: reopening decisive refusals without new fees where the non-credit issue was the deciding factor.
- A time-limited public policy under section 25.2 to preserve or restore status for otherwise compliant graduates during review, with conditions set by the Minister.
- Transitional protection for good-faith enrollees who began before the non-credit wording was made explicit.
- A program-level eligibility lookup, so no future student is left guessing whether a specific program at a specific site qualifies.
Hundreds of Alberta graduates completed Canadian programs, entered the labour market and expected to contribute.
They are not only victims; they are people who did what was asked and now face refusals over a classification that became explicit after they enrolled.
IRCC may well be right that non-credit programs never qualified. It may also be right that some of these programs fit that description.
A wave of near-identical refusals, reported inconsistencies and a decisive rule made plain only in June 2026 are enough to warrant a pause, a transparent review and a fair path forward. Minister Diab and IRCC can provide that clarity. Affected graduates, meanwhile, should get qualified help today, because the clock is already running.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are some Portage College graduates being refused PGWPs?
IRCC has refused applications where it considers the completed program “non-credit.” Its PGWP guidance lists non-credit programs as ineligible, except for qualifying flight schools. The affected programs were delivered through continuing-education partners in Calgary and Edmonton. IRCC says its June 2026 webpage update clarified an existing requirement. Students dispute the timing and say they were led to expect eligibility when they enrolled.
Does studying at a public designated learning institution guarantee a PGWP?
No, admission to a designated learning institution and holding a valid study permit do not guarantee a PGWP. The permit is a separate decision under separate criteria, including that the program leads to a credential, is credit-bearing, meets minimum length, and satisfies any language and field-of-study requirements. A program delivered by a private partner on behalf of a public college may not qualify, even when the institution itself is well known.
Are students who enrolled before May 15, 2024, automatically protected?
Not automatically; the May 15, 2024 date relates to a specific exception for same-province public-private curriculum-licensing programs. Beginning on or before that date may preserve possible eligibility for that partnership issue. It does not switch off other requirements. If IRCC treats the program as non-credit, that separate exclusion can still apply. Whether a given program is correctly labelled non-credit is a factual question that should be reviewed individually.
Can refused graduates keep working during a reconsideration?
Generally no, a graduate authorized to work while awaiting a decision must usually stop working the day IRCC notifies them of the refusal. Filing a reconsideration request does not automatically restore work authorization, and a judicial-review application does not automatically grant a new permit or status. Whether you remain in status depends on your other documents. Working without authorization can carry serious consequences, so get professional advice before doing anything.
Fact checked: This report is based on IRCC’s current PGWP eligibility guidance (modified June 24, 2026), the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations, Portage College’s official updates (July 14–24, 2026), reporting by LiveWire Calgary (July 18, 2026), a public petition, and analysis published by licensed immigration professionals. The estimate of up to 1,500 affected graduates comes from the student coalition and is not an official IRCC figure. Approval and refusal counts cited by students have not been independently confirmed.
Disclaimer: This article is general information for a public audience and is not legal or immigration advice. For guidance on your own situation, consult an authorized Canadian immigration lawyer or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- New CPP Payments To Be Sent Canada-Wide On July 29
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Millions of Canadians are about to see a new federal deposit; the CPP payments land in their accounts before the month ends.
The next Canada Pension Plan payment is confirmed for Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
This is the seventh of twelve scheduled deposits for the year and the last one before the August cycle begins.
The deposit covers retirement pensions, disability benefits, survivor pensions, and children’s benefits under the same program.
Recipients will notice the amount matches what they received in June, and there is a specific reason behind that.
A separate increase is also expected in January 2027 through annual indexation, and this guide breaks down the formula alongside every confirmed and projected payment date through December 2027.
Table of Contents
What Lands in Bank Accounts on July 29
The July 29 deposit carries the same indexed amounts that have applied to every payment since January 2026.
A recipient who qualifies for the full maximum retirement pension at age 65 receives $1,507.65 for the month.
The average for new beneficiaries starting at age 65 sits considerably lower at $877.01 per month.
Every figure below reflects the official 2026 amounts published on the Government of Canada CPP benefit page.
Benefit Type Average (New Beneficiaries) Maximum Retirement pension (starting at 65) $877.01 $1,507.65 Disability benefit $1,234.68 $1,741.20 Post-retirement disability benefit $610.46 $610.46 Survivor’s pension (under 65) $545.71 $803.54 Survivor’s pension (65 and older) $334.24 $904.59 Children’s benefit (under age 18) $307.81 $307.81 Children’s benefit (full-time student) $307.81 $307.81 Children’s benefit (part-time student) $153.91 $153.91 Post-retirement benefit (at 65) $11.93 $54.69 Combined survivor and retirement (at 65) $1,140.69 $1,531.56 Combined survivor and disability benefit $1,324.04 $1,756.14 Death benefit (one-time) $2,572.00 $2,500.00 The remaining averages are the figures published in the federal monthly amounts table, which carries January 2026 as its reference period.
Service Canada updates each benefit page on its own schedule, so reference periods differ across the table.
These are averages for new beneficiaries and not estimates of what every recipient receives.
Your own payment depends on your contribution history, your pensionable earnings, and the age you started collecting.
The gap between the average and maximum retirement figures is the most misunderstood part of the program.
Reaching the maximum requires roughly 39 years of contributions at or above the annual earnings ceiling, a threshold most working careers never hit.
The disability benefit in this table is a contribution-based program and should not be confused with the Canada Disability Benefit, which is a separate income-tested payment with its own schedule.
Children of a disabled or deceased contributor receive $307.81 if they are under 18 or enrolled full time.
Eligible part-time students receive $153.91, which is exactly half the full-time rate.
The death benefit average sits above the $2,500 standard amount for a specific structural reason.
The estate of a contributor who dies before collecting a retirement or disability pension, and who leaves no survivor, is entitled to an additional $2,500.
Why Your July Amount Matches Your June Amount
The Canada Pension Plan is indexed once per year, and that adjustment always takes effect in January.
A 2.0% cost-of-living increase was applied to all benefits in pay effective with the January 28, 2026 deposit.
That same indexed rate carries through every remaining deposit of the calendar year without any mid-year revision.
No quarterly adjustments, no summer top-ups, and no July revision apply to this program at any point.
Several other federal benefit programs did adjust in July 2026, which is a frequent source of confusion for households receiving more than one payment.
Any claim circulating online about a mid-year pension increase for this specific program in 2026 is inaccurate.
If your own deposit changed between June and July, the cause is almost always individual rather than programmatic, and the most common triggers behind a shifted amount are listed later in this article.
All The CPP Payment Dates 2026-2027
All the CPP payment dates for 2026 are confirmed on the federal benefits payment calendar, and they apply equally to retirement, disability, survivor, and children’s benefits.
Payments are generally scheduled near the third-last business day of each month, working around federal statutory holidays.
Service Canada has not yet released the official 2027 payment calendar as of late July 2026. The department typically publishes the following year’s dates in the final months of the current year.
The projections below apply the payment pattern used in recent federal calendars to the 2027 calendar and holiday schedule.
- July 29, 2026
- August 27, 2026
- September 25, 2026
- October 28, 2026
- November 26, 2026
- December 22, 2026
- January 27, 2027
- February 24, 2027
- March 25, 2027
- April 28, 2027
- May 27, 2027
- June 28, 2027
- July 28, 2027
- August 27, 2027
- September 27, 2027
- October 27, 2027
- November 26, 2027
- December 22, 2027
March 2027 sits earlier than usual because Good Friday falls on March 26 and Easter Monday on March 29 that year.
Both are federal statutory holidays, which pushes the third-to-last business day back to Thursday, March 25.
June and September 2027 land on Mondays, an unusual pattern driven by how those month-end weekends fall.
September 2027 is again shortened by the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, September 30.
These dates are unofficial estimates and should be confirmed once Service Canada publishes the calendar, in the same way earlier date projections were later verified against the official release.
A New CPP Payments Increase In January 2027
Benefits in pay are indexed every January to protect purchasing power against inflation. The adjustment is not discretionary and does not require a budget announcement or new legislation.
It is written into the legislation and applied automatically to every benefit already being paid. Here is how the January 2027 rate will be determined.
- Statistics Canada calculates the average Consumer Price Index across the 12 months ending in October 2026.
- That average is compared against the average CPI for the 12 months ending in October 2025.
- The percentage difference between the two averages becomes the indexation rate for the following January.
- Service Canada applies that rate to all benefits in pay effective with the January 2027 deposit.
- If the calculation produces a decrease, benefit amounts stay flat rather than falling.
The measurement window that governs the January 2027 rate runs from November 2025 through October 2026.
Roughly two-thirds of that period has already been published by Statistics Canada, with data available through June 2026.
Year-over-year CPI registered 2.8% in June 2026, easing from 3.2% in May 2026. The June 2026 all-items index reading was 169.0 against a 2002 base of 100.
The annual average CPI for 2025 was 164.2, representing a 2.1% change over the prior year. Four months of data covering July through October 2026 are still outstanding and will move the final figure.
Statistics Canada releases the July 2026 CPI on August 17, 2026, with the October reading due in November. No official January 2027 indexation rate exists yet, and any specific percentage circulating now is speculation.
For comparison, the confirmed rate applied in January 2026 was 2.0%, following the 2.7% adjustment that took effect in January 2025.
Service Canada normally confirms the new rate in the final weeks of the year, ahead of the late January deposit that first carries it.
Two details about the January adjustment are routinely confused.
- The indexation rate applies to benefits already in pay, raising existing monthly amounts for current recipients.
- The maximum for new benefits is a separate figure that rises monthly because of the program enhancement that began in 2019.
- The standard one-time death benefit is $2,500 and is not increased by annual indexation, though an additional $2,500 may apply in limited qualifying circumstances.
How Your CPP Payment Amount Is Calculated
Your monthly amount depends on how much you contributed, how long you contributed, and the age you started collecting.
Contributions are calculated on pensionable earnings between the basic exemption of $3,500 and the annual earnings ceiling.
The Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings for 2026 are $74,600.
A second ceiling called the “Year’s Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings” is set at $85,000 for higher earners.
Contribution Category Rate Maximum Annual Employee, first earnings tier 5.95% $4,230.45 Employer, first earnings tier 5.95% $4,230.45 Employee, second earnings tier 4.00% $416.00 Employer, second earnings tier 4.00% $416.00 Self-employed, first earnings tier 11.90% $8,460.90 Self-employed, second earnings tier 8.00% $832.00 Contribution rules and the current program structure are summarized on the official Canada Pension Plan overview.
The calculation automatically drops your lowest-earning years to raise your career average.
The general dropout provision removes up to eight of your weakest contribution years from the formula.
Additional dropouts apply for years spent raising a child under seven and for approved disability periods.
Starting before age 65 reduces your monthly amount by 0.6% for each month, up to 36% at age 60.
Delaying past 65 raises it by 0.7% for each month, up to 42% at age 70.
6 Reasons Your Payment Is Lower Than You Expected
Recipients frequently compare their deposit against the published maximum and assume an error has occurred.
In most cases the difference traces back to one of the following factors.
- Contribution gaps from years spent outside the workforce, in school, or working abroad reduce your career average.
- Earnings below the annual ceiling in most years mean you contributed less than the maximum, even with a long record.
- Starting your pension before age 65 applies a permanent reduction of up to 36% that never reverses.
- Voluntary income tax withholding requested through your account reduces the net figure deposited to your bank.
- Years of self-employment with low reported net income produce smaller contributions than salaried work at similar gross revenue.
- Time spent contributing to the Quebec program is tracked separately, though both records are considered when you apply.
Your statement of contributions in My Service Canada Account shows the exact earnings record behind your calculation, and reviewing it early matters because corrections get harder as the relevant tax years recede.
Recipients who also draw a provincial disability or income support payment should check how the federal deposit is treated, because provincial program rules vary on how pension income affects monthly entitlement.
How the July Deposit Is Taxed
Retirement, disability, and survivor benefits are all taxable income that must be reported annually. Income tax is not withheld automatically from these payments unless you specifically request it.
Many recipients discover an unexpected balance owing at tax time because no tax was deducted during the year.
You can request voluntary withholding at any time through your account or by contacting Service Canada directly.
The children’s benefit is taxable in the hands of the child rather than the parent receiving it. The one-time death benefit is taxable to the estate or to the beneficiary if no estate return is filed.
Service Canada issues a T4A(P) slip each February summarizing the prior year’s total, and that slip is what the CRA matches against your return during the annual filing cycle.
5 Things To Verify Before Wednesday
A short review this weekend prevents most of the problems that delay a deposit.
- Confirm your direct deposit banking details are current, especially if you changed financial institutions this year.
- Verify your mailing address on file if you still receive payments by cheque rather than direct deposit.
- Check that your marital status is accurate, because it affects survivor and combined benefit calculations.
- Review your withholding election if last year’s tax bill came as an unwelcome surprise.
- Compare your December 2025 amount against any 2026 deposit to confirm the 2.0% indexation was applied correctly.
Closing a bank account before updating your details is the most common cause of a genuinely missing payment.
A deposit rejected by a closed account takes considerably longer to recover than the standard waiting period suggests.
What To Do If the Deposit Does Not Arrive
Direct deposits normally appear on the scheduled payment date, although the exact posting time varies by financial institution.
Cheque recipients should allow additional postal transit time beyond the issue date.
Service Canada asks recipients to wait five to ten business days past the scheduled date before reporting a payment missing.
- Confirm the date first, because a payment is not late until July 29 has actually passed.
- Check your account under both your name and any joint account holder before assuming non-payment.
- Log in online to confirm the payment was issued and to check the recorded deposit destination.
- Verify your banking details against what your financial institution currently has on file.
- Call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 once the waiting period has elapsed and your details check out.
- Record the reference number and agent name from every call in case a follow-up investigation becomes necessary.
An in-person office visit can resolve identity or banking verification faster than a phone queue during the high-volume periods that follow each deposit date.
Legitimate government correspondence never requests your banking password or Social Insurance Number by text message or email.
Suspicious messages referencing a pension deposit should be reported rather than clicked, and credentials should be changed immediately if they were entered.
Working While Collecting Your CPP
You do not need to stop working to receive your retirement pension. Employment income can continue alongside your monthly deposits without any reduction to the pension itself.
Working recipients younger than 65 must continue contributing, and so must their employers. Contributions are mandatory throughout that period and cannot be waived.
From age 65 until age 70, recipients can choose whether to keep contributing. Stopping requires filing Canada Revenue Agency form CPT30 and giving a copy to every employer.
Only one change to that election is permitted per calendar year. Contributions stop entirely at age 70, even if you remain employed.
Every year you do contribute generates a post-retirement benefit added to your pension the following January.
The maximum post-retirement benefit for someone aged 65 in 2026 is $54.69 per month. Electing to stop contributing at 65 means forgoing those additional lifetime increases.
Newcomers begin building this entitlement from their first paycheque above the annual exemption, which makes early payroll records worth keeping alongside residency and application milestones.
Anyone still working toward permanent residence should note that contributions accumulate on work authorization as well, independent of the policy shifts affecting status applications.
5 more deposits follow this week’s payment before the calendar year closes on December 22. Every one of those five will carry the same indexed amount that has applied since January.
The next change to your monthly figure arrives with the January 2027 deposit, once the indexation rate is confirmed later this year.
Reviewing your contribution statement now leaves time to correct earnings gaps before they harden.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When is the next CPP payment date in 2026?
The next Canada Pension Plan payment date is Wednesday, July 29, 2026. The deposit after that is Thursday, August 27, 2026, followed by Friday, September 25, 2026. The final payment of 2026 is Tuesday, December 22, which is advanced ahead of the holiday closures.
How much will CPP increase in January 2027?
The January 2027 indexation rate has not been announced and cannot be calculated yet. The rate depends on the average Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending October 2026, measured against the same window ending October 2025. Data through June 2026 is published, but the July through October 2026 readings are still outstanding. For reference, the January 2026 increase was 2.0% and the January 2025 increase was 2.7%.
Why did my CPP payment not increase in July 2026?
The Canada Pension Plan is indexed once per year in January, not quarterly. The 2.0% increase applied on January 28, 2026 carries through every deposit until the January 2027 adjustment. If your specific amount changed, the cause is usually individual, such as a withholding change or a new post-retirement benefit.
What is the maximum CPP payment for 2026?
The maximum monthly retirement pension for someone starting at age 65 in 2026 is $1,507.65. The maximum disability benefit is $1,741.20, and the maximum survivor’s pension for recipients 65 and older is $904.59. Reaching the retirement maximum requires roughly 39 years of contributions at or above the $74,600 earnings ceiling. The latest published average for new beneficiaries starting at age 65 is $877.01 per month, well below the maximum of $1,507.65.
Are CPP payment dates the same every year?
The calendar dates change annually, but the underlying rule stays consistent. Payments are generally issued near the third-last business day of each month, working around federal statutory holidays. December is advanced ahead of the holiday closures, which are December 22 in both 2025 and 2026. Because weekends and holidays shift each year, both the calendar date and the day of the week move.
Fact-Checked: All payment amounts, contribution rates, earnings ceilings, indexation figures, and 2026 payment dates in this article were verified against official Government of Canada sources, including the How much you could receive page, the disability benefit page, the CPP monthly payment amounts table, the Post-Retirement Benefit amount page, the federal benefits payment calendar, and Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index releases current to July 26, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Contact Service Canada or a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- 10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
New Ontario laws and rules taking effect in August 2026 are spread across the whole month rather than landing on a single date.
These new Ontario changes include new Ontario laws and new Ontario rules that roll out on different days.
Some arrive on August 1 and quietly reset costs that are paid every month without a second thought. Others wait until the final ten days and change what happens on the province’s busiest roads.
A few were written into by-laws years ago and only now reach the start date buried in the paperwork.
Several apply everywhere in the province. Others apply inside one city, and one applies to a single construction site.
One change being widely reported as a late-August item already took effect months ago, and this article explains why.
Here is every confirmed change, the exact date and time it begins, and a plain explanation of what each one actually does.
New Ontario Laws and Rules In August 2026
1. Student Aid Shifts From Grants To Loans
Ontario is restructuring the provincial portion of the Ontario Student Assistance Program, known as OSAP.
The change applies to study periods that begin on or after August 1, 2026.
Students can now receive a maximum of 25% of their provincial assistance as non-repayable grants.
At least 75% arrives as loans that must be repaid after graduation. Under the previous model, up to 85% of the provincial portion could come as grants.
Students at private career colleges no longer qualify for the Ontario Student Grant at all. Their entire provincial allocation is issued as a repayable loan.
Students at publicly assisted colleges and universities still receive both, with a far larger loan share.
The trigger is the start date of the study period, not the date the application was submitted. Roughly 470,000 Ontario students draw on OSAP in a given year.
What the new split looks like
Element Before August 1, 2026 From August 1, 2026 Maximum grant share of provincial aid Up to 85% 25% Minimum loan share of provincial aid 15% 75% Private career college students Eligible for the Ontario Student Grant Provincial aid issued entirely as loans Total provincial funding available Unchanged Unchanged in size, changed in composition Federal Canada Student Grant for full-time students Up to $525 per month of study Unchanged, and extended for 2026 to 2027 Domestic tuition at publicly assisted institutions Held at 2019 to 2020 levels Up to 2% annual increase from fall 2026 Provincial OSAP composition before and after the August 1, 2026 changeover. What this means in practice
Take a student assessed for $12,000 in provincial assistance. Under the previous maximum grant allocation, as much as $10,200 could have been issued as grants and $1,800 as loans.
For a study period beginning on or after August 1, no more than $3,000 can be issued as grants and at least $9,000 arrives as loans.
The restructuring changes the composition of provincial assistance rather than necessarily reducing the total a student is assessed to receive.
Very few students ever reached the old 85% ceiling, so the real-world swing is usually smaller than that example suggests.
A separate change lands alongside it in the fall.
Publicly assisted colleges and universities may raise domestic tuition by up to 2% a year for three years starting in fall 2026.
That ends a freeze that had held domestic tuition at 2019 to 2020 levels.
After the three years, increases are capped at 2% or the three-year average inflation rate, whichever is lower.
The federal side of the package is unaffected by any of this. The Canada Student Grant for full-time students pays up to $525 for each month of study.
That works out to roughly $4,200 across a standard eight-month academic year.
Ontario lists the ceiling as $6,300 per academic year, which is what a full twelve-month study period can reach.
Ottawa extended the enhanced federal grant rate into the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
CBC tested Ontario’s own updated OSAP calculator using a first-year dependent student living at home.
For 2025 to 2026, the estimate was $9,100 in total, split as $3,100 in grants and $6,000 in loans.
For 2026 to 2027, the estimate rose to $9,500 in total but was split as $2,300 in grants and $7,200 in loans.
The total went up while the grant portion fell by roughly $800. The restructured provincial funding rules are set out in Ontario Regulation 82/26.
2. Three Seniors’ Health Programs Reset
Ontario runs its main seniors’ drug and dental programs on a year that starts on August 1, not January 1.
That makes August 1 the single busiest date on the calendar for seniors’ health costs. Three separate things happen at once this year.
The Ontario Drug Benefit year restarts
The Ontario Drug Benefit program year runs from August 1 to July 31. On August 1, 2026, the annual deductible resets to zero for every senior who pays one.
Seniors above the income thresholds pay the first $100 of their total prescription costs each program year. Once that $100 is used up, they pay up to $6.11 for each prescription filled or refilled.
The co-payment is charged per prescription rather than per drug. The program covers most of the cost of more than 5,900 medications listed on the provincial formulary.
Almost 1,500 additional products are reachable through the Exceptional Access Program. Seniors who turn 65 partway through the year have the deductible prorated to July 31.
Seniors’ Co-Payment Program income limits rise
The income thresholds for the Seniors Co-Payment Program increase for the year beginning August 1, 2026.
Household type Previous limit From August 1, 2026 Increase Single senior, annual net income $25,000 $25,480 $480 Senior couple, combined annual net income $41,500 $42,290 $790 Seniors Co-Payment Program income eligibility thresholds for the 2026 to 2027 program year. Qualifying seniors have the $100 annual deductible waived entirely. Their co-payment falls to a maximum of $2 per prescription.
The province estimates the average saving at roughly $130 a year. The figure used is net income, reported on line 23600 of the federal return.
From this program year onward, Ontario reviews the thresholds annually against the Ontario Consumer Price Index.
Any update is posted each May, about three months before the new program year begins.
Applications assessed under the higher limits opened in May 2026, three months before the program year begins.
Applications can be filed at any point in the program year and up to two months after it ends, meaning by September 30.
Prescription receipts for reimbursement must reach the program by October 31.
Seniors whose income is verified directly with the Canada Revenue Agency do not need to reapply each year.
Recipients of the Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works already have the $2 co-payment automatically.
