Last Updated On 15 December 2022, 9:12 PM EST (Toronto Time)
December 15, 2022 – Today, Manitoba PNP draw (MPNP) sent record 1,030 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA) in an exclusive draw only for Skilled Workers Overseas. LAAs means Manitoba has selected the invited applicants for provincial nomination. Adding to the happiness of applicants, cut off score was also decent at only 600.
This draw is also special because 656 candidates having a valid Express Entry profile received an invite to claim their provincial nomination. As a result, they will receive 600 additional points to their Express Entry profile ensuring that they will definitely receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in next Express Entry draw.
Cut off score reduced by 73 points as compared to previous MPNP draw on December 1, 2022. Lowest cut off score was 459 in January 2022 MPNP draw.
For 2022, the MPNP has a quota of 6,367 applications and so far 7,105 invites have already been sent this year.
Skilled Workers Overseas
Anyone outside Canada can apply under this category if they meet the eligibility requirements. Furthermore, candidates having an active Express Entry profile can also submit their express of interest for Manitoba.
To apply under this category, candidates must demonstrate an established connection to Manitoba through:
- the support of family members or friends
- previous education or work experience in the province
- an Invitation to Apply received directly from the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.
Apart from this, you must score at least 60 points based on the five selection factors.
Click here to calculate your score.
Who cannot apply to the Manitoba PNP?
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE MPNP:
- Refugee claimants, or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process
- Live-in Caregivers currently living in Canada
- Temporary foreign workers currently working and residing in a province other than Manitoba
- Spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- Individuals who have been refused by the MPNP within the last six months and who are not able to address the reason(s) for refusal
How to Apply for Manitoba PNP
Manitoba PNP does not necessarily requires an Express Entry profile, but need an Expression of Interest to be submitted with Manitoba. If you are eligible under one of the above mentioned programs, then click here to create an Expression of Interest with Manitoba.
- New Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Coming On September 10
Ontario residents who qualify for monthly provincial tax relief will see their next Ontario Trillium Benefit payment on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The September OTB payment is the third installment of the 2026–27 benefit year, which started in July with higher indexed amounts tied to your 2025 income tax return.
This deposit covers the same three bundled provincial credits included since the benefit year began, with no scheduled program-wide rate change before the October payment.
Most monthly recipients should receive the same amount as in July and August unless the CRA recalculates their entitlement because of a change in personal or eligibility information.
Recipients whose annual entitlement is $500 or less receive it as one lump sum in their first payment month.
For people assessed in time for the July cycle, that payment was issued in July and no September deposit is expected.
Below is a full breakdown of what the September payment includes, updated maximum amounts for each credit, income thresholds that shrink your monthly deposit, every remaining date through June 2027, and how to confirm your payment status before Thursday.
Table of Contents
What the September 10 OTB Payment Covers
The OTB is a tax-free provincial benefit funded entirely by the Ontario government but delivered through the Canada Revenue Agency on a monthly schedule.
Rather than issuing three separate credits at different times of the year, the CRA rolls them into one deposit that lands on the 10th of each month.
Your September payment draws from the same 2025 tax return data that determined your July and August amounts under the 2026–27 benefit cycle.
The three provincial credits inside every OTB deposit serve distinct purposes, and qualifying for even one of them entitles you to receive the combined payment.
3 Credits Inside Your OTB Payment
Ontario Sales Tax Credit
The OSTC offsets part of the provincial sales tax burden for lower-income Ontario residents and is the only OTB component that requires no separate application.
The CRA calculates your entitlement automatically when it processes your tax return, using your reported income, marital status, and number of dependents.
For the current benefit year, the maximum OSTC is $378 per eligible person, covering each qualifying adult and each dependent child under 19 in the household.
A family of four where both parents and both children qualify could receive up to $1,512 annually from the OSTC alone.
The credit starts to decrease at 4% of adjusted family net income above $29,047 for single individuals with no children and above $36,309 for couples and single parents.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
The OEPTC delivers the largest potential annual amount among the three credits, but it will only appear in your OTB if you completed Form ON-BEN alongside your 2025 tax return.
Filing a return without ON-BEN means the CRA cannot calculate your OEPTC or NOEC, and you will only receive the OSTC portion of the benefit.