The same applies to long-term care residents and people receiving professional home and community care services.
Those groups do not need to apply to the Seniors Co-Payment Program at all. Current deductible and co-payment rules are published on Ontario’s seniors drug benefit page.
Seniors Dental Care Program adopts the same limits
The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program moves to identical income limits on August 1, 2026. Single seniors qualify with an annual income of $25,480 or less.
Senior couples qualify with a combined annual income of $42,290 or less. The previous limits were $25,000 and $41,500.
The program provides free routine dental care for eligible residents aged 65 and older.
- Examinations and cleaning
- X-rays
- Fillings
- Extractions
- Treatment for infection or pain
Ontario began accepting applications under the new limits on July 1, 2026. The new eligibility period itself begins on August 1.
What this means in practice:
A single senior with net income of $25,300 was above the old cut-off and below the new one.
From August 1, that senior can have the $100 deductible waived and pay $2 a prescription instead of up to $6.11.
The same income now also opens the door to publicly funded routine dental care. Neither benefit is automatic. Both require an application.
3. Speed Limits Rise To 110 km/h In Two Phases
Ontario is permanently raising the posted limit from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on more of its highway network.
The August increases arrive as two separately dated phases rather than one event. This round converts 938 kilometres of provincial highway in total.
Rollout dates run June 26, July 31, August 21, August 31, and September 30, 2026. By October, close to 90% of Ontario’s highway network is expected to be posted at 110 km/h.
Effective date Highway section August 21, 2026 Highway 7 from Appleton Side Road or County Road 17 to Highway 417 August 21, 2026 Highway 115 from Highway 35 to the Parkway Interchange August 21, 2026 Highway 400 from Highway 401 to Lake Joseph Road August 21, 2026 Highway 416 from about 1.5 kilometres south of the Highway 416 and 417 interchange to Fallowfield Road or County Road 12 August 21, 2026 Highway 417 from Leitrim Road to Ottawa Regional Road 174 August 21, 2026 Highway 417 from the Highway 416 and 417 interchange to Highway 7 August 31, 2026 Highway 401 from Merlin Road to Highway 427 August 31, 2026 Highway 401 from Highway 404 to Highway 35 and Highway 115 August 31, 2026 Highway 401 from Cobourg to Colborne August 31, 2026 Highway 401 from Sidney Street to the Canadian National Railway overhead bridge in Belleville August 31, 2026 Highway 401 from County Road 38 to Highway 15 August 31, 2026 Highway 403 from Highway 401 to Middletown Line The 12 highway sections converting to 110 km/h during August 2026, split across two phases. Increases are applied only where highways were engineered to accommodate the higher speed.
Newly built freeways, including Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, are being designed at 110 km/h from the outset.
The province says drivers between Sarnia and Toronto will save roughly 20 minutes. Trips between Toronto and Ottawa are expected to save close to 30 minutes.
The full provincial schedule is listed in the Ontario government’s speed limit announcement.
What this means in practice: A higher posted limit changes the number on the sign and nothing else. Driving above the posted limit still draws fines and demerit points.
Driving at 150 km/h or more can still bring stunt-driving charges, whether the posted limit is 100 or 110 km/h.
Raising a section to 110 km/h does not lift that absolute threshold, because 150 km/h is an offence on its own.
Because each section changes on its own date, two adjacent stretches can carry different limits on the same day.
4. Ontario’s Municipal Election Clock Runs Out
Ontario holds its municipal and school board elections on October 26, 2026. Four statutory deadlines under that framework fall inside the last eleven days of August.
These are not newly enacted laws, but they are hard legal cut-offs that apply across the province.
Date and time What happens August 21, 2 p.m. Nomination filing closes province-wide. Candidates can no longer file, change the office they are seeking, or withdraw after this moment. August 24, 4 p.m. Municipal clerks must certify or reject every nomination filed. Where certified candidates do not exceed available positions, qualifying candidates can be declared elected by acclamation. Voting proxy appointments generally begin after certification. August 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional nominations must be accepted for any position that drew no candidate, or that remains vacant after acclamations. August 27, 4 p.m. Clerks must certify or reject any additional nominations filed on August 26. The four province-wide municipal election deadlines falling in August 2026. Nomination procedures are set out in Ontario’s 2026 candidates’ guide for municipal and school board elections.
Ottawa layers its own restriction on August 27
Ottawa’s election-related blackout period begins on August 27 and continues through voting day. It restricts how sitting councillors seeking re-election may use municipal resources.
- Publicising councillors’ attendance at City events
- City-supported sponsorships and donations
- Election-related use of municipal communications channels
- Promotional appearances and other advantages drawn from City resources
The restrictions generally do not apply to councillors who are acclaimed or who are retiring.
5. Toronto’s Accommodation Tax Drops Back To 6% On August 1
Toronto temporarily raised its Municipal Accommodation Tax from 6% to 8.5% on June 1, 2025.
The increase was made under Bylaw 1259-2024 to help fund costs tied to hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
The temporary rate applies to stays occurring through July 31, 2026. From August 1 the permanent 6% rate resumes.
The tax applies to the room portion of qualifying short-stay accommodation. Separately itemized food, telephone, internet and meeting-room charges are generally excluded.
The accommodation tax is itself subject to 13% HST.
Item Through July 31, 2026 From August 1, 2026 Municipal Accommodation Tax rate 8.5% 6% Accommodation tax on a $300 room, before HST $25.50 $18.00 13% HST charged on that accommodation tax $3.32 $2.34 13% HST charged on the $300 room itself $39.00 $39.00 Total tax on a $300 nightly room about $67.82 about $59.34 Effective combined tax rate on the room charge about 22.61% about 19.78% Toronto accommodation tax before and after the August 1, 2026 reversion, with 13% HST applied to both the room charge and the accommodation tax itself. A simple addition of 8.5% and 13% understates the real total. That is because the accommodation tax is itself taxable, so HST is charged on top of it.
The reversion saves roughly $8.48 a night on a $300 room, or about $33.90 across a four-night stay. Rate details and exemptions are maintained on the City of Toronto accommodation tax page.
6. Growth Fees Re-Indexing In Peel Region
The Peel Region re-indexes its development charges every February 1 and August 1. Caledon and Brampton re-index their own local charges on the same two dates.
The regional schedule currently in force runs from February 1 through July 31, 2026. A replacement schedule therefore takes effect on August 1.
Indexing follows the Statistics Canada Quarterly Non-Residential Building Construction Price Index, as prescribed by the Development Charges Act.
The adjustment applies to qualifying development in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon. Education development charges are re-indexed separately each July 1 and are not part of the August change.
The projected August dollar amounts
Peel had not published its August schedule when this article was prepared. The index that governs the adjustment rose 0.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 0.5% again in the first quarter of 2026.
Compounded, that is a movement of about 1.0% since the reading behind the February schedule. Applying that movement to the current regional rates produces the projections below.
Regional development charge February 1 to July 31, 2026 Projected from August 1, 2026 Projected increase Single, semi-detached or duplex dwelling $78,335.27 about $79,120 about $785 Apartment larger than 750 square feet $56,822.01 about $57,392 about $570 Apartment of 750 square feet or less $30,051.59 about $30,353 about $301 Other residential dwellings $62,041.90 about $62,664 about $622 Non-residential, industrial, per square metre $240.08 about $242.49 about $2.41 Non-residential, other, per square metre $314.05 about $317.20 about $3.15 Peel Region regional development charges. August figures are Immigration News Canada projections calculated from published Statistics Canada index movements, not official Peel Region rates. Recent actual adjustments were larger than this projection. The regional single, semi-detached, and duplex rate rose 2.01% on August 1, 2025, and 2.25% on February 1, 2026.
Construction cost growth has since slowed, which is why the August adjustment is expected to be smaller. Peel publishes its schedule on the Peel Region development charges page once the rates are set.
The 50% grant still changes the real bill
Peel Region continues to offer a grant equal to 50% of regional development charges on eligible residential development.
That grant terminates on November 13, 2026, so it remains available throughout August. Eligible applicants would therefore pay roughly half the indexed regional amount.
Certain units in new rental housing developments can qualify for grants of up to 100%. The grant is not applied automatically and must be arranged with the Region for each application.
Since November 3, 2025, development charges on non-rental residential development are payable at occupancy rather than permit issuance.
Education development charges remain payable at building permit issuance.
Mississauga’s parkland cap rises on the same day
Mississauga’s cash-in-lieu of parkland capped rate rises from $30,553 to $31,775 per dwelling unit on August 1, 2026.
That is an increase of $1,222 per unit, or about 4.0%. The step was written into the Parkland Conveyance By-law that Council approved on June 22, 2022.
The next scheduled step lifts the cap to $33,046 on February 1, 2027. Cash-in-lieu must be paid before a building permit is issued.
7. Ottawa’s 50-Metre Safe Access Zones Begins
The Ottawa Council passed the Safe Access By-law on April 22, 2026, by a vote of 20 to 4.
It takes effect on August 1 after a three-month implementation and education period. Eligible facilities can apply for a 50-meter safe access zone around their access points.
- Places of worship
- Schools
- Child care centres
- Hospitals and community health centres
- Residential care facilities, including long-term care homes
Zones are not applied automatically to every eligible facility. A facility must apply and identify concerns about blocked or unsafe access near its entrances.
There is no application fee. Within an approved zone, several activities become offences.
- Obstructing or hindering entry to or exit from the facility
- Participating in covered demonstrations or protests
- Counselling someone not to use the facility
- Discharging fireworks or pyrotechnics
- Intentionally making noise to disturb people using the facility
Restrictions normally run from one hour before a facility opens until one hour after it closes. Residential care facilities that request designation can receive 24-hour protection.
Designations last up to one year and facilities can reapply if concerns persist. City-provided signage marks where and when a zone is in effect.
Lawful labour protests, strikes and pickets are exempt from the bylaw. The bylaw does not restrict demonstrations at Parliament, City Hall, embassies or courthouses.
Fines range from $150 to $500 depending on the severity of the offence. Enforcement is led by the Ottawa Police Service with support from City bylaw officers.
The City has said it will rely on notices and education before taking enforcement action. Background documents sit on the City of Ottawa’s completed bylaw review page.
8. A New Controlled Acts Standard Applies To Ontario Physiotherapists
A new Controlled Acts Standard takes effect on August 1, 2026. It replaces the existing Controlled Acts and Restricted Activities Standard.
It applies to every Ontario physiotherapist and physiotherapist resident.
- Confirm they have legal authority to perform the controlled act
- Perform only controlled acts for which they are competent and properly trained
- Appear on the appropriate College roster where that is required
- Keep patients informed and obtain the required consent
- Ensure controlled acts remain within the scope of physiotherapy
- Prepare for and appropriately manage possible adverse events and complications
- Meet applicable delegation, documentation and patient safety requirements
This is a professional regulatory standard rather than a general law imposed on residents. It nonetheless governs how physiotherapy care is delivered across the province.
9. Electricity Distributors Face New Data-Sharing Duties
Amendments to the Ontario Energy Board’s Distribution System Code take effect on August 1, 2026.
Licensed electricity distributors must supply the Independent Electricity System Operator with information on request.
The information concerns distributed energy resources connected to their distribution systems.
- Solar installations
- Battery storage systems
- Small electricity generators
- Other locally connected energy resources
Connection agreement templates are also being updated so customers understand the data-sharing obligations.
The amendment does not establish a new residential electricity rate. It is a planning and information-sharing requirement for utilities and connected-resource operators.
10. Waste Transportation Businesses Hit A Transition Deadline
Waste transportation businesses registered in Ontario’s Environmental Activity and Sector Registry before August 1, 2025 face a deadline.
They must complete their transition by August 1, 2026.
- Update their existing registry information
- Implement the activity requirements under Ontario Regulation 119/25
- Comply with vehicle, insurance, training, documentation, spill prevention and recordkeeping rules
- Update registrations even where the types of waste transported have not changed
Different timelines apply to operators currently working under an Environmental Compliance Approval. Their broader registration deadline can extend as far as August 1, 2028.
11. Ministries Will Report Service Performance Half As Often
From August 1, 2026, provincial ministries will move from quarterly to twice-yearly reporting on service standards.
The reports cover whether ministries meet published standards for certain business permits, licences and services.
Until July 31, reports are due in January, April, July and October. From August 1, only the January and July reports are required.
This is an administrative transparency change rather than a new obligation on residents or businesses. Its practical effect is that ministry performance results reach the public half as often.
12. Transit Schedules Shift In Brampton And Greater Sudbury
Two transit systems reorganize service during August. These are service changes rather than new municipal laws.
Brampton Transit, August 4
- 511 Züm Steeles
- 3 and 3A McLaughlin
- 5 and 5A Bovaird
- 15 and 15A Bramalea
- 26 Mount Pleasant
- 27 Robert Parkinson
- 29 and 29A Williams
- 35 Clarkway
- New Route 302 Deerhurst employment shuttle
Greater Sudbury GOVA, around August 22
- Route 4 Laurentian University via Paris resumes after its seasonal suspension
- Updated maps take effect for Route 2 Barry Downe and Cambrian
- Updated maps take effect for Route 11, Donovan, and Collège Boréal
- Route 10 summer service to Moonlight Beach ends after August 21
13. Two Niagara Falls Property Tax Relief Windows Open
Niagara Falls opens two separate relief programs in the first week of August.
Tax deferral applications open August 1
The program is aimed at qualifying low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
- Defer up to $500 in current property taxes each year
- Participate for up to ten years
- Accumulate a maximum deferral of $5,000
The deferred amount generally becomes payable when the property is sold or ownership is transferred. Applications are accepted from August 1 through October 31 and must be renewed annually.
Penalty and interest credit applications open August 4
Qualifying owners can apply for a credit equal to 50% of eligible property tax penalty and interest charges.
- The full outstanding tax balance must be paid first
- Eligible charges must have been imposed from January 1, 2026, until the account is paid, and no later than December 31, 2027
- The credit is applied against a future property tax installment
- Cash refunds are not issued
- Only one credit is available per property
Applications for the credit remain open until February 29, 2028.
14. Central Huron Water And Sewer Rates Rise
New water and sewer rates take effect in Central Huron on August 1, 2026.
- Water fees rise by 6%.
- Sewer fees rise by 10%.
The municipality says the increases are needed to maintain operations and rebuild reserves under its updated financial plan.
15. Owen Sound’s New Procurement Policy Starts
Owen Sound’s new procurement policy comes into effect on August 1, 2026. It replaces the City’s previous purchasing framework.
It governs how the municipality obtains goods, services and construction work. The policy primarily affects City departments, contractors, suppliers and businesses bidding for municipal work.
Direct impact on ordinary residents is limited, but it is a genuine new municipal governance rule.
August 2026 is less a single reform than a pile-up of scheduled dates that happen to share one month.
The changes that will follow people the longest are the ones that alter a repayment obligation or reset an annual deductible.
Almost everything else on this list is a local fee, a professional standard or a procedural deadline with a hard cut-off time.
Anyone affected by a specific item should confirm the current figure with the responsible ministry or municipality before acting on it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I start a program in July 2026. Does the new grant cap hit my January 2027 semester?
It depends on how OSAP has defined and assessed your study period, which is not always the same thing as a semester. The new provincial funding rules apply to a period of study beginning on or after August 1, 2026. A study period that officially began before August 1 may stay under the earlier rules for its full length. A separately assessed study period beginning in January 2027 would fall under the new structure. A new academic term does not automatically create a new study period, so check the dates printed on your assessment rather than assuming.
I’m attending a private career college. Do I still get OSAP grants after August 1, 2026?
No, for study periods that begin on or after August 1, 2026, private career college students no longer receive the Ontario Student Grant; their provincial aid is issued entirely as loans. Publicly assisted college and university students will still receive a mix of grants and loans, but with a much larger loan share (maximum 25% grant, at least 75% loan). The total provincial funding envelope is unchanged in size—what’s changing is the composition. The trigger is the official start date of your study period, not when you applied. The federal Canada Student Grant (up to $525 per month of study) is unaffected and remains in place for 2026–27.
Can I be ticketed at 105 km/h on a stretch that converts partway through August?
Yes, if the signs on that section still read 100 km/h at the moment you are stopped. Ontario enforces the posted limit on the physical signage, not the date an increase was announced. Because each section converts on its own scheduled day, adjacent stretches can legally carry different limits simultaneously. The safest assumption on a long drive in late August is that the limit is whatever the last sign you passed displayed.
My hotel already charged me 8.5% on a prepaid August stay. Can that be corrected?
Generally yes, because Toronto applies the rate to the nights of the stay rather than the date of booking or payment. Nights falling on or after August 1, 2026, attract 6%, even where the reservation and prepayment happened earlier. Guests who see 8.5% itemized on an August folio can ask the operator to reconcile the difference. Platforms that collect the tax automatically usually adjust it, but hosts who bill directly may not have updated their templates.
Does the Peel 50% development charge grant survive past November 13, 2026?
No, Regional Council resolutions set November 13, 2026, as the termination date for the grant-in-lieu program. Applications must be complete and submitted to the region since the reduction is not applied automatically to any project. Because non-rental residential charges are now payable at occupancy, timing decisions made in August can determine whether a project catches the grant at all. Anyone relying on it should confirm program status with the Region rather than assuming an extension.
Do Ottawa’s safe access zones apply to sidewalks and streets, or only private property?
The zone is measured 50 meters from a designated facility’s access points, which means it can extend across adjacent public space. That is precisely why the council set a request-based, time-limited framework with signage and a Charter analysis behind it. Zones expire after one year unless renewed, so a designation in place in August will not automatically continue indefinitely. Residents unsure whether a specific location is covered should look for the City-installed signage, which is the operative marker.
Fact-Checked: The contents of this article have been fact-checked against Ontario e-Laws, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Health guide 3233-87E revised May 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada, Ontario Regulation 455/07, Statistics Canada Table 18-10-0289-01, the Ontario Energy Board, the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, and the official pages of Toronto, Ottawa, Peel Region, Mississauga, Caledon, Brampton, Niagara Falls, Waterloo, Owen Sound, Central Huron and Greater Sudbury, as of July 25, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is general information rather than legal, tax or financial advice, and the August Peel Region figures are Immigration News Canada projections rather than official published rates.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- New Canada Travel Advisory For The United States Now In Effect
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Canada’s travel advisory for the U.S. now features an alert about cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora. U.S. officials are investigating cases partly linked to recalled iceberg lettuce.
The Government of Canada updated its official U.S. travel advice on July 20 with a notice about a spreading parasite.
The update has drawn attention from cross-border travellers and people searching for a canada travel warning, but officials have not advised travellers to avoid the United States or Canada because of the outbreak.
6 Canadian provinces and territories have already counted cases of their own, and one of those numbers has more than tripled.
Canada’s U.S. destination travel advisory page continues to list the overall risk level as “Take normal security precautions.”
Table of Contents
What Ottawa Added To The Advisory
The Government of Canada’s travel advice for the United States includes an “Outbreak Monitoring” section on cyclosporiasis.
The notice says U.S. state and federal partners are investigating several outbreaks and warns that people can become infected by eating food or drinking water containing Cyclospora.
It also notes that the illness is unlikely to spread directly from person to person. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora.
People become infected by eating food or drinking water that contains the parasite. Watery diarrhea is the most common symptom, with most people ill for 6 to 7 weeks.
For travellers trying to understand the canada travel advisory lettuce parasite update, the key point is that this is a health advisory within Canada’s U.S. travel page, not a border closure or an instruction to cancel trips.
The page advises travellers to reduce risk by washing fresh produce, recognizing that disinfectants and produce washes may not fully remove Cyclospora, and by cooking produce when traveling in states experiencing an outbreak
The overall risk level for the United States did not change and remains at the lowest of four tiers.
The Part The Advisory Leaves Out
The notice describes the illness but says nothing about what is driving the largest cluster.
On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market.
The recalled product had been distributed to 27 states between June 29 and July 16.
Federal investigators had traced a five-state outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some restaurant locations.
Three days before that recall, U.S. health authorities issued a formal alert to clinicians nationwide.
Neither the recall nor that alert appears anywhere in the Canadian advisory text.
How Fast This Escalated
Date Events July 14 CDC issues national health advisory July 17 Lettuce recalled across 27 states July 20 Canada updates its U.S. advisory July 23 FDA flags a second, separate outbreak The Numbers Doubled In One Week
CDC surveillance data covering May 1 to July 20, 2026, records 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases.
Those confirmed cases include 308 hospitalizations across 41 states, with no deaths reported.
The agency is aware of more than 7,400 further cases that are not yet laboratory confirmed.
Taken together that is roughly 11,500 confirmed and suspected infections since the season opened.
Many of the unconfirmed reports have come from Michigan and Ohio.
One week earlier the confirmed count stood at 1,645 across 34 states, so the total has more than doubled.
CDC Reporting Point Confirmed Cases States Hospitalizations Deaths As of July 13 1,645 34 141 0 May 1 to July 20 4,173 41 308 0 Travel-associated cases, same period 767 Not stated 33 0 Confirmed patients range in age from 2 to 95 years, with a median age of 44.
Women account for 56% of confirmed infections, and the median illness onset date was June 26.
The CDC assumes a 6-week lag between illness onset and a case being reported nationally.
That lag means the current totals are almost certainly incomplete and will keep climbing.
State figures run well ahead of the federal count because states also include probable cases.
Michigan has reported 7,664 cases and 160 hospitalizations, making it the hardest hit state by a wide margin.
Ohio has passed 1,270 cases, Indiana is approaching 600, and four other states have cleared 200.
For scale, the previous annual record in CDC data was 1,367 cases in 2018.
All of 2025 produced roughly 2,700 cases, a figure this season passed before the end of July.
Why Washing Your Salad Will Not Save You
This is the detail that separates Cyclospora from most foodborne risks people already know.
A food microbiology researcher at the University of Alberta says washing does not safely remove the parasite.
It can reduce the count but does not eliminate the risk, because the parasite adheres strongly to the plant surface.
Federal guidance likewise warns that disinfectants and produce washes may not completely remove it.
Heating food to 70 degrees Celsius or higher does kill the parasite.
Contamination usually happens long before the produce reaches a kitchen.
Michigan health officials have published item-specific guidance for the produce most often implicated.
- Buy whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-washed bagged salad, discard the outer 2 to 3 layers, and then wash the inner leaves.
- Wash cilantro and basil thoroughly under running water, separating the leaves.
- Trim and remove the outer layer of green onions before washing.
- Treat raspberries as the hardest item to clean because the parasite hides in the bumpy surface.
- Wash snow peas under running water while rubbing the surface.
Cooking remains the safest option for every item on that list.
Which Products Were Recalled
The CDC investigation update traced illnesses to shredded iceberg lettuce from a single supplier in Mexico.
Investigators in Michigan analyzed food exposure details from 190 people who ate at the chain.
Ingredient-level analysis showed 90% of those interviewed reported eating iceberg lettuce.
- Marketside brand Iceberg Salad in 12-ounce and 24-ounce packages, sold at select Walmart stores.
- Marketside brand Shredded Lettuce in 8-ounce and 16-ounce packages.
- Best if Used By dates running from July 18, 2026, through August 3, 2026.
- Shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to restaurant locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
- Additional food service products sent to major distributors and other restaurant chains.
The company says the recall has been completed and the products removed from the marketplace.
It also says it is no longer sourcing iceberg lettuce from central Mexico for the remainder of the growing season.
U.S. regulators describe their own investigation as ongoing and have increased screening at the border.
On July 23 they identified a further outbreak of 72 cases with no product yet named.
Where Canada Actually Stands
The Public Health Agency of Canada says no Canadian outbreak is currently under investigation.
Provincial and territorial authorities have still confirmed cases in six jurisdictions this year.
None of those cases has been tied to the American outbreak.
Jurisdiction Cases Reported This Year Link To U.S. Outbreak Quebec 107 as of July 11, against 30 in the same period last year Fewer than 5 reported any U.S. travel British Columbia 93 reported this year No case linked to a specific product Alberta Seven confirmed as of July 17 6 of the 7 involved travel to Mexico Nunavut Five laboratory-confirmed No evidence of a link Ontario Two reported to Public Health Ontario in March No link identified Manitoba One case currently under investigation No link confirmed N.W.T., N.S., N.B., P.E.I. No cases reported this year Not applicable The Mexico Connection Nobody Is Highlighting
The Canadian cases share a pattern that separates them cleanly from the American outbreak.
Alberta officials say 6 of the province’s 7 cases involved recent travel to Mexico, and none involved travel to the United States.
Quebec’s health ministry says the majority of its cases are linked to exposure during travel, mainly to Mexico.
Fewer than 5 Quebec patients have reported any travel to the United States at all.
Alberta investigators have not identified a common food source or food establishment behind its cases.
An Alberta infectious diseases specialist has pointed to an unusually stormy season in Mexico as a plausible factor.
Heavy storms can wash human sanitation into agricultural water, which is how this parasite reaches crops.
That reading suggests a wider regional problem rather than one contaminated shipment.
It also means the practical risk for a Canadian traveller may run through Mexico as much as the United States.
Alberta recorded between 0 and 11 cases in a full year across 2020 to 2024.
Canada averaged 238 reported cases annually between 2004 and 2019.
What Canada’s Food Regulator Says
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says there is no evidence the implicated products were distributed in Canada.
It has also confirmed it is not considering restrictions on fresh produce imports from the United States.
The agency says it will issue a recall online if affected products are identified here.
During higher-risk periods in spring and summer, it applies enhanced oversight measures.
- Targeted import controls on higher-risk produce.
- Additional import requirements where the agency considers them appropriate.
- Increased sampling and testing activity.
The trade context explains why a blanket restriction is not a simple option.
Canada imported $5.5 billion in fresh produce from the United States in 2024, close to half of all fresh produce imports.
Lettuce is the single largest U.S. produce commodity shipped into Canada, with strawberries second.
Canadians can monitor active warnings the same way they would track any federal food recall.
Signing up for agency email alerts is the fastest route, as it was during recent retailer recalls.
Symptoms And The Testing Trap
Symptoms usually begin about a week after exposure, with a reported range of roughly two days to two weeks.
- Watery diarrhea, often frequent, which is the hallmark symptom.
- Abdominal bloating and increased gas.
- Stomach cramps and loss of appetite.
- Weight loss and fatigue.
- Nausea and, less commonly, mild fever or vomiting.
Untreated illness can follow a relapsing course lasting from a few days to a month or longer.
Symptoms can appear to resolve and then return, which leads many people to delay seeking care.
What To Tell A Doctor After Travelling Say this first Mention recent travel and any restaurant or packaged salad meals eaten Ask specifically Request Cyclospora testing on a stool sample by name Why it matters Routine ova and parasite examinations might not reliably detect the parasite Better option Molecular PCR-based testing improves detection where it is available Standard treatment A 7 to 10 day course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for most adults and children The CDC health advisory issued July 14 told clinicians to consider the illness even without any international travel history.
The same logic applies in reverse for anyone who ate abroad and fell ill after returning home.
What This Means Before Your Next Trip
- Avoid recalled iceberg lettuce products and ask restaurants about the source if you are unsure.
- Treat leafy greens, fresh herbs, and berries as the higher-risk items during the summer season.
- Remember that pre-washed and ready-to-eat labels do not remove this particular risk.
- Apply the same caution to travel in Mexico, where most Canadian cases this year have originated.
- See a clinician if watery diarrhea lasts more than a few days rather than waiting it out.
- Carry travel health insurance that covers medical treatment, since U.S. care is billed to visitors.
Canada applies the same principle in reverse by requiring visitors on some streams to hold medical coverage for their whole stay.
The investigations remain active, and U.S. agencies have warned that case counts may rise as additional reports are confirmed.
For now, the strongest official advice is to not eat recalled iceberg lettuce, to ask about lettuce sources at restaurants and to seek medical care for prolonged or severe watery diarrhea.
Travellers do not need to panic, but they should treat the advisory as a reminder that foodborne outbreaks can affect trip planning just as much as weather, transportation or border delays.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Canada’s updated advisory mean I should avoid or cancel travel to the United States?
No, Canada’s U.S. travel advisory still lists the overall risk as “Take normal security precautions.” The update adds a health notice about cyclosporiasis and advises caution with fresh produce; it is not a border restriction or a directive to cancel trips. Avoid recalled iceberg lettuce, ask restaurants about lettuce sources, and seek medical care for prolonged watery diarrhea.
Which lettuce products were recalled and where were they distributed?
Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17, 2026. Key details:
Marketside Iceberg Salad (12 oz, 24 oz) and Marketside Shredded Lettuce (8 oz, 16 oz) with Best if Used By dates July 18–August 3, 2026.
Distributed to 27 U.S. states between June 29 and July 16.
Shredded iceberg supplied to restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia; additional food-service products went to major distributors and other chains.
The company says the recall is complete and it has stopped sourcing iceberg from central Mexico for the season. U.S. regulators also flagged a separate outbreak on July 23 with no product yet identified.If washing doesn’t reliably remove Cyclospora, how can I lower my risk?
Cooking is the most reliable control—heating to 70°C (158°F) kills the parasite. To reduce (not eliminate) risk with raw produce:
Buy whole heads of lettuce; discard the outer 2–3 layers and wash inner leaves.
Wash cilantro and basil thoroughly under running water; separate leaves.
Trim and remove the outer layer of green onions before washing.
Treat raspberries as hardest to clean (parasite can hide in the bumpy surface).
Wash snow peas under running water while rubbing the surface.
Remember: pre-washed/ready-to-eat labels and produce washes may not fully remove Cyclospora.How big is the U.S. outbreak and why do the numbers keep rising?
As of CDC data for May 1–July 20, 2026: 4,173 lab-confirmed cases, 308 hospitalizations, zero deaths across 41 states, plus over 7,400 additional unconfirmed reports (about 11,500 combined). The confirmed count more than doubled in a week (from 1,645 on July 13). A typical six-week reporting lag means current totals are incomplete. Some states report much higher numbers because they include probable cases (e.g., Michigan 7,664; Ohio >1,270; Indiana ~600). The FDA also noted a second, separate outbreak on July 23.
Are Canadian cases linked to the U.S. lettuce outbreak, and is lettuce in Canada affected?
There is no current link and the Public Health Agency of Canada is not investigating a domestic outbreak, and none of the cases reported in six provinces/territories has been tied to the U.S. event. Many Canadian cases this year are associated with travel to Mexico (e.g., 6 of Alberta’s 7 cases; most in Quebec linked to travel, mainly to Mexico). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says there’s no evidence the implicated U.S. products were distributed in Canada; no import restrictions are planned, but the agency will post a recall if that changes. You can monitor active recalls on the federal site or via email alerts.
Fact-Checked: All case counts, dates, hospitalization figures, recalled product descriptions, and agency statements were verified against primary sources as of July 23, 2026. U.S. national figures of 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases, 308 hospitalizations, 41 states and zero deaths come from CDC cyclosporiasis surveillance data covering May 1 to July 20, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Anyone experiencing prolonged or severe symptoms should contact a licensed healthcare provider. Case counts change frequently and should be verified against the official agency pages linked above.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- Latest IRCC Processing Times As Of July 2026
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its latest processing time data on July 22, 2026, and this update is dominated by a continuing surge in citizenship certificate backlogs alongside meaningful improvement in several permanent residency streams.
Citizenship certificate processing has now reached 19 months, with an additional 17,500 applicants joining the queue since the last reporting cycle.
That makes it the third consecutive month of sharp increases in this category after the figure sat at just three months as recently as March 2026.
On the positive side, citizenship grant timelines improved for the first time in several months, dropping to 12 months as the queue contracted slightly by 200 applicants.
Parents and grandparents sponsorship outside Quebec delivered the strongest family class improvement at 30 months, two months faster than the June update.
The Canadian Experience Class dropped to six months; non-Express Entry PNP fell to 12 months; and inland work permits continued their dramatic decline, reaching 129 days.
IRCC calculates these timelines using actual applicant outcomes, reporting the window within which 80% of applicants received a decision.
Monthly categories like citizenship, permanent residency, and family sponsorship were refreshed on July 7.
Weekly categories like visitor visas, study permits, work permits, and PR cards were last updated on July 22.
Temporary residence processing times are updated by the IRCC on a weekly basis, so check back regularly, as we will update this article with the latest weekly data as it becomes available.
The July data arrives alongside a continued Express Entry draw cluster that began on July 6 with a PNP round and continued on July 7 with a CEC draw issuing 2,000 invitations.
Applicants who submit incomplete documentation remain one of the leading refusal reasons across all IRCC categories, making thorough preparation essential during these processing windows.
Below is a full breakdown of every processing time in the July 2026 release.
Table of Contents
Citizenship Processing Times (Updated monthly)
Application Type People Waiting (Change) Processing Time (July 7, 2026) Change Since June 2, 2026 Change Since May 12, 2026 Change Since April 7, 2026 Citizenship grant ~326,200 (-200) 12 months -1 month -1 month No change Citizenship certificate* ~99,500 (+17,500) 19 months +4 months +7 months +6 months Resumption of citizenship Not available Not enough data No change No change No change Renunciation of citizenship Not available 7 months No change No change -3 months Search of citizenship records Not available 17 months No change No change No change IRCC is currently sending acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) notices for citizenship applications that were submitted on or around March 19, 2026.
* Applicants residing outside Canada or the United States may face longer processing windows.
Permanent Resident Card Processing Times (Updated weekly)
Application Type Processing Time (July 22, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since March 31 Change Since January 21 New PR card 41 days +2 days -10 days -21 days PR card renewal 40 days +3 days +13 days +9 days Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated monthly)
Category People Waiting (Change) Processing Time (July 7, 2026) Change Since June 2, 2026 Change Since May 12, 2026 Change Since April 7, 2026 Spouse/common-law outside Canada (non-Quebec) ~54,100 (+2,800) 17 months +1 month +1 month +2 months Spouse/common-law outside Canada (Quebec) ~18,600 (No change) 33 months No change +1 month +1 month, but -2 months since March 2026 Spouse/common-law inside Canada (non-Quebec) ~56,900 (+1,700) 27 months +1 month +2 months +3 months Spouse/common-law inside Canada (Quebec) ~13,700 (+600) 32 months No change +1 month +1 month Parents/grandparents (non-Quebec) ~40,400 (-3,100) 30 months -2 months -3 months -4 months Parents/grandparents (Quebec) ~10,500 (-500) 65 months -2 months -1 month -2 months Humanitarian and Compassionate And Protected Persons (Updated monthly)
Category People Waiting (Change) Processing Time (July 7, 2026) Change Since June 2, 2026 Change Since May 12, 2026 Change Since April 7, 2026 H&C outside Quebec ~54,500 (+1,500) More than 10 years No change No change No change H&C in Quebec ~19,700 (+600) More than 10 years No change No change No change Protected persons inside Canada (outside Quebec) ~98,300 (-5,800) About 14 months -1 month -1 month -2 months Protected persons inside Canada (in Quebec) ~40,900 (+1,900) More than 120 months +1 month +3 months +6 months Dependents of protected persons (outside Quebec) ~60,800 (+1,500) About 38 months +3 months +6 months +6 months Dependents of protected persons (in Quebec) ~22,100 (+600) More than 10 years No change No change No change Canadian Passport Processing Times
Application Type Current Processing Time Change New passport (in person, Canada) 10 business days No change New passport (mail, Canada) 20 business days No change Urgent pickup Next business day No change Express pickup 2–9 business days No change Passport mailed from outside Canada 20 business days No change Permanent Residency Processing Times (Updated monthly)
Category People Waiting (Change) Processing Time (July 7, 2026) Change Since June 2, 2026 Change Since May 12, 2026 Change Since April 7, 2026 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) ~61,500 (+600) 6 months -1 month -1 month -1 month Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) ~55,800 (+3,800) 7 months No change No change +1 month Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) Not available Not enough data No change No change No change PNP (Express Entry) ~12,100 (-1,900) 7 months +1 month No change +1 month Non-Express Entry PNP ~103,800 (-6,400) 12 months -1 month -2 months -1 month Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) ~22,200 (-2,600) 11 months No change No change No change Quebec Business Class ~3,700 (No change) 75 months -1 month -3 months -3 months Federal Self-Employed ~8,100 (No change) More than 10 years No change No change No change Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) ~12,300 (-600) 26 months No change -12 months -5 months Start Up Visa ~47,500 (+900) More than 10 years No change No change No change Temporary Visa Processing Times (Updated weekly)
IRCC updates temporary residence processing times on a weekly basis, and the figures below reflect data as of July 22, 2026.
The next weekly update is expected on July 29, and this article will be refreshed accordingly, so check back later for the latest numbers.
Visitor Visas From Outside Canada
Country Processing Time (July 22, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 India 21 days +1 day -61 days United States 27 days -1 day +2 days Nigeria 63 days +2 days +23 days Pakistan 40 days +1 day -16 days Philippines 16 days -1 day No change Visitor Visa From Inside Canada
Visitor visa applications filed from inside Canada now take 29 days, 5 days lower than last week.
Visitor Record Extension
Visitor record extensions continue to remain high at 214 days, 2 days lower than the last week, but still 53 days higher than January 28, 2026.
Super Visa Processing Times
Country Processing Time (July 22, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 India 49 days -1 day -201 days United States 124 days -2 days -63 days Nigeria 39 days +3 days +1 day Pakistan 194 days +7 days +70 days Philippines 68 days -5 days -41 days The super visa timeline for India has dropped by 201 days since January 2026, making it the strongest sustained improvement of any temporary category this year.
Pakistan is the clear outlier, spiking to 194 days, the highest figure for any super visa country in the July data.
Study Permit Processing Times
Country Processing Time (July 22, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 India 5 weeks No change +1 week United States 5 weeks No change -3 weeks Nigeria 5 weeks No change No change Pakistan 6 weeks No change +2 weeks Philippines 4 weeks No change -1 week Study Permit From Inside Canada: Inland study permit applications take 7 weeks, no change since last week, but 1 week higher than the June 24 update.
Study Permit Extension: Study permit extensions now take 72 days, 2 days higher than the last week but still 32 days less than January 28, 2026.
Work Permit Processing Times
Country Processing Time (July 22, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 India 9 weeks No change +1 week United States 3 weeks No change -7 weeks Nigeria 6 weeks No change -3 weeks Pakistan 10 weeks +3 weeks -10 weeks Philippines 7 weeks +1 week +1 week Work Permit From Inside Canada (Initial and Extension): Inland work permits, including extensions, have dropped to 122 days, 2 days lower than the last week, 84 days fewer than the May 20 update, 130 days below March 31, and 114 days below January 28, 2026.
The sustained decline in this category continues to be one of the most significant positive trends in the 2026 processing data.
Other Work Permit Categories
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program is now at 47 days, 8 days higher than last week and 36 days higher than the May 20 update.
International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits sit at 6 weeks, no change since the prior weekly update, but 3 weeks above March 31 and one week below December 31, 2025.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) approvals continue to arrive within roughly five minutes for most travellers, with up to 72 hours required for applicants flagged for additional screening.
The July 2026 IRCC processing times show an immigration system making measurable gains in economic and family sponsorship categories while citizenship certificate processing continues to deteriorate at an accelerating pace.
Inland work permits at 122 days, CEC at six months, parents and grandparents sponsorship down four months since April, and super visa timelines near historic lows for India are all positive indicators that IRCC is clearing backlogs in targeted streams.
July also marks the start of a new CRA benefit year with higher indexed payments across most federal programs, adding a financial dimension to the immigration timeline picture for newcomers and permanent residents.
Applicants should file early, submit complete documentation, and check their IRCC portals regularly to stay ahead of any requests that could extend their wait.
For the latest developments on Canadian immigration news, evolving policy landscapes, and IRCC processing times, save this page and return regularly as new weekly and monthly data drops throughout 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why has citizenship certificate processing jumped from 15 months to 19 months in a single update?
IRCC has seen a massive influx of citizenship certificate applications driven largely by the Bill C-3 citizenship by descent provisions that came into effect in December 2025. Thousands of Americans and other foreign nationals with Canadian ancestry have filed applications under the expanded eligibility rules, adding significant volume to a category that was already under strain. The queue grew by 17,500 applicants in the latest cycle alone, reaching approximately 99,500 people. IRCC processes these applications in the order they are received, and the current staffing allocation has not kept pace with the surge in demand. Applicants in this category should expect continued longer timelines until IRCC either increases processing capacity or the initial wave of new applications stabilizes.
How are IRCC processing times calculated, and do they guarantee when I will receive my decision?
IRCC processing times represent the window within which 80% of applicants in a given category received a final decision. They are based on historical outcomes from recently completed applications, not forward projections. This means 20% of applicants will wait longer than the published estimate. Individual timelines depend on factors like the complexity of your file, whether additional security screening is required, the completeness of your documentation, and the specific processing office handling your case. The published figures are useful benchmarks for setting realistic expectations, but they are not guarantees of when any individual applicant will receive a decision.
Why are spousal sponsorship processing times increasing across all four streams?
Spousal sponsorship processing times have been rising steadily throughout 2026 across all four streams, with inside Canada, non-Quebec, now at 27 months and outside Canada, non-Quebec, at 17 months. This upward trend reflects a combination of growing application volumes and IRCC’s resource allocation priorities under the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan. The department has been directing processing capacity toward clearing economic class backlogs and temporary residence applications, which has come at the expense of family class throughput. Quebec streams carry additional processing time because applications must also be reviewed by the provincial immigration ministry before federal processing can conclude.
What does implied status mean for applicants waiting for a work permit extension inside Canada?
If you submitted your work permit extension application before your current permit expired, you have what is known as implied status under Canadian immigration law. This means you are legally authorized to continue working under the same conditions as your previous permit while IRCC processes your renewal. Implied status does not produce a new physical document, so you should keep copies of your expired permit, your application confirmation, and your payment receipt as proof of your status. If your original application was not submitted before your permit expired, you do not have implied status and must stop working until new authorization is granted. With inland work permits now processing in 129 days, applicants who filed on time can generally expect a decision within that window.
Can I check which processing office is handling my application to estimate my personal wait time?
IRCC does not publicly disclose which specific processing office is assigned to your application, and the processing times published on the official IRCC tool are national averages rather than office-specific figures. Some applicants can identify their processing office through correspondence received from IRCC, such as acknowledgement of receipt letters or requests for additional documents. However, knowing the office does not change your place in the queue or allow you to request a transfer. If your application has exceeded the published processing time for your category, you can submit a case inquiry through the IRCC web form. For Express Entry applications specifically, the processing office is typically the centralized operations centre, and timelines are more standardized than in other categories.
Fact-check: All processing times, queue figures, and comparison data in this article are sourced directly from the official IRCC processing time tool updated on July 15, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Consult a regulated immigration professional for guidance on your specific case.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- 2 New IRCC Updates For Canada PR And Open Work Permit Applications
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Two Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada – IRCC updates appeared on consecutive days this week, and both were written for officers rather than applicants.
Neither arrived as a headline announcement, and neither is easy to find unless you already know where to look.
One of them quietly expands what a person can apply for while a decision sits in the queue.
The other clarifies that H&C considerations cannot override eligibility conditions established directly under a public policy.
Read together, they introduce two separate changes affecting in-Canada permanent residence and temporary-status applications.
Table of Contents
Update 1: An Open Work Permit Route Now Sits Inside A PR Public Policy
The updated policy applies to French-speaking graduates who studied outside Quebec under the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot.
That pilot was first announced in August 2024 and targets students from regions with historically high study permit refusal rates.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab signed the replacement policy at Ottawa on June 25, 2026.
The policy took effect on the date of signature and expires on November 30, 2032.
It applies only to applications that IRCC receives on or after the effective date.
Although the policy is legally in effect, IRCC says the permanent residence pathway will open for applications in winter 2027, with full application instructions to be released later.
The most consequential change is visible in the title of the document itself.
The version signed on September 18, 2025, addressed the granting of permanent residence only.
The replacement policy addresses permanent residence and the issuance of open work permits.
That single addition builds a work authorization route directly into the permanent residence pathway.
What The New Policy Replaces
The June 2026 policy revokes and replaces the September 2025 version in full.
The text sets one application rule and does not describe any re-assessment process for files received earlier.
IRCC can revoke the policy at any time without prior notice, which is standard language for instruments issued under section 25.2 of the Act.
The Five Parts Of The Updated Public Policy
The policy is structured into five distinct parts, and each part covers a different applicant group.
Part Who It Covers What It Grants Part 1 Principal applicants inside Canada Permanent resident status Part 2 Family members already inside Canada Permanent resident status Part 3 Family members outside Canada Exemptions when applying for a permanent resident visa Part 4 Principal applicants inside Canada Open work permit, status extension, or restoration of status Part 5 Family members inside and outside Canada Open work permit, study permit, temporary resident visa, extension, or restoration Every Condition You Must Meet For Permanent Residence Under Part 1
Delegated officers may grant permanent resident status only when an applicant satisfies all listed conditions.
Missing a single item is enough to end the application, and there is no partial credit anywhere in the framework.
- Hold or have held a study permit issued as a principal applicant under the pilot.
- Submit a permanent residence application specifically under this public policy.
- Complete every requirement of a full-time program before IRCC receives that application.
- Ensure the program ran at least two years and led to a degree or diploma.
- Confirm that more than 50% of the classes in that program were delivered in French.
- The designated learning institution must have signed a memorandum of understanding with IRCC when the study permit was issued.
- Attach the degree or diploma, or a completion letter from the institution if the credential is pending.
- Hold authorization to study for the entire duration of the education completed in Canada.
- Live in Canada outside Quebec with valid status, or have applied for and remain eligible for restoration.
- Be physically present in Canada on the day permanent residence is granted.
- Intend to settle in a province or territory other than Quebec.
- Submit the application online using the electronic form identified for this public policy.
- Avoid inadmissibility under Division 4 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
How The New Open Work Permit Works Under Part 4
Part 4 is the piece that did not appear in the earlier version of this open work permit framework.
It applies to principal applicants who hold or previously held a study permit facilitated under the pilot.
The applicant must hold valid temporary resident status in Canada as a worker, student, or visitor.
Applicants who lost status can still qualify if they applied for restoration of temporary resident status and remain eligible.
The requested work permit cannot exceed three years in duration under the terms of the policy.
The application must be tied to a permanent residence application already pending under Part 1.
Proof of graduation must accompany the request as either the credential itself or an institutional completion letter.
Part 4 also covers extensions of authorization to remain in Canada and restoration applications under section 182.
This matters because more than 314,000 work permits expired in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
Part 4: Open Work Permit Route At A Glance Step 1: Graduate from an eligible French-taught program Step 2: File PR application under Part 1 Step 3: Apply for open work permit under Part 4 Step 4: Work up to 3 years while PR is pending Which Legal Requirements The Policy Waives
The policy lists precisely which provisions officers may set aside, and the list differs by part.
These exemptions are the legal mechanism that makes the work permit and visa facilitation possible.
Provision Requirement Waived Applies To Paragraph 20(1)(b) of the Act Establishing departure by the end of the authorized stay Parts 4 and 5 Subsection 22(2) of the Act Establishing departure by the end of the authorized stay Parts 4 and 5 Paragraph 179(b) of the Regulations Departure requirement for a visa, extension, or restoration Parts 4 and 5 Paragraphs 199(a) to (i) Conditions for applying for a work permit after entering Canada Parts 4 and 5 Paragraph 200(1)(b) Departure requirement for a work permit Parts 4 and 5 Paragraph 200(1)(c) Requirement to fall within a described category Parts 4 and 5 Paragraph 216(1)(b) Departure requirement for a study permit Part 5 only Paragraph 10(2)(c) Naming the prescribed class on the application Part 3 only Paragraphs 70(1)(a), (c) and (d) Class membership and class selection criteria Part 3 only Subsection 70(4) Family member definition for a child of any age Part 3 only Applicants remain subject to every eligibility and admissibility requirement that the policy does not expressly exempt.
What Changes For Family Members Inside And Outside Canada
Part 2 covers family members already in Canada who are included in the principal applicant’s permanent residence application.
They must hold valid temporary resident status, or have applied for restoration and remain eligible for it.
They must also intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec.
Part 3 covers accompanying family members who apply for a permanent resident visa from outside Canada.
Both parts extend eligibility to a child of any age who already received status under the pilot as a dependent child.
Part 5 lets those family members apply for work permits, study permits, visitor visas, extensions, or restoration.
Work permits issued to family members under Part 5 carry the same three-year maximum.
This is a wider grant than the spousal open work permit rules that apply to most other temporary residents in Canada.
Key Dates For The Updated Public Policy June 25, 2026 Signed and in force July 21, 2026 Published on canada.ca November 30, 2032 Scheduled expiry Anytime, revocable without notice Update 2: IRCC Confirms Compassionate Grounds Cannot Rescue These Applications
The second update is operational guidance for officers processing in-Canada permanent residence applications filed under public policies.
It addresses what happens when an applicant also requests humanitarian and compassionate consideration in the same file.
The guidance confirms that officers do not have authority to use H&C considerations to exempt applicants from conditions established by the minister in a public policy.
Why Public Policy Conditions Sit Outside The Act
The minister creates these policies using authority under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Public policies are not part of the Act or the Regulations, even though the minister issues them under statutory authority.
Under section 25(1), an officer must generally consider a written humanitarian request made from inside Canada.
That duty attaches to requirements of the Act, and not to conditions a minister writes into a public policy.
Officers therefore hold no authority to grant an exemption from a condition set inside the policy itself.
An applicant who misses a condition and asks for humanitarian and compassionate consideration to overcome it will be refused.
The guidance also confirms that applicants receive no separate, distinct decision on humanitarian grounds.
Exactly What An Officer Must Do Now
- Acknowledge the humanitarian and compassionate request inside the refusal letter.
- Explain that the request cannot overcome the conditions written into the public policy.
- Refuse the application and explicitly identify which requirement the applicant failed to meet.
- Advise the applicant to file a fresh permanent residence application on humanitarian grounds.
- Confirm that the new application requires payment of the applicable fees.
Where Procedural Fairness Still Protects Applicants
Officers must generally follow procedural fairness guidelines when they are not satisfied that an applicant meets the criteria.
That means informing the applicant of the concern and allowing a response with additional supporting information.
The guidance carves out one exception that applicants should understand before they file.
Where a public policy requires applicants to submit all documentation needed for assessment, no further opportunity is required.
In those cases an incomplete submission can be refused without any request for more evidence.
Part 1 of the student pilot policy requires the credential or the completion letter to be included with the application.
How A Public Policy Application Is Decided After These Updates All conditions met Officer may grant permanent resident status under the public policy One condition missed Application is refused and the specific failed requirement is named H&C also requested Request is acknowledged but cannot override any policy condition Separate H&C decision Not provided, because the public policy decision resolves the file Next step available File a new permanent residence application on H&C grounds and pay the fees Summary Of IRCC Updates On July 21 And July 22
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada refreshed two separate canada.ca pages within a single 24-hour window.
The first is a ministerial public policy signed on June 25, 2026, and posted publicly on July 21.
The second is internal processing guidance for decision-makers, published one day later on July 22.
One update opens a benefit that did not previously exist in the policy text.
The other clarifies how officers must handle H&C requests submitted with applications under in-Canada permanent residence public policies.
Update Date Published Document Type What It Covers Updated Francophone student pilot public policy July 21, 2026 Public policy under section 25.2 of IRPA Permanent residence plus open work permits, study permits and status restoration H&C requests inside PR granting public policies July 22, 2026 Operational guidance for IRCC staff How officers must handle humanitarian requests filed within a public policy application How The Two Updates Affect Different Applicants
Canada set a francophone immigration target of 9% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec for 2026.
That target rises in later years under a longer-term plan to reach 12% by 2029.
IRCC has leaned heavily on French language proficiency draws to move toward those numbers this year.
It has also run the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot alongside the student pathway.
Adding work authorization to a student-to-permanent-residence route keeps graduates employed while processing times run their course.
The humanitarian guidance points in the opposite direction and tightens the discretion available at the decision stage.
That tightening follows a broader pattern visible in the pause on parent and grandparent sponsorship earlier this month.
It also echoes the narrowing seen across asylum processing under Bill C-12 this spring.
Humanitarian applications already sit in one of the longest backlogs anywhere in the system.
Who Is Affected And Who Is Not
Group Effect Of These Updates Graduates of the French-taught pilot programs Gain a defined open work permit route while permanent residence is pending Family members of those graduates Gain access to work permits, study permits, visas, extensions, and restoration Applicants who miss one policy condition Face refusal, with the failed condition named explicitly in the letter Anyone filing H&C inside a public policy application Receive acknowledgement only, with no separate humanitarian decision Standalone H&C applicants outside a public policy Unaffected, since the guidance addresses public policy files specifically Quebec-destined applicants Excluded, because the policy requires residence and intent outside Quebec Graduates outside this pilot should continue tracking the standard bridging open work permit route instead.
Workers waiting on renewals should also review the current maintained status rules before their permits lapse.
Broader federal and provincial shifts this month are covered in our July 2026 immigration changes roundup.
Candidates weighing timing should also watch how invitation volumes are trending for the rest of the year.
These two updates pull in opposite directions, and that contrast is the real story of the week.
One builds a work authorization bridge into a permanent residence pathway that runs to the end of 2032.
The other confirms that H&C authority cannot be used to waive a condition the minister established under a public policy.
Applicants in these streams now have a wider benefit and a much narrower margin for error.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does a refusal under this public policy create a bar on future applications?
A refusal for failing a policy condition is not a finding of inadmissibility under Division 4 of the Act. The guidance itself directs officers to tell refused applicants they may re-apply for permanent residence on humanitarian grounds. That instruction only makes sense if the refusal leaves the person free to file again. A refusal involving misrepresentation is an entirely different matter and carries its own consequences.
Can a person granted permanent residence under this policy move to Quebec afterwards?
The policy conditions test residence and intent at the application and granting stage, not afterwards. The published text contains no post-landing residency condition and no mechanism to monitor where a person settles later. Permanent residents in Canada also hold mobility rights under section 6 of the Charter. Applicants should still be truthful about intent, because stated intent at the time of application is what officers assess.
What happens if the school withdraws from the IRCC agreement after the study permit is issued?
The condition is written around the moment the study permit was issued, not the moment the graduate applies. If the institution was a signatory to the memorandum of understanding at that earlier point, the requirement is satisfied. A later withdrawal by the school does not retroactively remove that fact. Applicants in this position should keep documentation showing the institution’s status on the study permit issue date.
Can the open work permit be renewed if permanent residence has not been decided within three years?
The policy text covers both a work permit and a work permit renewal, each capped at three years. Renewal eligibility still requires a permanent residence application pending under Part 1 at the time of the request. If the permanent residence application is refused or withdrawn, the basis for facilitation under Part 4 falls away. Applicants should apply well before expiry rather than relying on a renewal being processed quickly.
What happens to family members if the principal applicant is refused?
Permanent residence facilitation for family members under Parts 2 and 3 depends on the principal applicant meeting all Part 1 conditions and being granted permanent residence. Temporary permits and status facilitation under Part 5 are available while the principal applicant’s permanent residence application remains pending. If that application is refused or withdrawn, the pending-application requirement under Part 5 would no longer be met.
Fact-Checked: Every date, part number, regulatory citation, condition, and exemption in this article was verified directly against the two official IRCC pages published on July 21 and July 22, 2026. Policy signature details, the November 30, 2032 expiry, the three-year work permit maximum, and the officer instructions on humanitarian requests were confirmed in the source text as of July 23, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules change frequently, so verify all requirements directly on canada.ca before applying.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- New Canada Benefit Payments Still Coming In July 2026
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
The final week of July is bringing one of the busiest weeks for Canada benefit payment deposit days of the entire month for millions of Canadians.
Several benefit programs already issued their July deposits earlier this month, but the biggest single payout day is still ahead.
Pension deposits, disability payments, and provincial assistance cheques are all scheduled to land before the calendar flips to August.
Some of these payments carry quarterly increases that took effect on July 1, meaning noticeably higher amounts compared to June.
Here is every government benefit payment still coming before the end of July 2026, with deposit dates, updated amounts, and eligibility.
Table of Contents
Provincial Disability and Income Assistance Payments
Several provinces issue end-of-month disability and income assistance payments during the final days of July.
These payments are separate from federal benefits and are funded entirely by provincial governments.
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
The next ODSP payment is scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2026.
This falls on the last business day of the month.
A single ODSP recipient can now receive up to $1,436 per month in combined basic needs and shelter support.
ODSP rates are indexed to inflation annually in July, and a 1.9% increase takes effect with the July 2026-27 benefit period.
Ontario has formally exempted federal CDB payments from ODSP income calculations.
Recipients can collect both the maximum $204.20 CDB and full ODSP without any provincial reduction.
A single ODSP recipient also qualifying for the maximum CDB can receive up to $1,640.20 per month combined.
Alberta AISH/ADAP and Income Support on July 28
The next AISH/ADAP and Income Support payment for the August 2026 assistance period is confirmed for Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
This date is published on the official Alberta government payment schedule.
AISH payments are issued four business days before the first of each month, covering the following month.
The maximum monthly AISH living allowance is $1,940 for a single recipient.
The child benefit adds $300 for the first child, $117 for the second, $88 for the third, $59 for the fourth, and $30 for each additional child.
As of July 1, 2026, most current AISH recipients have been transitioned to the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP).
ADAP provides $1,740 per month plus a $200 monthly transition benefit that maintains payments at the $1,940 AISH level.
This transition benefit remains in place until December 31, 2027.
Alberta has confirmed that federal CDB payments do not reduce AISH or ADAP benefits.
Provincial Program July Payment Date Maximum Monthly (Single) ODSP (Ontario) Friday, July 31, 2026 Up to $1,436 AISH/ADAP (Alberta) Tuesday, July 28, 2026 $1,940 B.C. PWD Wednesday, July 22, 2026 $1,483.50 Ontario Works Friday, July 31, 2026 Varies by household British Columbia Disability Assistance Issued July 22
B.C.’s income and disability assistance payment for August 2026 was issued on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
A single person with the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation receives up to $1,483.50 per month.
This amount combines the support allowance and shelter allowance into one deposit.
B.C. maintains an Annual Earnings Exemption of $16,200 for single PWD recipients.
Employment income up to that amount does not reduce provincial benefits.
B.C. has confirmed that federal Canada Disability Benefit payments are fully exempt from PWD income
CPP Payments on July 29
The next Canada Pension Plan payment is confirmed for Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
This date is verified against the official benefits payment calendar published by the Government of Canada.
CPP amounts for 2026 reflect a 2% annual indexation that took effect with the January 28 deposit.
Existing CPP pensions received annual indexation in January, though published maximums for new benefits can shift as the CPP enhancement continues phasing in.
The maximum monthly CPP retirement pension at age 65 is $1,507.65 as published by Service Canada.
The average CPP payment for new retirees at 65 is $877.01 per month.
Unlike OAS, CPP does not adjust quarterly, but published maximums for new benefits can increase during the year because of the CPP enhancement.
CPP Benefit Type Maximum Monthly (2026) Average Monthly Retirement pension (at age 65) $1,507.65 $877.01 Retirement pension (at age 60) $965.33 Varies Retirement pension (at age 70) $2,140.87 Varies Disability benefit $1,741.20 Varies Survivor benefit (under 65) $803.54 Varies Survivor benefit (65 and older) $904.59 Varies Children’s benefit $307.81 $307.81 Death benefit (one-time) $2,500.00 N/A These maximums apply to new benefits beginning in January 2026 with a full contribution history.
Most recipients receive less because actual CPP depends on lifetime contributions, years worked, and claiming age.
The CPP enhancement that began phasing in during 2019 is gradually increasing the replacement rate from 25% to 33%.
Workers who take CPP before 65 face a permanent 0.6% reduction for each month they collect early.
That results in up to a 36% total reduction at age 60.
Those who delay past 65 receive a 0.7% increase per month of deferral, up to a maximum 42% boost at age 70.
OAS Payments With 1.2% Increase
The Old Age Security pension is increasing by 1.2% for the July to September 2026 quarter.
This is the largest single-quarter adjustment of the year so far.
The maximum monthly OAS payment rises to approximately $751.97 for seniors aged 65 to 74.
For seniors aged 75 and older, the maximum rises to approximately $827.17 per month.
The first payment at the new rate lands on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
This rate will apply to all payments through the September 25 deposit.
OAS Component Apr–Jun 2026 Jul–Sep 2026 (Projected) Maximum OAS pension (ages 65–74) $743.05/month ~$751.97/month Maximum OAS pension (ages 75+) $817.36/month ~$827.17/month Maximum GIS (single, low income) $1,086.88/month $1,123.17/month Allowance (ages 60–64) $1,411.13/month $1,428.06/month Allowance for the Survivor $1,682.15/month $1,702.34/month Seniors aged 75 and older continue receiving the permanent 10% enhancement introduced in July 2022.
That enhancement is applied on top of all quarterly adjustments.
The 1.2% increase follows the 0.3% January bump and the 0.1% April adjustment.
The cumulative year-over-year OAS increase is approximately 2.3% compared to July 2025.
The deflation safeguard under the Old Age Security Act prevents published OAS rates from decreasing when CPI falls.
Individual payments can still change because of income, residency, or eligibility adjustments.
The base rate itself, however, is protected from dropping.
Guaranteed Income Supplement Annual Reset
July 29 is not just a rate increase day for GIS recipients.
It is also the annual reset, when Service Canada recalculates GIS for the new July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year.
The recalculation uses 2025 tax return income instead of 2024.
A senior whose income dropped in 2025 could see a meaningful GIS increase on the July 29 deposit.
A senior whose income rose in 2025 could see a smaller GIS payment despite the 1.2% quarterly increase.
Filing your 2025 tax return on time is the single most important step to keep GIS flowing without interruption.
OAS Recovery Tax for the New Benefit Year
The OAS recovery tax threshold also rolls forward with the July reset.
For the July 2026 to June 2027 repayment period, the clawback begins when 2025 net income exceeds $93,454 as confirmed by the Government of Canada.
The repayment rate is 15 cents for every dollar of income above that threshold.
OAS is fully eliminated at approximately $152,062 for recipients aged 65 to 74.
The upper threshold is approximately $157,923 for those aged 75 and older due to the enhanced pension amount.
NLDB Payment on July 24
The next Newfoundland and Labrador Disability Benefit payment is scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2026.
The NLDB provides up to $400 per month ($4,800 annually) to eligible residents aged 18 to 64.
Recipients must hold a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate on file with the CRA.
The adjusted family net income threshold is $42,404 for individuals or $55,404 for couples where both qualify.
Those with annual income below $29,402 receive the full $400 monthly benefit.
Incomes between $29,402 and the upper threshold result in a partial payment.
The NLDB is administered by the CRA and requires no separate application beyond filing your annual tax return.
This benefit stacks on top of the federal Canada Disability Benefit without reducing either payment.
Complete July 2026 Benefit Payment Summary
The following table consolidates every federal and major provincial benefit payment scheduled during July 2026.
Benefit July Date Maximum Amount Status CGEB Friday, July 3 $679/year (single) Issued OTB Friday, July 10 Up to $1,488/year Issued ACWB Friday, July 10 $1,633/year (single) Issued CDB Thursday, July 16 $204.20/month Issued CCB Monday, July 20 $679.75/month (under 6) Issued B.C. PWD Wednesday, July 22 $1,483.50/month (single) Issued NLDB Friday, July 24 $400/month Upcoming AISH/ADAP Tuesday, July 28 $1,940/month (single) Upcoming CPP Wednesday, July 29 $1,507.65/month (max at 65) Upcoming OAS (65–74) Wednesday, July 29 ~$751.97/month Upcoming OAS (75+) Wednesday, July 29 ~$827.17/month Upcoming GIS Wednesday, July 29 Up to $1,123.17/month Upcoming ODSP Friday, July 31 Up to $1,436/month Upcoming How To Verify Your Payment Amounts
CRA-administered benefits, including the CGEB, CCB, OTB, ACWB, NLDB, and CDB can be reviewed through CRA My Account.
Service Canada payments, including CPP, OAS, and GIS can be reviewed through My Service Canada Account.
Provincial disability recipients should check their respective portals: MyBenefits for ODSP in Ontario, My Self Serve for B.C., or the Alberta AISH online portal.
Filing your 2025 tax return was the single most important step for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year.
An unassessed 2025 return is the most common cause of paused, delayed, or reduced benefit payments.
Stacking Multiple Benefits in the Same Month
Eligible Canadians commonly receive several benefit payments in a single month.
Each program has its own separate eligibility rules and payment schedule.
A low-income senior in Ontario could receive CPP, OAS, and GIS on July 29, with all three being deposited on the same day.
A working parent in Ontario could have received the CGEB on July 3, the OTB and ACWB on July 10, and the CCB on July 20.
No single payment calendar applies to every person.
Your combination depends on your age, province, income, disability status, family situation, and tax filing history.
Setting up direct deposit through CRA My Account or My Service Canada Account is the fastest way to receive funds.
The July 29 deposit closes out one of the busiest benefit months of the year.
August brings its own round, starting with the CCB on August 20 and CPP and OAS on August 27.
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit will also issue its next quarterly payment on August 27 at the newly indexed rates.
Recipients who have not yet received an expected July payment should verify their account details through the appropriate government portal before contacting the department.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I receive both federal and provincial disability payments at the same time without one reducing the other?
Ontario, British Columbia, and most other provinces have formally exempted the federal Canada Disability Benefit from provincial income assistance calculations. A single ODSP recipient in Ontario collecting the maximum CDB receives both payments in full with no clawback from either level of government. Alberta has confirmed that CDB payments do not reduce AISH or ADAP benefits either, meaning recipients in all three major provinces can stack both payments without any reduction to their provincial support.
What happens to my GIS if I forgot to file my 2025 tax return before the July deadline?
Service Canada requires a filed and assessed tax return to calculate your GIS entitlement for the new benefit year. If your 2025 return is not on file by the time the July recalculation runs, your GIS payments will be suspended until the CRA processes your return. Filing late does not permanently disqualify you from GIS. Once your return is assessed, Service Canada will recalculate your entitlement and issue any retroactive payments you are owed for the months your benefit was paused.
Will the OAS quarterly increase in October 2026 be larger or smaller than the July increase?
The October 2026 quarterly adjustment depends entirely on the Consumer Price Index data that Service Canada reviews for the measurement period leading into that quarter. The July 1.2% increase was driven by CPI movement between the reference periods used for the spring and summer calculations. Whether October brings a larger, smaller, or zero adjustment is impossible to predict because it requires CPI data that has not yet been published. If the cost of living stays flat or declines, the deflation safeguard ensures OAS rates hold at the July level with no decrease.
Does the new CGEB affect my eligibility for provincial benefits like the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
The CGEB is a tax-free benefit and is not included in your adjusted family net income for calculating other income-tested credits. Receiving CGEB payments does not reduce your OTB, CCB, GIS, or any other benefit that uses AFNI as its eligibility threshold. The CGEB and OTB are administered through entirely separate eligibility assessments, and qualifying for one has no mechanical effect on the calculation of the other. The key factor that affects both programs is your 2025 AFNI as reported on your tax return.
If I moved provinces in 2025 or 2026, which province’s benefits will I receive?
Your December 31 province of residence is used for your tax return, and the CRA initially calculates provincial benefits based on that province. However, CRA-administered provincial benefits are not necessarily locked to that province for the entire benefit year. The CRA instructs recipients to report a change of address because your provincial benefit payments can change based on the province where you currently live. If you moved from Ontario to Alberta, for example, your benefits would eventually switch from Ontario programs like the OTB and Ontario Child Benefit to Alberta programs like the Alberta Child and Family Benefit once the CRA processes your address change. Reporting your move to the CRA promptly ensures your provincial benefits reflect your actual province of residence as quickly as possible.
Fact-checked: All payment dates, benefit amounts, indexation rates, income thresholds, and eligibility requirements in this article are verified against official Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, and Government of Canada sources as of July 22, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Benefit amounts shown represent confirmed or projected maximums for recipients who meet full eligibility requirements. Your actual payment may differ based on your income, contribution history, residency, age, family status, and other individual factors. Confirm your specific entitlement directly through CRA My Account or My Service Canada Account.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- Latest Express Entry Draw On July 22 Sent 5,000 PR Invitations
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 5,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence through a French language proficiency category draw on July 22, 2026.
The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff for this round dropped to 399, a sharp 21-point decline from the 420 threshold in the July 9 French draw.
The 399 cutoff is the lowest for any French language draw since March 18, when the threshold hit 393 with only 4,000 invitations.
This is the seventh Express Entry draw of July 2026, bringing total confirmed invitations for the month to 15,545.
The draw completes the second draw cluster of July, mirroring the PNP, CEC, and French sequence from the first cluster earlier this month.
Table of Contents
July 22, 2026 Express Entry Draw Details
The table below summarizes the official draw details for French language proficiency category round #429.
Draw Detail Information Draw Number #429 Category French-Language Proficiency 2026-Version 2 Draw Date July 22, 2026 Draw Time (UTC) 11:12:26 CRS Cutoff Score 399 Invitations Issued 5,000 Rank Required 5,000 or above Tie-Breaking Timestamp November 19, 2025, at 21:21:56 UTC The full text of the Ministerial Instruction for this draw is available on the IRCC website.
All French Language Express Entry Draws in 2026
The table below tracks all eight French language proficiency draws IRCC has conducted in 2026, showing the CRS reversal from the July 9 peak.
Draw # Date Invitations CRS 429 July 22, 2026 5,000 399 425 July 9, 2026 5,000 420 418 May 28, 2026 4,500 409 414 April 29, 2026 4,000 400 411 April 15, 2026 4,000 419 405 March 18, 2026 4,000 393 401 March 4, 2026 5,500 397 394 February 6, 2026 8,500 400 IRCC has issued a combined 40,500 French language proficiency invitations across eight draws in 2026.
All Express Entry Draws in July 2026
IRCC held seven Express Entry draws in July 2026 across four categories, issuing a combined 15,545 invitations to apply for permanent residence.
# Date Round Type ITAs CRS 429 July 22 French-Language Proficiency 5,000 399 428 July 21 Canadian Experience Class 2,000 516 427 July 20 Provincial Nominee Program 511 744 426 July 10 Senior Managers (Can. Work Exp.) 500 392 425 July 9 French-Language Proficiency 5,000 420 424 July 7 Canadian Experience Class 2,000 517 423 July 6 Provincial Nominee Program 534 708 July 2026 Total 15,545 July 2026 is one of the strongest months for Express Entry invitations in the year, driven by the biweekly two-cluster approach.
Second Draw Cluster Completes the Biweekly Pattern
The July 22 French draw completes the second draw cluster of the month, confirming the biweekly scheduling pattern.
The first cluster ran July 6 through July 10 with PNP, CEC, French, and senior manager draws across five days.
The second cluster ran July 20 through July 22 with PNP, CEC, and French draws on three consecutive days, an even tighter grouping.
Both clusters followed the same PNP first, CEC second, and French third sequencing, giving candidates a predictable pattern for August.
The shift from extended draw pauses in May and June to this rapid biweekly cadence is a major positive development for candidates.
What This Draw Means For Candidates
The 399 CRS cutoff is the most accessible French threshold since March, opening the door to thousands of candidates shut out when the cutoff peaked at 420.
Candidates with moderate French proficiency scoring between 380 and 410 on the CRS now have a realistic shot at receiving an invitation in future draws.
The TEF Canada and TCF Canada remain the approved tests for demonstrating French proficiency under Express Entry.
Even candidates with modest French results can qualify, as the 399 cutoff shows IRCC is willing to draw deep into the pool at the 5,000 ITA volume.
Bilingual candidates with strong scores in both languages earn additional CRS points under the human capital categories.
Candidates who have not yet taken a French test should consider registering for the TEF or TCF to access these large category-based draws.
French language candidates who scored 399 or above and submitted profiles before November 19, 2025 should check for their invitation.
Candidates who scored 399 but submitted after that date were not selected and should keep profiles active for the next French round.
Improving French scores by retaking the TEF or TCF is one of the most effective ways to gain additional CRS points for future draws.
Exploring provincial nominee programs in Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Alberta can add 600 CRS points through a nomination pathway.
The July 22 French draw marks a sharp correction in CRS cutoffs after months of upward pressure in the French category.
With 5,000 invitations at a CRS cutoff of 399, this round is the most accessible French draw since early spring and signals significant pool expansion.
IRCC has now issued 40,500 French-language invitations across eight draws in 2026, cementing this category as the highest-volume Express Entry pathway.
July 2026 closes as one of the strongest months for Express Entry, with 15,545 confirmed invitations across seven draws in four distinct categories.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the CRS cutoff in the July 22, 2026, Express Entry draw?
The CRS cutoff in the July 22, 2026, French language proficiency Express Entry draw was 399. IRCC issued 5,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The 399 cutoff is a 21-point drop from the July 9 French draw threshold of 420 despite the same invitation count of 5,000.
Why did the French Express Entry CRS cutoff drop from 420 to 399?
The CRS cutoff dropped 21 points because the French language segment of the Express Entry pool expanded significantly with new lower-scoring candidates between July 9 and July 22. IRCC issued the same 5,000 invitations in both rounds, meaning the drop reflects pool dynamics rather than invitation volume.
How many French language Express Entry invitations has IRCC issued in 2026?
IRCC has issued 40,500 French-language proficiency Express Entry invitations across eight draws in 2026 as of July 22. Invitation volumes have ranged from 4,000 to 8,500 per round, and CRS cutoffs have varied between 393 and 420.
How many Express Entry draws did IRCC hold in July 2026?
IRCC held seven Express Entry draws in July 2026 across four categories: two PNP draws, two CEC draws, two French-language draws, and one senior managers draw. The total invitations issued in July 2026 is 15,545.
Fact-Check: All data in this article, including the CRS cutoff score of 399, the 5,000 invitation count, the tie-breaking timestamp of November 19, 2025, and all seven July 2026 draw results, was verified against official Express Entry draw data published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Historical French draw figures were cross-referenced with IRCC-published round results from February through July 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional immigration advice. Express Entry eligibility and CRS scores depend on individual circumstances that may change without notice. Readers should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or licensed immigration lawyer before acting on any information presented here.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- Canada Now Has 1.5 Million Immigration Files Pending Decisions
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Canada just changed the way it reports on its massive immigration file inventory, and the new numbers paint a picture the country has never seen before.
For the first time, the federal government is publishing aggregate data showing what share of pending permanent residence files are actually in processing versus sitting in a queue waiting for space to open up under the annual levels plan.
The latest data, current as of May 31, 2026, reveals that more than 1.5 million immigration files across temporary residence, permanent residence, and citizenship are still waiting for a decision.
That is not a backlog number in the traditional sense, because the government has abandoned the old reporting format entirely and replaced it with a completely restructured transparency dashboard.
Until this update, the government published a monthly backlog dashboard that split applications into two columns: files within service standards and files exceeding service standards. That format is gone.
The new system, titled “Inside IRCC’s Application Processing System,” replaces the old inventory snapshot with a dashboard that reports two figures for each major immigration category: how many files have been finalized since January 1, 2026, and how many files are still pending.
For permanent residence categories, the dashboard goes one step further by showing what percentage of pending files are actually in processing versus what percentage are just waiting for space to become available under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
That distinction between files in processing and files waiting for space is new, and it fundamentally changes what applicants and Canadians can learn from the published data.
Table of Contents
The Big Picture: 1.5 Million Files Pending
Across all categories, the government reports approximately 1,517,770 immigration files that have not yet been finalized as of May 31, 2026.
The following table breaks this down by major category.
Category Completed Since Jan 1, 2026 Not Yet Finalized Temporary Residence 1,288,905 finalized 404,070 PR — Economic 111,000 finalized 238,335 PR — Family 45,900 finalized 159,765 PR — Protection 42,800 finalized 307,215 Citizenship Grant 131,420 new citizens 326,365 Proof of Citizenship 28,940 proofs issued 82,020 Note: The government reports temporary and permanent residence figures as finalized applications, citizenship grants as new citizens, and proofs of citizenship as proofs issued.
These are different reported outputs and cannot be combined into a single total. All values are rounded to the nearest multiple of 5, and the data is described as approximate and subject to change.
Temporary Residence: 404,070 Files Pending
The temporary residence category covers new study permit, work permit, and visitor visa applications only, not extensions.
Since January 1, 2026, the government has finalized 1,288,905 temporary residence applications while 404,070 remain pending.
Arrival targets for students and workers are set in the Immigration Levels Plan, but there is no arrival target for visitor visas in order to support tourism and the economy.
Stream Finalized Since Jan 1, 2026 Not Yet Finalized Study Permits 74,370 31,665 Work Permits 140,775 35,040 Visitor Visas 1,073,755 337,365 The study permit figures reflect seasonal application patterns, as most international students start school in the fall or winter.
As part of Canada’s International Talent Attraction Strategy, two-week processing is now available for study permit applicants at the PhD level.
On the work permit side, the government is processing certain applications faster through the Global Skills Strategy and has introduced 14-day work permit processing for up to 5,000 licensed doctors with job offers who are nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program.
Visitor visa processing times depend on whether the application is complete, how quickly biometrics and documents are provided, whether extra security screening is needed, and how many applications the government receives from a given country.
Applicants can check processing times on the government’s website to find out how long it should take to process their specific application.
Permanent Residence — Economic: 238,335 Files Pending
The economic category covers Express Entry, federal business programs, and regional economic programs including the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot.
Since January 1, 2026, the government has finalized 111,000 economic applications.
Of the 238,335 files not yet finalized, 75% are in active processing and 25% are waiting for space under yearly targets.
Status Percentage Estimated Files In Processing 75% ~178,750 Waiting for Space 25% ~59,585 From June 2025 to May 2026, about 79% of applicants in the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class received a decision within the six-month service standard, and about 50% received a decision in four months or less.
The Start-up Visa Program is no longer accepting new applications except from applicants who received a valid commitment from a designated organization in 2025 and have not yet applied.
The Self-Employed Persons Program is also paused indefinitely, though the government continues to process existing applications for both programs with limited capacity under the levels plan.
Separately, the In-Canada Workers Initiative is transitioning up to 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027.
These permanent residents are in addition to, not part of, the targets set in the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
Permanent Residence — Family: 159,765 Files Pending
Family immigration includes reunification and international adoptions.
Since January 1, 2026, the government has finalized 45,900 family class applications.
Of the 159,765 files not yet finalized, 60% are in active processing and 40% are waiting for space under yearly targets.
Status Percentage Estimated Files In Processing 60% ~95,860 Waiting for Space 40% ~63,905 From June 2025 to May 2026, applications for spouses, partners, and children submitted within and outside Canada for destinations outside of Quebec were processed in about 14 months.
The Parents and Grandparents Program faces higher demand than the number of available spaces in the levels plan, which directly impacts processing times.
As of July 15, 2026, the government has paused all new intake for this program and will not accept new interest-to-sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors until further notice, though existing applications continue to be processed.
The super visa remains available as an alternative for eligible parents and grandparents seeking extended visits.
International adoption timelines vary by country and situation, and families should expect the process to take at least two years even when everything goes smoothly.
Processing times for family class applications destined for Quebec differ from the rest of Canada because Quebec sets its own immigration targets.
Permanent Residence — Protection: 307,215 Files Pending
The protection category includes protected persons in Canada, government-assisted refugees, privately sponsored refugees, and humanitarian and compassionate grounds applications.
Since January 1, 2026, the government has finalized 42,800 protection class applications.
Of the 307,215 files not yet finalized, 54% are in active processing and 46% are waiting for space under yearly targets.
Status Percentage Estimated Files In Processing 54% ~165,895 Waiting for Space 46% ~141,320 The protection category has the highest waiting-for-space share among the three permanent residence categories reported, with nearly half of pending files not in active processing.
As part of a one-time initiative, the government is processing up to 115,000 additional permanent residence applications from protected persons and their in-Canada dependants in 2026 and 2027.
Through the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, the government can provide faster protection for people in need and prevent misuse of the system as a shortcut to regular immigration pathways.
Permanent Residence: Processing vs. Waiting for Space
The following table compares the in-processing and waiting-for-space splits across all three permanent residence categories.
PR Category Total Pending In Processing Waiting for Space Economic 238,335 75% (~178,750) 25% (~59,585) Family 159,765 60% (~95,860) 40% (~63,905) Protection 307,215 54% (~165,895) 46% (~141,320) Total PR 705,315 ~440,505 (62%) ~264,810 (38%) Across all permanent residence categories, approximately 264,810 files are not being actively processed and are instead parked in a queue waiting for space to open up under the Immigration Levels Plan.
That means roughly 38% of all pending permanent residence files are not moving through the system at all.
Citizenship: Grant and Proof Applications
The citizenship category covers two types of applications: citizenship grants for permanent residents seeking to become citizens, and proof of citizenship for existing citizens who need to replace or obtain a citizenship certificate.
Citizenship Stream Reported Since Jan 1, 2026 Not Yet Finalized Citizenship Grant 131,420 new citizens 326,365 Proof of Citizenship 28,940 proofs issued 82,020 Citizenship applications are not included in the levels plan and are processed based on demand and other requirements.
The government has launched online application processes for citizenship grants, proof of citizenship, and searches of citizenship records, along with an online tracker that shows application status and required next steps.
Electronic citizenship certificates are also being made available to more people, which may help reduce the processing timeline pressure in this category.
What the New Reporting Format Reveals
The shift away from the old backlog dashboard format is significant because it changes what Canadians can actually learn from the published data.
Under the old system, a file was either within service standards or exceeding them.
Under the new system, the government publishes aggregate percentages for each permanent residence category showing what share of pending files are in active processing versus waiting for space under the levels plan.
Temporary residence and citizenship files do not receive this processing-versus-waiting breakdown and are reported only as total finalized and total not yet finalized.
For applicants checking their status on the IRCC portal, this distinction matters enormously.
A file categorized as waiting for space means the annual levels plan does not currently have enough allocated spots for all complete applications already received, so the file may need to wait until space becomes available.
The government separately notes that processing can also take longer if additional information is needed from the applicant, if documents need to be verified, or if partner agencies need to run additional security checks.
The previous backlog updates showed that Canada’s immigration backlog had been declining steadily throughout 2026, falling from over 1 million at the start of the year to 922,700 by April 30, 2026.
The new reporting format does not use the word backlog at all and does not break files into within or exceeding service standards.
This means direct month-over-month comparisons with earlier backlog data are no longer possible under the new format.
The data page was modified on July 21, 2026, though the underlying application data remains current as of May 31, 2026.
The government also publishes student and temporary worker arrival numbers and new permanent resident admissions separately, which together with this dashboard provide the most complete public picture of how Canada’s immigration system is performing.
Future updates will show whether the government continues to release data in this new format on a monthly cycle, which will determine how Canadians and applicants can track progress going forward.
Follow Immigration News Canada for continued coverage of every update to this dashboard and all other immigration developments across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does “waiting for space” mean in the new IRCC dashboard?
It means the application has been received and has passed the completeness check, but the government does not currently have room under the annual Immigration Levels Plan to process it. The government states that when there is no space, the application waits until space becomes available, which may mean waiting until a future year. Processing can also be extended by additional document requests or security screening by partner agencies.
Why did the government stop reporting the traditional backlog numbers?
The government has not explained the reason for retiring the old format. The previous dashboard reported files within service standards and files exceeding service standards. The new format reports finalized files and files not yet finalized, with processing-versus-waiting splits for permanent residence categories. The change appears designed to provide more context about why files are pending rather than simply how long they have been pending.
Which permanent residence category has the highest percentage of files just waiting for space?
The protection category has the highest waiting-for-space percentage at 46%, meaning nearly half of the 307,215 pending files in that stream are not being actively processed. Family is second at 40%, and economic immigration has the lowest waiting-for-space share at 25%.
Are temporary residence and citizenship files also split between processing and waiting?
No, the in-processing versus waiting-for-space breakdown is only published for permanent residence categories. Temporary residence and citizenship files are reported as total finalized and total not yet finalized without the additional split. Visitor visas, citizenship grants, and asylum claims are not included in the levels plan and are processed based on demand.
How does this new data compare to the last published backlog number?
Direct comparisons are not possible because the reporting formats measure different things. The last published backlog figure was 922,700 as of April 30, 2026, which counted files exceeding service standards. The new format reports 1,517,770 files not yet finalized as of May 31, 2026, which includes all pending files regardless of whether they are within or exceeding service standards. The 1.5 million figure is a larger number because it captures the entire pending inventory, not just the overdue portion.
Fact-Checked: All figures referenced in this article are sourced directly from the “Inside IRCC’s Application Processing System” page on canada.ca, with data as of May 31, 2026, and the page modified on July 21, 2026. Estimated file counts derived from published percentages are approximate calculations by Immigration News Canada.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules, program criteria, and processing practices can change without advance notice. Applicants should always verify the latest requirements directly with IRCC or a licensed immigration professional.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- New Express Entry Draw On July 21 Sends 2,000 PR Invitations
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 2,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence through a new Express Entry Draw on July 21, 2026, for the Canadian Experience Class.
The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff for this round was 516, a one-point decrease from the 517 threshold in the July 7 CEC draw.
This is the sixth Express Entry draw of July 2026 and the second CEC round this month, bringing total confirmed invitations to 10,545.
The draw follows one day after the July 20 PNP round that issued 511 invitations at a CRS cutoff of 744, indicating a back-to-back pattern.
This consecutive-day sequencing indicates that IRCC might have now returned to a biweekly draw schedule after the single monthly cluster model used in June 2026.
Table of Contents
July 21 Express Entry CEC Draw Details
Draw Detail Information Program Canadian Experience Class Draw Date July 21, 2026 Draw Time (UTC) 10:40:39 UTC CRS Cutoff Score 516 Invitations Issued 2,000 Rank Required 2,000 or above Tie-Breaking Timestamp May 26, 2026, at 17:33:03 UTC The full text of the Ministerial Instruction for this draw is available on the IRCC website.
How the Tie-Breaking Rule Applied
IRCC applies a tie-breaking rule when multiple candidates share the same lowest CRS score in a draw round.
The tie-breaking timestamp for this CEC draw was set at May 26, 2026, at 17:33:03 UTC.
Candidates who scored exactly 516 needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before that date and time to qualify for an invitation.
Candidates who entered the pool after the tie-breaking timestamp with a score of 516 did not receive an invitation in this round despite meeting the CRS threshold.
Why the CRS Cutoff Dropped One Point to 516
The CRS cutoff for this CEC draw is 516, exactly one point lower than the 517 threshold in the previous CEC round on July 7.
IRCC issued the same number of invitations in both rounds at 2,000, meaning the cutoff shift reflects changes in the candidate pool rather than invitation volume.
Because IRCC issued 2,000 invitations in both July CEC rounds, the one-point decline from 517 to 516 reflects a change in the composition and ranking of eligible CEC candidates in the pool above 516.
When more candidates accumulate above the cutoff threshold, IRCC can issue the same number of invitations while reaching slightly deeper into the ranking.
This is how pool dynamics work in practice: a longer gap between draws means more profiles enter the system, which pushes the floor down even at the same ITA volume.
The one-point drop nevertheless indicates that IRCC was able to reach slightly farther down the CEC ranking than it did on July 7 while issuing the same number of invitations.
Had IRCC reduced the invitation count below 2,000, the cutoff would likely have remained at or above 517.
Conversely, if IRCC had increased the count to 3,000 or 4,000, the cutoff could have dropped further into the 510 to 512 range based on current pool density.
CEC CRS Cutoff Trend in 2026
The CEC CRS cutoff has moved within a narrow but meaningful band throughout 2026, shaped primarily by how many invitations IRCC issues per round.
The year opened with an 8,000 invitation CEC draw in January that pushed the cutoff down to 511, the lowest CEC threshold of 2026.
As IRCC reduced CEC draw sizes through February and into the spring, the cutoff gradually climbed to 514 in April and 518 in May.
The June CEC draw at 516 with 4,000 invitations temporarily reversed the upward trend before the July 7 round returned to 517 with only 2,000 invitations.
Today’s cutoff of 516 with 2,000 invitations is the lowest CEC threshold since the June round, indicating that the pool has softened at the margin.
For candidates hovering between 510 and 520, the CRS direction is encouraging but still sensitive to how many invitations IRCC decides to issue in each round.
CEC Draw Comparison: July 7 vs July 21
The table below compares the two CEC draws held in July 2026, isolating the CRS change as purely a function of pool dynamics.
Metric July 7 CEC Draw July 21 CEC Draw Invitations Issued 2,000 2,000 CRS Cutoff Score 517 516 CRS Change +1 point −1 point Days Since Previous CEC 14 days 14 days Pool Rebuild Window Two full weeks Two full weeks The identical 2,000 invitation count in both rounds makes this comparison unusually clean, removing ITA volume as a variable entirely.
Who the Canadian Experience Class Targets
The Canadian Experience Class is one of three federal immigration programs managed under Express Entry.
CEC targets candidates who hold at least one year of skilled work experience gained inside Canada within the three years before applying.
Eligible candidates must have worked in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations, covering management, professional, technical, and skilled trade roles.
CEC draws produce lower CRS cutoffs than PNP or general rounds because candidates compete only within this category.
This pathway remains one of the most accessible routes for temporary residents already working in Canada to transition to permanent residence.
International graduates who transitioned from a post-graduation work permit to skilled employment are among the primary beneficiaries of CEC draws.
Biweekly Draw Pattern Reappears In July 2026
The July 21 CEC draw is the clearest indication that IRCC might have returned to a biweekly draw schedule after the single monthly cluster model used in June.
The first draw cluster of July ran from July 6 through July 9 with PNP, CEC, and French language rounds issuing 7,534 invitations across three categories.
The second cluster opened with a PNP draw on July 20 and now continues with this CEC draw on July 21 in the same back-to-back pattern.
In June 2026, IRCC went 21 consecutive days without a single draw before firing four rounds in four days from June 22 to June 25.
July’s pattern is starkly different, with two clusters spaced roughly 11 days apart and each cluster following the same PNP-then-CEC sequencing.
A French language proficiency or occupation-based draw may follow later this week to complete the second cluster, mirroring the July 9 French draw that closed the first cluster.
If this two-cluster-per-month pattern holds through August and September, candidates can plan around predictable draw windows for the rest of 2026.
This is a meaningful shift for candidates who had been dealing with the extended uncertainty of the single monthly burst model.
CEC candidates scoring between 510 and 520 are in the most competitive zone of the Express Entry pool right now.
The CRS cutoff has stayed within a 6-point range of 511 to 517 across every CEC draw in 2026, meaning small score improvements can make the difference between an invitation and a miss.
Candidates at 516 or above who submitted profiles before the tie-breaking timestamp are in, while those at 515 or below were not considered regardless of submission date.
Improving language-test results can increase a candidate’s CRS score directly and may also unlock additional skill-transferability points. The exact increase depends on the candidate’s complete profile.
Securing a provincial nomination remains the single most impactful path for candidates stuck below the CEC cutoff, as the 600 point boost bypasses CRS competition entirely.
Candidates should also explore whether they qualify for category-based draws in healthcare, trades, French language, or STEM, where CRS cutoffs run well below the CEC threshold.
July 2026 Express Entry Draws at a Glance
IRCC has now issued six Express Entry draws in July 2026, pushing the total confirmed invitations past the 10,000 mark for the month.
Draw Category Date ITAs CRS Provincial Nominee Program July 6 534 708 Canadian Experience Class July 7 2,000 517 French Language Proficiency July 9 5,000 420 Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience Jul 10 500 392 Provincial Nominee Program July 20 511 744 Canadian Experience Class July 21 2,000 516 French / Occupation-Based Later this week TBD TBD July 2026 Total (Confirmed) — 10,545 — CEC candidates who scored 516 or above and submitted profiles before the tie-breaking timestamp should check their accounts for an invitation.
Candidates who narrowly missed should consider retaking IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF to improve their CRS scores before the next CEC round.
Exploring provincial nominee programs in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba can open a parallel pathway to permanent residence.
Candidates with strong French language results should prepare for an anticipated French category draw that may follow later this week.
Keeping an Express Entry profile accurate with current work experience, education credentials, and language test results is essential before the next round.
The July 21 CEC draw indicates that IRCC is running a biweekly cadence with two full draw clusters per month in the second half of 2026.
With 2,000 invitations at a CRS cutoff of 516, this round offered a slightly more accessible entry point than the July 7 round at 517.
July 2026 has now delivered over 10,000 confirmed Express Entry invitations across six draws, the strongest monthly output since the first quarter of the year.
Candidates should monitor IRCC announcements closely for a potential French language or occupation-based draw later this week to close out the second July cluster.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the CRS cutoff in the July 21, 2026, Canadian Experience Class draw?
The CRS cutoff in the July 21, 2026 Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draw was 516. IRCC issued 2,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence in this round. The cutoff dropped one point from the previous CEC draw on July 7, which had a threshold of 517 with the same invitation count of 2,000.
Why did the CEC CRS cutoff drop from 517 to 516 in July 2026?
The CRS cutoff dropped one point because the 14-day gap between the July 7 and July 21 CEC draws allowed the Express Entry pool to rebuild with new candidates entering at scores above 516. IRCC issued the same 2,000 invitations in both rounds, meaning the cutoff change reflects pool dynamics rather than a change in invitation volume.
Has IRCC confirmed a biweekly Express Entry draw schedule in 2026?
No, IRCC has not formally confirmed a fixed biweekly Express Entry schedule for 2026. However, two distinct draw clusters in July indicate a roughly biweekly pattern this month.
How many Express Entry invitations has IRCC issued in July 2026?
IRCC has issued 10,545 confirmed Express Entry invitations in July 2026 across six draws. The PNP draws on July 6 and 20, sending 534 and 511, respectively; the CEC draws on July 7 and 21, each issuing 2,000; and the French language draw on July 9 delivered 5,000. Additional rounds may follow later this week.
What is the Canadian Experience Class in Express Entry?
The Canadian Experience Class is one of three federal immigration programs managed under Express Entry. CEC targets candidates who have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the three years before applying. Eligible occupations must fall under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories, covering management, professional, technical, and skilled trade roles.
Fact-Check: All data in this article, including the CRS cutoff score of 516, the 2,000 invitation count, and the tie-breaking timestamp, was verified against official Express Entry draw results published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on July 21, 2026. CEC draw comparison figures from July 7 and historical CRS trend data were cross-referenced with IRCC Ministerial Instructions and published pool distributions.
Disclaimer: This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional immigration advice. Express Entry eligibility and CRS scores depend on individual circumstances that may change without notice. Readers should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or licensed immigration lawyer before acting on any information presented here.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- A Mid-2026 Review for Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan set the 2026 target for admissions under the Provincial Nominee Program at 91,500. This accounts for nearly 24 percent of overall permanent residence admissions into Canada.
The first half of 2026 saw significant activity in the number of invitations to apply and nominations issued. Some provinces restructured their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), while others narrowed down on priority occupations.
With Canadian immigration more competitive than ever, prospective applicants need to consider every available pathway.
No immigration strategy is complete without exploring provincial nominee programs, making it increasingly important to understand how PNPs are changing, where opportunities may exist, the current state of play, and what applicants might expect for the remainder of the year.
This article looks at ITAs and nominations issued by provinces in the first half of 2026 and how they have performed relative to their provincial nomination allocation for the year.
Join 195,000+ newcomers who rely on Moving2Canada for clear, timely updates. Sign up for the Moving2Canada newsletter. The only four-times-a-week immigration newsletter covering what you need to know about Canadian immigration, employment, and life in Canada. Sign up for the Moving2Canada newsletter today.
Key Takeaways
- Ontario issued 13,663 invitations to apply in the first half of 2026, before overhauling its streams entirely in June.
- Alberta issued 3,261 nominations in the first half of 2026, using just under half of its 6,403 annual allocation across 56 draws.
- BC issued approximately 2,764 invitations to apply under its Skills Immigration stream against a 5,254 nomination allocation.
- Saskatchewan issued 2,628 nominations, using 55 percent of its allocation.
- Manitoba issued 2,167 nominations through May, against a 6,239 annual allocation.
- Atlantic Canada’s four provincial nominee programs collectively issued more than 6,200 invitations to apply in the first half of 2026.
- Health care and skilled trades were priority sectors for almost all the provinces.
Table of Contents
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Issued Over 13,000 ITAs Before the Overhaul
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program issued 13,663 invitations to apply (not nominations) in the first half of 2026. The province has a nomination allocation of 14,119 for 2026.
- The Employer Job Offer stream drove most of the ITA volume, with 11,635 invitations issued. Within that stream, health care and early childhood education candidates received 3,302 invitations, the highest of any occupation-specific category. Skilled trades candidates received 1,404, and mining candidates received 759.
- Location-specific rounds for the GTA, Northern Ontario, Lanark or Leeds and Grenville, and Francophone candidates with a job offer accounted for a further 1,972 invitations combined.
- The Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams together accounted for 2,028 invitations before being permanently revoked as part of the OINP overhaul.
In June 2026, Ontario replaced eight existing streams with a single Ontario Workforce Priority stream. The new stream has three pathways: one for TEER 0-3 workers, one for TEER 4-5 workers, and one for self-employed physicians.
Our Prediction for OINP for the Second Half of 2026
The OINP’s expression of interest system is currently closed and is expected to open later this summer. No reopening date has been announced.
Given the volume of ITAs that have already been issued, we expect H2 to be slow for OINP. Based on the ITAs issued in the first half of the year alone, Ontario could potentially fill 96 percent of its nomination allocation.
The province may also launch Phase 2 of the OINP in the second half, which is expected to include pathways for healthcare workers (including those without a job offer) and entrepreneurs.
What This Means for OINP Candidates
Until the EOI system reopens, no new EOIs can be submitted. If you’re interested in the OINP, we recommend using this time to evaluate your eligibility for the three pathways under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
A job offer from an Ontario employer is a mandatory requirement for most applicants, so if you don’t have one yet, now is the time to focus on your job search.
If you’ve already received an ITA and have applied for a nomination, your application will be processed according to the eligibility requirements of the previous streams.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) Used Almost Half Its Allocation in the First Half
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program held 56 draws across its worker streams in the first half of 2026. The province issued 3,261 nominations, using just under half of its 6,403 annual allocation.
The province allocated 5,165 nomination spaces — 80.6 percent of its 2026 allocation — to non-Express Entry PNP streams.
- The Alberta Opportunity Stream issued 6,032 invitations to apply to candidates already living and working in Alberta across eight rounds. This number alone accounts for almost the entire nomination allocation available to the province, which means that not everyone getting an ITA under this stream should expect a provincial nomination this year. In the first half of 2026, Alberta had issued 1,692 nominations under this stream.
- The Rural Renewal Stream issued 563 nominations, against its allocation of 1,000.
- The Tourism and Hospitality Stream issued 118 nominations.
- The Dedicated Health Care Pathways used 158 nominations against a 500-space allocation, with 342 spaces still available.
642 nominations were issued through Express Entry-aligned streams, representing roughly 20 percent of the total. This included:
- The Accelerated Tech Pathway issued 316 nominations, using over 52 percent of its spaces.
- Priority sector draws covering manufacturing, construction and skilled trades, health care, agriculture, and aviation together saw 16 draws and 822 ITAs. Mid-way through the year, only 326 nominations had been issued under this stream.
With about half of Alberta’s nomination allocation still available, most streams have room to remain active through the rest of the year.
Our Prediction for AAIP for the Second Half of 2026
About half of Alberta’s nomination allocation is still available for the year. We expect priority sectors, including health care, technology, construction, and manufacturing, to continue driving draw activity in the months ahead.
The Dedicated Health Care Pathways and Entrepreneur Streams both have almost 60-70 percent of their allocation room left.
The Tourism and Hospitality Stream only has 32 spaces left and may not see significant activity before year’s end.
What This Means for AAIP Candidates
If you are in the AAIP pool or planning to submit an EOI, the program has significant nomination room left for H2 2026. The province has several streams available, both through and outside the Express Entry system.
Processing times for AAIP applications vary by stream and range between 2 to 9 months. This means if you’re hoping to get a provincial nomination in 2027, now is a good time to start submitting an EOI.
BC Provincial Nominee Program Prioritized High Economic Impact Candidates
The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued approximately 2,764 invitations to apply under its Skills Immigration stream in the first half of 2026.
Although the province has a nomination allocation of 5,254 for 2026, it did not disclose how many nominations have been issued to date.
In April 2026, BC reorganized its program around three priorities: Care, Build, and Innovate. The entry-level and Semi-Skilled stream was permanently closed as part of the overhaul and plans to launch student-specific streams for international graduates were cancelled.
From January through April, all Skills Immigration draws focused on High Economic Impact candidates. Targeted draws for Care and Build candidates were conducted after the restructuring.
Here is how invitations to apply broke down under the Skills Immigration stream in H1:
- High Economic Impact (Innovate): 2,089 ITAs across five draws
- Build: Construction Trades: 249 ITAs
- Care: Health: 234 ITAs
- Care: Childcare: 177 ITAs
- Care: Veterinary: 15 ITAs
As part of its Care priority, BC also announced a one-time initiative targeting up to 250 rural health care workers in cleaning, caretaking, and security roles. Registration for this pathway opened June 15 and closes August 31, 2026.
BC also conducted seven Entrepreneur stream draws in H1, issuing 78 invitations under the base stream and fewer than 25 under the regional stream.
Our Prediction for BC PNP for the Second Half of 2026
With roughly half of BC’s 2026 nomination room still estimated to be available, draw activity is likely to continue for the rest of the year. We expect the province to continue focusing on the occupations identified under the Care, Build, and Innovate categories in the second half of 2026.
What This Means for BC PNP Candidates
If your occupation falls under the 36 Care occupations or nine Build trades, you may have a chance at receiving an ITA through targeted draws in the second half of 2026.
If you are currently working in BC, with an annual salary of $120,000 or more, the High Economic Impact pathway under Innovate may also be an option. That pathway has consistently run the highest volume of draws so far this year.
If you’re a semi-skilled or unskilled worker outside of the province’s priority sectors, there is currently no pathway for you under the BC PNP.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) Used 55 Percent of Its Allocation by June
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program issued 2,628 nominations as of June 30, 2026, using 55 percent of its 4,761 annual allocation.
SINP divides its nomination room into three categories. Priority sectors, including health care, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy, and technology, have at least 50 percent of the annual allocation reserved for them. Candidates in priority sectors can apply at any time, including from outside Canada.
Three sectors are capped: accommodation and food services, trucking, and retail trade. Together these account for a maximum of 25 percent of the annual allocation.
Candidates in capped sectors can only apply during designated intake windows and only if their work permits are close to expiry.
- Priority sectors: 1,466 nominations issued against 2,380 reserved spaces, using 62 percent of that room.
- Capped sectors: 718 of 1,190 nomination spaces filled. Competition within each intake window is high and spaces fill on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Other sectors: 444 of 1,191 nomination spaces used, with 62 percent of spaces still available.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) Issued 2,167 Nominations Through May 2026
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program issued 2,167 nominations between January and May 2026, against an annual allocation of 6,239.
Of those, 697 were “enhanced” nominations, meaning they are aligned with the Express Entry system. Nomination numbers for June have not been released yet.
In Manitoba, the invitation to apply is called a “letter of advice to apply.” Between January and June, Manitoba held 12 rounds and issued 1,833 letters of advice to apply.
- The Skilled Worker Stream accounted for 1,210 letters of advice to apply, or 66 percent of the total.
- 537 letters of advice to apply went to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile and job seeker validation code.
Manitoba also conducted two occupation-specific selection rounds in the first half of 2026.
- Health care candidates received 192 letters of advice to apply.
- Education candidates, including secondary school teachers, elementary and kindergarten teachers, early childhood educators and assistants, and teacher assistants, received 431.
Our Prediction for SINP and MPNP for the Second Half of 2026
In Saskatchewan, priority sector candidates still have roughly 45 percent of the overall allocation available and can apply at any time. For capped sector candidates, 40 percent of allocated spaces are still available, but competition is intense.
We also expect Manitoba’s PNP to remain active, with nearly 66 percent of its nomination room remaining for the final seven months of the year.
Occupation-specific selections for health care and education in the first half of the year suggest these will remain priorities for draws through December.
What This Means for SINP and MPNP Candidates
Both Saskatchewan and Manitoba have identified priority occupations for their provincial nominee programs. If you’re interested in entering the pool or are already in one of these pools, you have a better chance of receiving an ITA if you’re in a priority sector.
Saskatchewan also conducts periodic intakes for capped sectors. If you’re in the accommodation and food services, trucking, or retail trade sectors, the September 7 intake is the next opportunity to submit an employer position assessment.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) Issued 2,352 ITAs in the First Half of 2026
New Brunswick issued the most invitations to apply of the four Atlantic provinces in the first half of 2026, with 2,352 ITAs across three streams.
The province has not confirmed its 2026 nomination allocation but based on the increase seen across other provinces, we estimate its 2026 allocation to be approximately 3,600 nomination spaces.
- The New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream accounted for 1,300 ITAs, focused on New Brunswick graduates and candidates with local work experience.
- The Strategic Initiative, which includes Francophone workers, issued 716 ITAs.
- The Express Entry Stream issued 336 ITAs, with most rounds focused on health care, professional and IT occupations, education, social and community services, construction trades, and manufacturing.
Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP) Saw Its Streams Narrow
Nova Scotia restructured its program in February 2026, consolidating 10 streams into four: Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate, Entrepreneur, and Nova Scotia Express Entry. The changes applied only to new EOI submissions. Candidates already in the pool were not affected.
Between January and May, the province issued 2,040 invitations to apply, with activity focused on health care, skilled trades, and other priority occupations. The province’s allocation, though not publicly disclosed, is estimated to be around 4,125 nomination spaces, suggesting considerable room remains for the second half of the year.
NLPNP Issued 1,246 ITAs By June 2026
Newfoundland and Labrador issued 1,246 invitations to apply in the first half of 2026. Based on increases seen across other provinces, its 2026 allocation is estimated at approximately 2,000 nomination spaces.
PEI PNP Issued 658 ITAs in the First Half of 2026
Prince Edward Island PNP issued 658 invitations to apply under its Labour Impact and Express Entry streams combined in the first half of the year. The province did not disclose how ITAs were split between the two streams.
PEI’s 2026 allocation is estimated at approximately 1,340 nomination spaces. The province holds draws on a pre-set monthly schedule, with six more draws expected before year’s end.
Our Prediction for Atlantic Canada PNPs for the Second Half of 2026
Health care and skilled trades appear as priority sectors across most Atlantic programs, a pattern that is likely to continue in the second half of the year. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have not confirmed their allocations for the year but have remained active so far.
Newfoundland and Labrador has issued ITAs equivalent to roughly 62 percent of its estimated 2026 allocation, the highest proportion of any Atlantic province at the halfway mark.
That leaves an estimated 750 spaces still available, though how many of the ITAs already issued convert to nominations will affect how much room the program has left.
Of the four Atlantic provinces, PEI is the most predictable in terms of timing, with monthly draws scheduled through December. With the other three provinces, predicting a draw cadence is hard but the ITA volume so far suggests there is still room for further rounds.
What Atlantic Canada PNP Candidates Should Watch for in H2 2026
Although Nova Scotia and New Brunswick restructured their PNPs to focus on priority occupations, Nova Scotia recently expanded these selection priorities to include in-province workers in other sectors as well.
All four of these provinces prioritize candidates already working in the community and employer support is an advantage.
The Atlantic provinces also select candidates through the federal Atlantic Immigration Program, so their selection room goes beyond just PNP allocations.
Based on the ITA numbers, the Atlantic provinces likely have around half their nomination room available for the year, so if you’ve been planning to submit an EOI, now is a good time to do so.
What This Means for Candidates Exploring Provincial Nominee Programs
For the provinces that disclosed nomination numbers — specifically Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba — roughly half of the 2026 nomination allocation remains available.
For Ontario and BC, which reported ITAs rather than nominations, it is hard to accurately predict how much nomination room is left for 2026.
Health care and skilled trades emerged as priorities across many provincial programs in the first half of 2026. However, candidates should bear in mind that labour market priorities can change.
This was made evident by structural and directional changes across the OINP, BC PNP, and Nova Scotia PNP in the first half of the year.
If you were in Ontario’s EOI pool under one of the eight former streams and did not receive an invitation, your EOI has been withdrawn. If you qualify under the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream, you will need to register again once the new EOI system opens later this summer.
Finally, keep in mind that submitting an EOI for a provincial nominee program is only the first step and processing at each stage takes time. This means an ITA or nomination received now will likely not result in permanent residence until 2027.
If you are hoping to secure a provincial nomination, follow our live PNP tracker for the latest draws and program updates and sign up for our newsletter to have the latest immigration news delivered straight to your inbox.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- New Ontario Workforce Priority Stream 2026 Eligibility And How To Apply
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Ontario has now officially published the complete eligibility requirements for the new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream in 2026 after the province shut down all 8 former OINP streams last month.
The eligibility criteria for the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream are now officially confirmed and available on the provincial government’s website.
Every requirement for all 3 pathways, covering skilled workers, essential workers, and self-employed physicians, is now publicly accessible for the first time since the June 26 overhaul.
The updated webpages reflect amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, which came into force on June 25, 2026.
Ontario has confirmed that the Expression of Interest system for the new stream is expected to launch later this summer, though no specific date has been announced.
Table of Contents
What Changes In OINP In 2026
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development eliminated all 8 existing OINP streams and replaced them with a single new stream called the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
This is the largest structural overhaul in the history of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
The 8 former streams that are now permanently closed are:
# Former OINP Stream Status 1 Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Closed 2 Employer Job Offer: International Student Closed 3 Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Closed 4 Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Closed 5 Express Entry: Skilled Trades Closed 6 Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Closed 7 Masters Graduate Closed 8 PhD Graduate Closed No further invitations will be issued under any of these former pathways.
Applications that were already submitted under a former stream before June 26 will continue to be assessed under the rules that were in effect at the time of submission.
EOIs registered under the former streams that did not result in an invitation to apply will be automatically withdrawn over the coming weeks.
The replacement is a single unified stream with 3 distinct pathways based on the applicant’s occupation and licensing status.
New Ontario Workforce Priority Stream 3 Pathways
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream covers workers across all National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER levels from 0 through 5, plus a dedicated pathway for self-employed physicians.
TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, the federal system used to classify occupations under Canada’s NOC system.
Your TEER level determines which pathway you can apply under, and each pathway has its own language, education, and work experience requirements.
The following table summarizes the core eligibility criteria across all 3 pathways at a glance.
Ontario Workforce Priority Stream: Pathway Comparison
Requirement TEER 0–3 Pathway TEER 4–5 Pathway Self-Employed Physicians Job Offer Full-time, permanent Full-time, permanent Not required Language (CLB) CLB 6 (CLB 5 for certain occupations) CLB 4 Not specified Education Post-secondary degree or diploma (ECA if foreign) Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent CPSO registration required Work Experience Option A: 6 months consecutive (last 12 months, same employer) Option B: 2 years cumulative (last 5 years, same NOC) Option C: 3 months (recent Ontario graduates) 9 months cumulative (last 2 years, with job offer employer) N/A Licensing Exemption Yes—licensed professionals may be exempt from work experience No—9 months with job offer from the employer required Must hold CPSO registration Eligible Occupations All NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 All NOC TEER 4 and 5 Physicians with CPSO + OHIP billing Source: Ontario Regulation 422/17 as amended June 25, 2026, and ontario.ca. TEER 0–3 Pathway For Skilled Workers Eligibility
The TEER 0–3 pathway is designed for workers with a full-time, permanent job offer in higher-skilled occupations.
TEER 0 through 3 occupations generally include the following types of roles:
TEER Level Occupation Type Examples TEER 0 Management occupations Financial managers, restaurant managers, construction managers TEER 1 Professional occupations (usually require a university degree) Software engineers, accountants, registered nurses, lawyers TEER 2 Technical and skilled occupations (usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship) Computer network technicians, paralegals, electrical technicians TEER 3 Intermediate occupations (usually require a combination of on-the-job training and secondary school) Administrative assistants, dental assistants, cooks, bakers Language Requirement
Applicants who are not recent Ontario graduates must demonstrate English or French language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6 or higher in all 4 abilities: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
The language test must have been completed within 2 years before the application.
Accepted language tests include IELTS General Training, CELPIP General, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada.
For certain occupations, the language requirement is reduced to CLB 5 or higher. These occupations include:
Category Occupations Eligible For CLB 5 Transport Truck drivers, transit operators Skilled Trades Trades workers covered under TEER 3 Food Industry Cooks, butchers, bakers, chefs Natural Resources Natural resource occupations (forestry, mining support, etc.) Manufacturing Production occupations Health Care NOC 33102 — nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates Applicants in these occupation groups who qualify for CLB 5 also face a lower education requirement, requiring only a Canadian secondary school diploma or its foreign equivalent with an ECA instead of a post-secondary credential.
Recent Ontario graduates are exempt from the TEER 0–3 language requirement entirely.
Education Requirement
The minimum education requirement depends on the occupation:
Applicant Type Minimum Education Most TEER 0–3 applicants Post-secondary degree or diploma from a recognized institution CLB 5 occupations (trades, transport, food, health care, natural resources, production) Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent foreign credential with ECA All applicants with foreign credentials Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization such as WES, completed within the past 5 years Work Experience Requirement
Applicants can qualify through 1 of 3 work experience options:
Option Requirement Who It Fits Option A 6 consecutive months of full-time paid work in the last 12 months in the job offer position with the job offer employer Workers currently employed by their sponsoring employer Option B 2 years of cumulative paid full-time work in the last 5 years in the same NOC occupation as the job offer Workers with broader experience in the same occupation across multiple employers Option C 3 consecutive months in the last 12 months in the job-offer position (recent Ontario graduates only) Recent graduates from Ontario post-secondary institutions already working for their sponsoring employer Applicants who already hold a valid licence to practise in a regulated profession in Ontario may be exempt from the work experience requirement entirely.
This licensing exemption applies only to the TEER 0–3 pathway and does not extend to TEER 4–5 applicants.
Alternate NOC Work Experience
The regulation permits alternate work experience only in specifically listed occupation combinations.
These include:
Higher-Level Occupation (Experience Held) Lower-Level Occupation (Job Offer) Certain engineering professionals Engineering technical occupations Pharmacists Pharmacy assistant roles Registered or licensed practical nurses Nurse aide roles The rule is not open to every related higher-level occupation.
Applicants should verify that their specific NOC combination is expressly listed in the regulation before relying on this provision.
TEER 4–5 Pathway For Essential Workers Eligibility
The TEER 4–5 pathway opens the door for workers in essential and intermediate occupations who have a full-time, permanent job offer in Ontario, covering roles in healthcare support, transport, food service, agriculture, manufacturing, and other TEER 4 and 5 occupations.
This represents a significant broadening compared to the former In-Demand Skills stream, which was limited to a specific list of eligible occupations.
Under the new pathway, all TEER 4 and TEER 5 occupations are eligible, including but not limited to:
TEER Level Occupation Type Examples TEER 4 Intermediate occupations (usually require secondary school or occupation-specific training) Home support workers, transport truck helpers, retail salespersons, food counter attendants TEER 5 Labouring and elemental occupations (usually require on-the-job training) Construction trades helpers, fruit and vegetable harvesters, industrial cleaners, material handlers Language Requirement
Applicants must demonstrate English or French language proficiency at CLB 4 or higher in all 4 abilities.
This is a new requirement compared to the former In-Demand Skills stream, which previously had no mandatory language benchmark for certain TEER 4 and 5 workers.
The language test must have been completed within 2 years before the application.
Accepted tests are the same as the TEER 0–3 pathway: IELTS General Training, CELPIP General, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada.
Education Requirement
The minimum education requirement is a Canadian secondary school diploma or its equivalent foreign credential accompanied by an ECA report.
This is a lower bar than the TEER 0–3 pathway, which requires a post-secondary degree or diploma for most applicants.
Work Experience Requirement
Applicants must demonstrate 9 months of cumulative work experience in the last 2 years in the job offer position with the job offer employer.
This is the key difference from the TEER 0–3 pathway:
Requirement TEER 0–3 TEER 4–5 Work experience duration 6 months (Option A) or 2 years (Option B) or 3 months (Option C) 9 months cumulative only Must be with the job offer employer? Only for Options A and C Yes—always Multiple employer experiences accepted? Yes, under Option B (same NOC) No Recent graduate reduced requirement? Yes—3 months No Licensing exemption from work experience? Yes No The experience must be specifically with the employer making the job offer, not just in the same occupation with a different employer.
There is no licensing exemption for TEER 4–5 applicants, and there is no reduced work experience option for recent graduates under this pathway.
Self-Employed Physicians Pathway Eligibility
The self-employed physicians pathway is the only track in the redesigned OINP that does not require a job offer from an Ontario employer.
To qualify, physicians must meet all 3 of the following conditions simultaneously:
# Requirement Detail 1 CPSO membership Must be a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 2 Certificate of registration Must hold a valid certificate in 1 of 3 eligible classes: independent practice, academic, or provisional 3 OHIP billing eligibility Must be eligible to bill through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan This pathway addresses a long-standing barrier where many physicians work under independent practice arrangements rather than traditional employment contracts, making previous employer-focused pathways difficult to access.
Ontario has been actively recruiting physicians through targeted OINP draws throughout 2026, and the federal government launched a dedicated Express Entry physician category earlier this year.
New Ontario Workforce Priority Stream Scoring System
Employment / labour market factors
NOC TEER category
This is prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer or if you are applying as a self-employed physician.
- NOC TEER 0 or 1 — 9 points
- NOC TEER 2 or 3 — 6 points
- NOC TEER 4 — 0 points
- NOC TEER 5 — 0 points
NOC broad occupational category
This is prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer or if you are applying as a self-employed physician.
- Occupational Category 3 — 10 points
- Occupational Category 7 — 8 points
- Occupational Category 2 — 6 points
- Occupational Category 0, 1, 4, 8, 9 — 4 points
- Occupational Category 5, 6 — 2 points
Hourly wage
This is prepopulated in the EOI if applying with a job offer. For self-employed physicians, the hourly wage scoring factor is not applicable.
- $40 per hour or higher — 15 points
- $35 to $39.99 per hour — 12 points
- $30 to $34.99 per hour — 10 points
- $25 to $29.99 per hour — 8 points
- $20 to $24.99 per hour — 5 points
- Less than $20 per hour — 0 points
Ontario work experience
Job offer applicants
- Over 24 months working in job offer position — 18 points
- 13 to 24 months working in job offer position — 15 points
- 6 to 12 months working in job offer position — 12 points
- Less than 6 months working in job offer position or not currently working in position — 0 points
If the applicant has less than 6 months work experience in the job offer position, the scoring is as follows:
- Over 24 months working in Ontario — 12 points
- 13 to 24 months working in Ontario — 9 points
- 6 to 12 months working in Ontario — 6 points
- Less than 6 months working in Ontario or not currently working in Ontario — 0 points
Ontario work experience
Self-employed physicians
- Over 24 months (2 years or more) cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 18 points
- 13 months up to 24 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 15 points
- 6 months up to 12 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 12 points
- Less than 6 months cumulative medical practice in Ontario — 0 points
Canadian work experience: earnings history
Based on a Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency in the last 5 years.
- $70k or more earnings in a year — 8 points
- $50k to $69,999 — 6 points
- $30k to $49,999 — 4 points
- Under $30k earnings in a year — 0 points
Legal status in Canada
The work or study permit must confer legal status.
- With valid work permit — 10 points
- With valid study permit — 5 points
- Without valid work or study permit — 0 points
Education
Highest level of education
Canadian credential or ECA required.
- Doctorate or degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry — 10 points
- Masters degree — 8 points
- University certificate or diploma above a bachelor level — 6 points
- Bachelors degree or equivalent — 6 points
- Ontario College Graduate Certificate — 5 points
- University certificate or diploma below a bachelor level — 5 points
- College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma that is not an Ontario College Graduate Certificate — 5 points
- Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma — 5 points
- Less than college or trade certificate — 0 points
Number of Canadian education credentials
Credential must be a post-secondary education credential from an eligible Canadian institution that takes at least one year to complete on a full-time basis.
- More than one Canadian credential — 10 points
- One Canadian credential — 5 points
- No Canadian credential — 0 points
Language
Official language ability (English or French)
You must take an approved English or French language test, and you will receive points based on your lowest CLB level across the 4 language areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
If you have taken both an English and French test, you will receive points based on the test with the higher CLB level. We do not accept Academic or One Skill Retake tests.
- CLB 9 or higher — 15 points
- CLB 8 — 12 points
- CLB 7 — 8 points
- CLB 6 — 4 points
- CLB 5 or lower — 0 points
Knowledge of official languages
To receive points for 2 official languages, you must have at least CLB 6 across the 4 language areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking) for both tests.
- 2 official languages — 10 points
- 1 official language — 5 points
Regionalization
Regional immigration: location of work location in job offer
For EOI registrations with a job offer, regional immigration will be determined based on the location of the work location in the job offer entered by the employer.
For self-employed physicians, regional immigration will be determined based on your Ontario practice address per your OHIP billing number registration.
- Northern Ontario — 15 points
- Eastern Ontario — 10 points
- Central Ontario outside GTA — 10 points
- Southwestern Ontario — 10 points
- Inside GTA (except Toronto) — 5 points
- Toronto — 0 points
For regionalization scoring factors, the regions are defined as follows:
- Northern Ontario — includes the following Census Divisions: Muskoka, Haliburton, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Manitoulin, Sudbury, Greater Sudbury/Grand Sudbury, Timiskaming, Cochrane, Algoma, Thunder Bay, Rainy River and Kenora
- Eastern Ontario — includes the following Census Divisions: Frontenac, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland, Ottawa, Peterborough, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
- Central Ontario (excluding Greater Toronto Area) — includes the following Census Divisions: Dufferin, Grey, Simcoe, Waterloo and Wellington
- Southwestern Ontario — includes the following Census Divisions: Brant, Bruce, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Oxford and Perth
- Inside Greater Toronto Area (except Toronto) — includes the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel and York
- Toronto — includes the City of Toronto
Employer Eligibility Requirements
A qualifying job offer under the TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 pathways requires an eligible Ontario employer.
Employers must meet all of the following criteria:
# Requirement Detail 1 Business operating history Must have been in active business operation for at least 3 years 2 Gross annual revenue Minimum thresholds apply based on business location (GTA vs. rural) 3 Full-time, permanent job offer The position must have no predetermined end date and provide a minimum of 1,560 hours per year 4 Business need The position must be urgently needed for the employer’s business 5 Ontario work location The work must occur primarily in Ontario 6 Wage level Must meet the required level for the occupation and region 7 No labour dispute The job must not be affected by a labour dispute at the time of application 8 Employee threshold Must meet the minimum number of Canadian citizens and permanent residents on staff Revenue Thresholds
Under the former OINP structure, the minimum gross annual revenue thresholds were:
Employer Location Former Minimum Gross Revenue Greater Toronto Area (GTA) $1,000,000 Outside GTA $500,000 The redesigned program introduces reduced gross annual revenue requirements for employers located in rural communities, defined as census divisions with a population under 150,000.
Employers in rural Ontario should confirm whether their business location qualifies for the lower threshold under the new regulation.
Wage Requirement
The wage must generally meet or exceed the regional median wage for the occupation.
However, a job offer for a recent Ontario graduate under the TEER 0–3 category may meet the applicable regional low-wage level instead of the median wage.
This lower wage threshold is created expressly by the new regulation and applies only to qualifying recent Ontario graduates.
Employer Portal
Employers who previously registered in the OINP Employer Portal do not need to register again.
However, once the Employer Portal reopens, they will need to submit a new job offer and a new application for approval of an employment position under the redesigned Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
Job offers and employment position approvals from the former streams do not carry over to the new system.
How To Apply For New Ontario Workforce Priority stream
Once the portal reopens, the application process will follow these steps.
Candidates can look up their NOC code on the Government of Canada’s NOC website to confirm their TEER level before proceeding.
Step Action Detail 1 Confirm your TEER category Look up your occupation’s NOC code and confirm which TEER level (0–3, 4–5, or physician) you fall under. This determines your pathway and all eligibility criteria. 2 Take or retake your language test Ensure you have a valid IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF score meeting CLB 6 (TEER 0–3), CLB 5 (certain occupations), or CLB 4 (TEER 4–5). Tests must be within 2 years. Recent Ontario graduates under TEER 0–3 are exempt. 3 Obtain or verify your ECA TEER 0–3 applicants with foreign post-secondary credentials need a valid ECA (e.g., from WES). TEER 4–5 applicants need proof of a Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent with ECA. 4 Secure a qualifying job offer Must be full-time, permanent, from an eligible Ontario employer meeting all OINP employer requirements. Wages must meet the regional median (or low-wage level for TEER 0–3 recent graduates). 5 The employer registers job offer Once the Employer Portal reopens, your employer must register the job offer and submit an application for approval of the employment position. Previous registrations carry over, but new job offers must be submitted. 6 Register your EOI Create a new Expression of Interest profile under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. Old EOI profiles do not carry over. EOI scoring criteria will be published when the system launches. 7 Receive an invitation to apply Ontario will issue invitations through periodic draws from the EOI pool, typically targeted by region, sector, or occupation. 8 Submit your complete application After receiving an invitation, submit your application through the OINP e-Filing Portal. Select the correct stream — you cannot change your selection after submission. If you select the wrong stream, you must withdraw and reapply. 9 Receive your provincial nomination If Ontario approves the application, you receive a provincial nomination certificate. 10 Apply for permanent residence through IRCC Submit a permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada through the applicable Provincial Nominee Program process. IRCC makes the final decision on permanent residence. The province has historically conducted targeted draws based on region, sector, and occupation, and the new system is expected to continue this approach.
Ontario’s March 2026 draws reopened the Masters and PhD streams for the first time since 2024 before the closure, following earlier targeted rounds.
Important: As of writing on July 20, 2026, the OINP e-Filing Portal is undergoing system maintenance. Expression of Interest registrations and the creation of new job offers in the Employer Portal are temporarily unavailable. Ontario has confirmed the system is expected to reopen later this summer, but no specific date has been announced. Candidates and employers should monitor the OINP Program Updates page for the reopening announcement.
What Happens To Masters And PhD Graduates
The former Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams were among the 8 pathways permanently closed on June 26, 2026. The regulatory amendments underpinning the closure came into force on June 25, 2026.
Under the current Phase 1 structure, international graduates will generally need a qualifying full-time, permanent job offer to access the Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
Candidates without a qualifying job offer may consider federal options such as the Canadian Experience Class, depending on their work experience and Express Entry eligibility.
Ontario has indicated that Phase 2 of the OINP redesign may introduce additional streams, but no confirmed eligibility rules or launch dates have been announced.
The Phase 2 streams under consideration include:
Proposed Phase 2 Stream Status Priority Healthcare Stream No confirmed eligibility rules or launch date Exceptional Talent Stream No confirmed eligibility rules or launch date Redesigned Entrepreneur Stream No confirmed eligibility rules or launch date Ontario’s 2026 Nomination Allocation
Ontario received approximately 14,119 nomination spots for 2026 under the federal Provincial Nominee Program allocation.
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased the national PNP admissions target to 91,500 for 2026, up from 55,000 in 2025.
Provincial nominees receive a significant CRS boost in Express Entry PNP draws, making a provincial nomination 1 of the most effective pathways to permanent residence for candidates already in the Express Entry pool.
After nominations were already issued under the former streams before the June 26 closure, the remaining allocation is expected to flow through the Ontario Workforce Priority stream for the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
Ontario conducted multiple targeted OINP draws before the transition, issuing thousands of invitations across healthcare, mining, agriculture, and regional priority occupations.
The publication of the Ontario Workforce Priority stream eligibility criteria marks the end of the information gap that followed the June 26 overhaul.
Candidates and employers now have the full regulatory framework to assess eligibility, prepare documentation, and position themselves for the EOI system reopening later this summer.
Workers in Ontario with valid job offers should use the preparation window to confirm their NOC TEER category, take or retake language tests, and verify their educational credentials before the portal comes back online.
The candidates who are fully prepared when the system reopens will have a significant advantage in the first rounds of invitations under the new stream.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will Express Entry candidates linked to Ontario still receive PNP draws while the EOI system is closed?
The closure of the OINP EOI system affects new EOI registrations and invitations, not previously submitted applications. Candidates who already received an Ontario provincial nomination and had it reflected in their Express Entry profile before the closure will continue to be eligible for PNP-targeted Express Entry draws. No new EOIs or invitations can be issued under the Ontario Workforce Priority stream until its EOI system opens. Applications already submitted under the former streams will continue to be assessed under the rules in effect when they were filed. Candidates relying on a future Ontario nomination for their Express Entry strategy should plan for a gap of several weeks to months before new nominations begin flowing through the redesigned system.
Do TEER 4 and 5 workers still need an LMIA if they are applying through the Ontario Workforce Priority stream?
The OINP provincial nomination process and the LMIA process serve different purposes. A provincial nomination through the Ontario Workforce Priority stream supports a permanent residence application. An LMIA supports a temporary work permit. A worker may still need an LMIA to obtain or extend a work permit that allows them to work for the employer while their permanent residence application is being processed, unless they qualify for an LMIA-exempt work permit category. The 2 processes can run in parallel but are administered by different levels of government.
Can someone working remotely from Ontario for an employer based in another province apply under this stream?
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream requires the work to occur primarily in Ontario and the job offer must come from an employer with an active business operation in Ontario. A worker employed by an out-of-province company, even if the worker physically resides in Ontario, would generally not meet the employer eligibility requirements. The employer must be registered or eligible to register in the OINP Employer Portal, which requires an Ontario business presence meeting the minimum operating history, revenue, and employee thresholds.
How will the new EOI scoring system differ from the former OINP EOI points grid?
Ontario has not yet published the new EOI scoring criteria for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. The former EOI points grid awarded points for factors such as NOC skill level, work experience in Canada, earnings history, knowledge of official languages, and regional job offer location. The new scoring system may retain some of these factors, modify weightings, or introduce new criteria aligned with Ontario’s current workforce priorities. Candidates should monitor the official OINP Program Updates page for the announcement of the new EOI points grid, which is expected when the system reopens later this summer.
Are international students who graduated from Ontario colleges and universities still eligible under the new system?
Ontario graduates may still be eligible under the TEER 0–3 pathway as recent Ontario graduates, which has a reduced work experience requirement of 3 consecutive months in the last 12 months in the job-offer position. However, they must meet the remaining eligibility criteria, including the education requirement and a qualifying full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. Recent Ontario graduates are not subject to the TEER 0–3 language requirement. The former Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams, which did not require a job offer, are permanently closed. Graduates who do not have a qualifying job offer should explore federal immigration pathways such as the Canadian Experience Class or Post-Graduation Work Permit options.
Fact-Checked: All eligibility criteria in this article have been verified against the Ontario Workforce Priority stream webpage and Ontario Regulation 422/17 as amended and in force on June 25, 2026. Program update details verified against the official OINP 2026 Program Updates page.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice; readers should consult with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer for advice specific to their situation.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- Largest Manitoba PNP Draw Of 2026 Sends 2,146 Invitations
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program issued 2,146 Letters of Advice to Apply in Expression of Interest Draw #275 on July 16, 2026.
This is the largest single MPNP draw of 2026 by a wide margin, surpassing every previous round conducted this year.
The draw targeted five distinct pathways, with the completed post-secondary study in Manitoba selection accounting for 1,874 of the 2,146 total invitations.
A total of 825 of the candidates invited hold active Express Entry profiles, giving them a direct path to a 600-point CRS boost upon receiving their provincial nomination.
This draw signals an aggressive push by Manitoba to use its 2026 federal nomination allocation before the end of the year.
Table of Contents
Key Highlights of Draw #275
- MPNP issued 2,146 LAAs on July 16, 2026, the largest MPNP draw of the year.
- The completed post-secondary study in Manitoba pathway received 1,874 invitations, representing 87% of the total draw.
- A total of 825 candidates hold Express Entry profiles and will receive a 600-point CRS boost upon nomination.
- MPNP targeted three healthcare NOC codes under the occupation-specific selection with 24 invitations.
- The Francophone selection issued 84 LAAs to candidates with valid French language test results.
- The Graduate Internship Pathway under the International Education Stream received 78 invitations.
July 20 MPNP Draw at a Glance
The table below summarizes the official details of Expression of Interest Draw #275 as published by the MPNP.
Draw Detail Information Draw Number #275 Draw Date July 16, 2026 Program Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) Total LAAs Issued 2,146 Express Entry Aligned 825 of 2,146 Draw Type Expression of Interest (EOI) Full Breakdown of Invitations by Stream
Draw #275 distributed invitations across five distinct selection pathways under the MPNP.
Stream / Pathway LAAs Issued Completed Post-Secondary Study in Manitoba 1,874 Francophone Selection 84 Graduate Internship Pathway (IES–GIP) 78 Strategic Recruitment Initiative (SWS) 86 Occupation-Specific Selection (Healthcare) 24 Total 2,146 The completed post-secondary study in Manitoba pathway alone accounted for 87% of all invitations issued in this round.
Why the MPNP Study Pathway Dominated This Draw
The 1,874 invitations issued through the completed post-secondary study in Manitoba pathway represent the single largest selection in any MPNP draw category in 2026.
Candidates selected under this pathway declared that they or their spouse completed a post-secondary education program at a designated Manitoba institution.
Eligible candidates must provide transcripts and diplomas proving completion of their Manitoba program when submitting their full application.
MPNP has consistently prioritized local graduates in its immigration strategy, and this draw dramatically scales up that commitment.
International students currently studying in Manitoba should note this pathway as one of the strongest provincial routes to permanent residence in Canada.
Healthcare Occupation-Specific Selection
MPNP issued 24 invitations under the occupation-specific selection targeting three healthcare NOC codes.
NOC Code Occupation Title Stream 31100 Specialists in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine Healthcare 31101 Specialists in Surgery Healthcare 31102 General Practitioners and Family Physicians Healthcare Candidates needed to declare current employment in Manitoba in one of these unit groups to qualify for selection in this round.
The healthcare focus aligns with federal and provincial priorities to address critical clinical staffing shortages across Canada.
Francophone Selection
The MPNP issued 84 invitations to candidates who declared French as their language of communication and submitted valid French language test results.
This selection aligns with Canada’s federal target of achieving 9% Francophone immigration admissions outside Quebec by 2028.
Manitoba’s Francophone selection runs parallel to IRCC’s French language proficiency category draws in Express Entry, reinforcing the bilingual immigration priority at both levels.
Graduate Internship Pathway
The International Education Stream’s Graduate Internship Pathway issued 78 LAAs to candidates who declared meeting its eligibility requirements.
This pathway targets candidates who completed graduate-level internships through Manitoba research institutions and provincial projects.
The GIP provides a direct nomination route for advanced degree holders with research experience relevant to Manitoba’s economic priorities.
Strategic Recruitment Initiative
The MPNP issued 86 LAAs under the Skilled Worker Stream’s strategic recruitment pathways, including Employer Services, Francophone Community, Regional Communities, and TPP initiatives.
Of those 86 invitations, 18 went to candidates under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates.
Skilled Worker Stream candidates were only considered if they had been directly invited by the MPNP under one of these recruitment initiatives.
Express Entry Connection
A total of 825 of the 2,146 candidates invited in this draw declared active Express Entry profiles with valid job seeker validation codes.
Once these candidates receive their MPNP nomination, they will gain an automatic 600-point CRS boost in the Express Entry system.
Recent PNP Express Entry draws have issued invitations at CRS cutoffs between 708 and 744, meaning any nominee with a base score above 108 is virtually guaranteed an invitation.
The 825 Express Entry aligned candidates from this draw will enter the federal pool in the coming weeks, potentially affecting future PNP draw volumes.
Latest MPNP Draws In 2026
The table below shows the most recent MPNP Expression of Interest draws conducted in 2026.
Draw # Date LAAs Issued 275 July 16, 2026 2,146 274 July 2, 2026 77 273 June 18, 2026 124 272 June 4, 2026 104 271 May 21, 2026 96 270 May 7, 2026 Occupation-Specific Draw #275 issued more invitations than the previous five MPNP draws combined, underscoring its significance alongside aggressive provincial draw activity across Canada in 2026.
The MPNP has issued approximately 4,056 LAAs across all draws in 2026, working toward its federal allocation of 6,239 provincial nominations for the year.
Candidates who received an LAA in Draw #275 must submit a complete application to the MPNP within 60 days of their invitation.
Those selected under the completed study pathway must provide transcripts and diplomas confirming post-secondary completion in Manitoba.
Express Entry-aligned candidates should ensure their federal profiles remain up-to-date while awaiting their provincial nomination.
Candidates not selected in this round should keep their EOI profiles active, as MPNP conducts draws on a regular biweekly to monthly basis.
International students in the province should explore the completed study and Graduate Internship pathways as primary routes to nomination.
Draw #275 confirms that MPNP is accelerating its use of provincial nominee allocations in the second half of 2026.
With 2,146 invitations in a single round, the MPNP has dramatically expanded its reach to international graduates, healthcare workers, and Francophone candidates.
The 825 Express Entry-aligned candidates from this draw will strengthen the PNP nominee pool at the federal level in the coming weeks.
Candidates considering Manitoba as a destination should submit their Expression of Interest profiles now to be considered in future draws.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many invitations did MPNP Draw #275 issue on July 16, 2026?
Manitoba PNP Expression of Interest Draw #275 issued 2,146 Letters of Advice to Apply on July 16, 2026. This is the largest single MPNP draw of 2026. The completed post-secondary study in Manitoba pathway received 1,874 of those invitations, representing 87% of the total round.
How many Express Entry candidates were invited in Manitoba PNP Draw #275?
A total of 825 of the 2,146 candidates invited in Draw #275 declared active Express Entry profiles with valid job seeker validation codes. These candidates will receive an automatic 600 point CRS boost in Express Entry once they receive their Manitoba provincial nomination.
What healthcare occupations did Manitoba PNP Draw #275 target?
Draw #275 targeted three healthcare NOC codes under its occupation-specific selection: NOC 31100 for specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine, NOC 31101 for specialists in surgery, and NOC 31102 for general practitioners and family physicians. A total of 24 LAAs were issued across these occupations.
What is the MPNP completed post-secondary study pathway?
The completed post-secondary study in Manitoba pathway invites candidates who declared that they or their spouse completed a post-secondary education program at a designated Manitoba institution. In Draw #275, this pathway issued 1,874 LAAs, making it the dominant selection category in the round.
How many total invitations has the Manitoba PNP issued in 2026?
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has issued exactly 4,056 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) across all draws in 2026 as of July 16. Manitoba holds a federal allocation of 6,239 provincial nominations for the year 2026. Draw #275 alone accounted for 2,146 of those invitations.
Fact-Check: All data in this article, including the 2,146 invitation count, the stream-by-stream breakdown, the three healthcare NOC codes, and the 825 Express Entry-aligned figure, was verified against the official Expression of Interest Draw #275 results published by the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program on July 16, 2026. Federal nomination allocation figures were cross-referenced with IRCC-published data for 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional immigration advice. MPNP eligibility and selection criteria depend on individual circumstances that may change without notice. Readers should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or licensed immigration lawyer before acting on any information presented here.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- July 20 Express Entry Draw Issues 511 Invitations For Permanent Residence
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 511 invitations to apply for permanent residence through a Provincial Nominee Program draw on July 20, 2026.
The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff for this round surged to 744, a jump of 36 points from the 708 cutoff in the July 6 PNP draw.
This is the fifth Express Entry draw of July 2026, following PNP, CEC, and French language rounds in the first nine days of the month.
The Express Entry pool contained exactly 511 candidates in the 601 to 1200 score range, meaning IRCC invited every eligible PNP candidate above 600.
This draw also opens a potential second draw cluster for July, and the coming days will be critical in determining whether IRCC has returned to a biweekly schedule.
Table of Contents
July 20, 2026 Express Entry PNP Draw at a Glance
The table below summarizes the official draw details released by IRCC for this PNP round.
Draw Detail Information Program Provincial Nominee Program Draw Date July 20, 2026 Draw Time (UTC) 10:34:30 CRS Cutoff Score 744 Invitations Issued 511 Rank Required 511 or above Tie-Breaking Timestamp May 26, 2026, at 18:11:36 UTC The full text of the Ministerial Instruction for this draw is available on the IRCC website.
How the Tie-Breaking Rule Applied
IRCC applies a tie-breaking rule when multiple candidates share the same lowest CRS score in a draw round.
For this draw, IRCC set the tie-breaking timestamp at May 26, 2026, at 18:11:36 UTC.
Candidates who scored exactly 744 needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before that date and time to qualify.
The May 2026 timestamp indicates that the candidate at the cutoff had been in the pool for nearly two months before this draw.
Why the CRS Cutoff Surged 36 Points to 744
The CRS cutoff of 744 represents a 36-point jump from the 708 threshold in the July 6 PNP draw, a steep increase between consecutive PNP rounds this year.
A CRS score of 744 means that the lowest-ranked invited candidate held a base CRS score of 144 before adding the 600-point provincial nomination boost.
The Express Entry pool held exactly 511 candidates in the 601 to 1200 score range as of July 19, 2026.
IRCC issued exactly 511 invitations, which means the department invited every single candidate above the 600 point threshold.
The July 6 draw had already cleared most of the 601-plus pool, and the 511 candidates present on July 19 are largely new entrants who received nominations between draws.
These newer PNP candidates carry higher base CRS scores than the group invited on July 6, which explains the 36-point cutoff increase.
The smaller invitation count of 511 compared to 534 on July 6 also reflects the reduced number of PNP nominees available in the pool at draw time.
PNP Draw Comparison: July 6 vs July 20
The table below compares the two PNP draws held in July 2026, showing the shift in CRS cutoff, pool size, and invitation volume.
Metric July 6, 2026 PNP July 20, 2026 PNP Invitations Issued 534 511 CRS Cutoff Score 708 744 CRS Change — +36 points Candidates in 601–1200 525 (July 5 pool) 511 (July 19 pool) Total Pool Size 235,127 231,533 Tie-Breaking Timestamp June 4, 2026 May 26, 2026 The 36-point CRS increase is driven by the refreshed composition of the PNP candidate pool between the two draw dates.
Latest Express Entry Pool CRS Score Distribution
The Express Entry pool contained 231,533 candidates as of July 19, 2026, a decline of 3,594 from the July 5 snapshot.
The numbers below reflect the total number of candidates in the pool one day before this invitation round.
CRS Score Range Number of Candidates 601–1200 511 501–600 18,133 451–500 72,579 491–500 12,880 481–490 12,615 471–480 16,119 461–470 16,086 451–460 14,879 401–450 63,877 441–450 13,680 431–440 13,437 421–430 11,961 411–420 12,460 401–410 12,339 351–400 51,107 301–350 17,490 0–300 7,836 Total 231,533 Key Takeaways from the Pool Data
The total Express Entry pool dropped from 235,127 on July 5 to 231,533 on July 19, shedding 3,594 candidates in two weeks.
The 401 to 450 CRS range saw the largest decline, losing 1,941 candidates as profiles expired or candidates received invitations through other draws.
The 451 to 500 range dropped by 1,112 candidates, while the 501 to 600 range lost 478 profiles over the same period.
The 601 to 1200 range decreased from 525 to 511 candidates despite the July 6 draw clearing the pool, confirming that 511 new PNP nominees entered between draws.
The 451 to 500 range remains the most populated bracket with 72,579 profiles, followed by 63,877 candidates between 401 and 450.
These two ranges together hold over 58% of the entire Express Entry pool.
Has IRCC Returned to a Biweekly Draw Schedule?
The first Express Entry draw cluster of July 2026 ran from July 6 through July 9 with PNP, CEC, and French language rounds.
This July 20 PNP draw arrives 11 days after that first cluster and appears to mark the beginning of a second cluster within the same month.
The remaining days of this week will be critical in confirming whether IRCC has adopted a biweekly draw schedule.
If IRCC follows this PNP round with Canadian Experience Class, French language proficiency, or occupation-based draws later this week, it would confirm a clear two-cluster-per-month pattern.
A biweekly schedule would represent a shift from the single monthly cluster model that IRCC began using in June 2026.
Candidates eligible under category-based draws should keep their profiles current in anticipation of additional rounds this week.
Whether IRCC maintains this pace or reverts to a single cluster will shape expectations for the remainder of 2026.
July 2026 Express Entry Draws at a Glance
IRCC has issued four Express Entry draws in July 2026, bringing the total confirmed invitations to 8,545 across four distinct rounds.
Draw Category Date ITAs CRS Cutoff Provincial Nominee Program July 6 534 708 Canadian Experience Class July 7 2,000 517 French Language Proficiency July 9 5,000 420 Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience July 10 500 392 Provincial Nominee Program July 20 511 744 CEC / French / Occupation Remaining week TBD TBD July 2026 Total (Confirmed) — 8,545 — What Candidates Should Do Now
PNP candidates who scored 744 or above and submitted profiles before May 26, 2026, should check for their invitation.
Candidates without a provincial nomination should explore active streams in programs like the OINP, BC PNP, and SINP.
Improving language scores through IELTS or CELPIP retakes remains an effective way to gain additional CRS points without a nomination.
Candidates eligible under CEC, French language, or occupation-based categories should watch for potential additional draws this week.
Keeping an Express Entry profile accurate and up to date with current work experience, education, and language results is essential before the next round.
Key Highlights
- IRCC issued 511 PNP invitations on July 20, 2026, with a CRS cutoff of 744.
- The CRS cutoff surged 36 points from the 708 threshold in the July 6 PNP draw.
- The pool held exactly 511 candidates scoring above 600, meaning IRCC invited the entire 601+ range.
- The Express Entry pool shrank by 3,594 candidates from 235,127 on July 5 to 231,533 on July 19.
- This is the fifth Express Entry draw of July 2026, bringing total confirmed invitations to 8,545.
- If IRCC holds additional rounds this week, it would signal a return to a biweekly draw schedule.
The July 20 PNP draw confirms that IRCC continues to prioritize provincial nominee pathways in the Express Entry system.
With a CRS cutoff of 744 and every candidate above 600 invited, this round shows that the PNP pool refreshes quickly between draws.
The coming days will determine whether IRCC has fully transitioned to a biweekly draw schedule for the second half of 2026.
Candidates should ensure their profiles are current and monitor IRCC announcements closely as the remaining week unfolds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the CRS cutoff in the July 20, 2026, Express Entry PNP draw?
The CRS cutoff in the July 20, 2026, Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry draw was 744. IRCC issued 511 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The 744 cutoff represents a 36-point increase from the July 6 PNP draw cutoff of 708, driven by higher base CRS scores among new PNP nominees entering the pool.
Why did the PNP Express Entry CRS cutoff jump from 708 to 744 in July 2026?
The CRS cutoff jumped 36 points because the July 6 draw cleared most PNP candidates from the pool, and the 511 nominees present on July 19 were newer entrants with higher base CRS scores. IRCC invited every candidate above 600 in the pool, and the lowest-ranked of those 511 candidates scored 744.
How many candidates are in the Express Entry pool in July 2026?
The Express Entry pool contained 231,533 candidates as of July 19, 2026. This represents a decline of 3,594 from the 235,127 recorded on July 5. The 451 to 500 CRS range remains the largest bracket with 72,579 profiles.
Has IRCC returned to a biweekly Express Entry draw schedule?
IRCC held its first draw cluster of July 2026 from July 6 to 9 and followed with a PNP draw on July 20. If additional rounds targeting CEC, French language, or occupation-based categories follow later this week, it would indicate a biweekly two-cluster-per-month pattern for Express Entry.
How many Express Entry invitations has IRCC issued in July 2026?
IRCC has issued 8,045 confirmed Express Entry invitations in July 2026 across four draws. The PNP draw on July 6 sent 534; the CEC draw on July 7 issued 2,000; the French language draw on July 9 delivered 5,000; and the PNP draw on July 20 added 511. Additional draws may follow this week.
Fact-Check: All data in this article, including the CRS cutoff score of 744, the 511 invitation count, and the tie-breaking timestamp of May 26, 2026, was verified against official Express Entry draw results published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on July 20, 2026. Pool distribution data was sourced from the IRCC CRS score distribution report dated July 19, 2026. Comparison figures from the July 6 PNP draw were cross-referenced with IRCC Ministerial Instructions.
Disclaimer: This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional immigration advice. Express Entry eligibility and CRS scores depend on individual circumstances that may change without notice. Readers should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or licensed immigration lawyer before acting on any information presented here.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
- Canada’s Foreign Worker Program Violations Rise As Penalties More Than Double
Last Updated On 26 November 2022, 11:48 AM EST (Toronto Time)
The federal government released its latest enforcement data, and the numbers tell a story that goes far beyond a routine compliance update.
Penalties against non-compliant employers more than doubled in one year, 30 employers were banned from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and inspections focused on areas considered at higher risk of potential non-compliance.
But the headline figures only scratch the surface of what may be contributing to the rise in violations.
With millions of temporary-resident documents expiring in 2025 and 2026, demand for employer-backed work authorization may increase as the government tightens program access.
Table of Contents
What The Enforcement Data Actually Shows
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) released its compliance results on July 9, 2026, covering the fiscal year from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
The department finalized 1,488 compliance inspections during that period, concentrating resources on areas flagged as highest risk for non-compliance.
Of the employers inspected, 12% were found to be non-compliant with program requirements.
Total monetary penalties exceeded $10.2 million, more than doubling last year’s total of $4.5 million.
A total of 30 employers were banned from accessing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Year-Over-Year TFW Program Enforcement Comparison
Metric 2024–2025 2025–2026 Change Monetary Penalties Issued $4,882,500 More Than $10.2 Million More Than Doubled Employers Banned 36 30 Down 6 Inspections Finalized 1,435 1,488 Up 53 Non-Compliance Rate 10% 12% Up 2 Percentage Points Context: A Large Wave Of Expiring Permits
Canada is also experiencing a large wave of temporary-resident document expiries, which may increase demand for employer-backed work authorization.
However, the federal enforcement release does not establish that permit expiries caused the higher non-compliance rate or the increase in penalties.
Government data shows that 2,125,035 temporary-resident documents expired in 2025, with another 1,938,805 expected to expire in 2026.
In the first three months of 2026 alone, over 314,000 work permits expired.
These figures count expiring documents, not necessarily unique individuals who lost legal status.
A person may hold more than one document, apply before expiry and obtain maintained status, transition to a different immigration category, become a permanent resident, or leave Canada.
Workers who apply to extend before their permit expires may legally remain in Canada and, in qualifying circumstances, continue working while IRCC processes the application.
Still, the scale of expirations has put pressure on every available transition pathway, including LMIA-backed work permits, which remain one of the few options for workers who need employer-specific authorization to stay.
The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets the TFWP admissions target at 60,000 for 2026, down from 82,000 in 2025, while permanent-resident admissions are set at 380,000 across all categories.
These targets cover all immigration streams and applicant pools, including people outside Canada, family reunification, and refugees, so they cannot be directly compared against the number of expiring temporary-resident documents.
Three Employer Violations Highlighted By ESDC
ESDC highlighted three enforcement actions from the 2025-2026 fiscal year that illustrate the scope of violations being uncovered.
A long-haul trucking employer in Manitoba was fined $240,000 and banned for five years for failing to provide proper working conditions, violating federal and provincial labour laws, and refusing to provide documentation to inspectors.
A management and technical consulting firm in Quebec received a $122,000 penalty and a five-year ban for placing a worker in a different occupation than described in the job offer, providing inaccurate LMIA application information, and failing to maintain a workplace free of abuse.
A restaurant in Nova Scotia was fined $126,000 and banned for two years for failing to provide proper wages and working conditions, violating labour laws, and failing to protect workers from workplace abuse.
Non-compliant employers are listed on a public-facing registry managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and administrative monetary penalties can reach up to $1 million per year.
Highlighted Employer Penalties (2025-2026)
Province Sector Penalty Ban Duration Manitoba Long-Haul Trucking $240,000 5 Years Quebec Consulting Services $122,000 5 Years Nova Scotia Restaurant $126,000 2 Years Source: ESDC news release, July 9, 2026 New Rules Tightening The LMIA Process In 2026
The enforcement results coincide with new low-wage LMIA measures that took effect in April 2026 to strengthen domestic recruitment and program integrity.
Employers applying under the low-wage stream must now advertise positions for eight consecutive weeks before submitting an LMIA application, doubled from the previous four-week requirement.
Low-wage LMIA applicants must also demonstrate adequate efforts to specifically target Canadian youth in their recruitment before seeking foreign workers.
Coordination between the Job Bank and the TFW Program has been strengthened to give processing officers better data on domestic job seekers, including Employment Insurance recipients.
ESDC has enhanced its LMIA assessment process with stringent reviews of high-risk sectors, including retail, food services, accommodation, trucking, and industries with high youth employment.
The quarterly CMA unemployment rate refresh prevents the processing of many low-wage LMIA applications in metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6% or higher, although exemptions apply to specified agriculture, construction, food-manufacturing, health-care, caregiving, permanent-residence-support, and short-duration positions.
Advanced analytics and information from tips, allegations, and past inspections are now being used at the LMIA processing stage itself to flag potential misuse before a permit is even granted.
LMIA Fraud Concerns Persist Despite Stronger Enforcement
The enforcement numbers capture only employers who were inspected and found non-compliant within the formal system.
Concerns about a broader LMIA black market in Canada have been raised repeatedly by immigration advocates, media investigations, and federal officials.
Unregulated immigration consultants and dishonest employers have been reported to offer fraudulent LMIA-connected job arrangements to temporary residents facing expiring status.
An internal IRCC trend report on Canada’s trucking sector, obtained through a federal Access to Information request and originally published by Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens, flagged patterns including fabricated pay stubs, false reference letters, and fraudulent tax documents used to support work permit applications.
The federal government removed LMIA-backed job offer points from Express Entry on March 25, 2025, specifically because the bonus CRS points had become an incentive for fraudulent job offer sales.
Despite that change, demand for employer-specific work permits remains high among workers who need job-backed authorization to maintain legal status in Canada.
Employers and recruiters acting on their behalf are prohibited from charging or recovering LMIA processing and recruitment fees from temporary foreign workers.
Workers should not pay an employer or recruiter in exchange for an LMIA-backed job.
Service Canada’s confidential tip line at 1-866-602-9448 accepts reports 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Live agents are available in more than 200 languages from Monday to Friday between 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, while callers can leave a message after hours.
What This Means For Employers And Workers
The TFWP admission target for 2026 has been set at 60,000, down from 82,000 in 2025.
Employers who rely on the program must comply with stricter domestic recruitment obligations, including the eight-week advertising period and documented efforts to hire Canadian youth for low-wage positions.
Service Canada and ESDC maintain authority to conduct inspections for six years following the first day of employment for any temporary foreign worker.
For temporary residents facing expiring permits in 2026, the narrowing of available pathways means greater competition for a limited number of LMIA-backed positions.
Workers must know their rights and should never pay an employer or recruiter for an LMIA-backed job offer, regardless of how the payment is described.
Those experiencing workplace abuse or exploitation can apply for the open work permit for vulnerable workers, which may allow them to leave an abusive employer without losing legal status.
More than doubling of TFW Program penalties reflects a genuine enforcement escalation at a time when the system is managing large volumes of temporary residents and tightening program access simultaneously.
Whether the higher penalty totals are primarily the result of stricter enforcement, increased violations driven by market pressure, or both remains an open question that the government’s data does not fully resolve.
Employers, workers, and applicants should monitor ESDC’s quarterly unemployment rate updates and evolving compliance requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does an employer remain on the non-compliant employers list after a violation?
The consequence depends on the severity and type of violation. Program bans can last one, two, five or ten years or be permanent for the most serious violations. IRCC’s public list displays the employer’s final-decision date, monetary penalty, ban status and reasons for non-compliance.
Does an LMIA violation by the employer affect a foreign worker’s immigration status?
An employer’s non-compliance finding does not necessarily mean every affected worker’s permit is immediately cancelled. However, enforcement can affect outstanding LMIAs, pending work-permit applications and, in some circumstances, active permits. Workers should review any communication from IRCC and obtain advice based on their specific status.
Are LMIA inspections triggered only by tips or does ESDC conduct random audits?
ESDC uses a combination of methods to select employers for inspection. Tips and allegations reported through the confidential tip line do trigger targeted reviews, but the department also uses advanced analytics and risk profiling to identify employers with a higher probability of non-compliance. Random inspections can occur as well, and ESDC retains the authority to inspect any employer who has hired a temporary foreign worker for up to six years after the worker’s first day of employment.
Can provincial governments override federal LMIA restrictions in their jurisdiction?
Provinces and territories cannot override the federal LMIA framework, but they can influence program access in certain ways. For example, provinces can request that rural employers within their jurisdiction be allowed to increase their share of low-wage temporary foreign workers from 10% to 15% of their workforce under the new rural flexibility measures effective April 2026. However, the core program requirements including the CMA unemployment rate restriction, the eight-week advertising rule, and the youth recruitment obligation are federally mandated and apply uniformly regardless of provincial participation.
What happens to a worker’s maintained status if their employer is banned from the TFW Program mid-permit?
A worker on maintained status, meaning they submitted an extension or renewal application before their existing permit expired, generally retains authorization to remain in Canada and may continue working under the conditions of their previous permit while IRCC processes the new application. However, if the underlying LMIA is revoked or the employer is banned, the pending application may be affected. Workers in this situation should contact IRCC directly or seek advice from a licensed immigration professional to understand how the employer’s ban interacts with their individual application and status.
Fact-Checked: Enforcement data and employer penalty details in this article have been verified against the official ESDC news release dated July 9, 2026. Permit-expiry figures are drawn from IRCC’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC’s 2026-27 Departmental Plan, and ATIP-sourced data as cited in linked reporting. LMIA fraud references draw on a federal Access to Information request published by immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens and previously reported information as cited in the linked sources.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice; readers should consult with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer for advice specific to their situation.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
You may also like: New Service Canada Benefit Payment Dates 2026-2027
10 New Ontario Laws and Rules Coming In August 2026
New Ontario ODSP Payment Of Up To $1,436 Coming This Week