The 2026–27 maximum OEPTC is $1,307 per year for non-senior adults between 18 and 64 and $1,488 per year for seniors aged 65 and older.
Residents of a public or nonprofit long-term care home or living on a reserve can receive up to $290, while students in a designated Ontario post-secondary residence qualify for a $25 property tax component.
Your actual OEPTC depends on your housing costs, whether you rent or own, and your adjusted family net income.
The OEPTC phases out at 2% of income above thresholds that vary by household type, with the reduction starting at $29,047 for single non-seniors, $36,309 for married non-seniors, and $43,571 for married seniors.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit
The NOEC exists solely for residents of Ontario’s northern districts, where home energy costs run significantly higher than in southern parts of the province.
For the 2026–27 benefit year, the maximum NOEC is $189 for single individuals without children and $290 for couples and single parents.
Eligible districts include Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming.
The CRA checks your residence on the first day of each payment month, so moving from a northern district to southern Ontario before September 1 would remove the NOEC from your September deposit while your OSTC and OEPTC continue.
The NOEC reduces at 1% of adjusted family net income above $50,833 for single individuals and above $65,356 for couples and single parents, a considerably slower reduction rate than either the OSTC or OEPTC.
Updated OTB Maximum Amounts for the 2026–27 Benefit Year
The current benefit year brought a 1.9% inflation indexation that raised all three credit maximums compared to the previous cycle.
Credit Category Annual Maximum OSTC Per eligible person $378 OEPTC (non-senior) Ages 18–64 $1,307 OEPTC (senior) Ages 65+ $1,488 OEPTC (reserve/LTC) All ages $290 NOEC (single, no children) Northern Ontario $189 NOEC (couple/single parent) Northern Ontario $290 The OSTC maximum rose from $371 in the prior year to $378, and the OEPTC and NOEC thresholds shifted upward under the same indexation formula.
Who Qualifies for the September Payment
Each credit has its own eligibility criteria, and the CRA evaluates them independently when determining your total OTB entitlement.
OSTC Eligibility
You must be a resident of Ontario at the start of the payment month and meet at least one of these conditions: you are 19 or older, you have or had a spouse or common-law partner, or you are a parent who lives or previously lived with your child.
OEPTC Eligibility
You must have been an Ontario resident on December 31, 2025, and paid at least one qualifying housing cost during the tax year, whether rent for a principal residence, property tax on an Ontario home, accommodation in a long-term care facility, or energy costs on a reserve.
Completing Form ON-BEN with your return is required for the CRA to assess this credit.
NOEC Eligibility
You must have lived in a qualifying northern Ontario district on December 31, 2025, and paid rent, property tax, or home energy costs for a principal residence in that district.
Form ON-BEN is required for the NOEC as well.
ODSP and Ontario Works Recipients
Recipients of Ontario’s disability support program may qualify for one or more OTB credits if they meet the specific eligibility conditions for each component.
OTB payments are exempt as income when determining ODSP and Ontario Works assistance.
For Ontario Works, amounts retained after the month received may subsequently be treated as assets under the program’s asset rules.
The same exemption applies to Ontario Works recipients who meet the separate eligibility conditions for any of the three credits.
Income Thresholds That Determine Your Reduction
The three credits phase out at different rates and different income levels, which means a household can lose one credit entirely while still receiving the full amount of another.
Credit Household Type Phase-Out Begins Reduction Rate OSTC Single, no children $29,047 4% OSTC Couple or single parent $36,309 4% OEPTC Single non-senior $29,047 2% OEPTC Married non-senior $36,309 2% OEPTC Married senior $43,571 2% NOEC Single, no children $50,833 1% NOEC Couple or single parent $65,356 1% These thresholds mean a single non-senior earning $35,000 would still receive a partial OEPTC, while their OSTC has already been reduced more aggressively at the 4% rate.
The NOEC thresholds are the most generous of the three, giving northern Ontario households significantly more room before their credit begins to shrink.
Monthly Instalment vs. Lump Sum Recipients
The CRA divides OTB recipients into two groups based on their total annual entitlement for the benefit year.
If your calculated annual OTB is above $500, the CRA splits it into 12 equal monthly deposits from July through June.
If your annual OTB is $500 or less, the CRA pays the entire entitlement as a single lump sum in your first payment month. For recipients assessed in time for the July payment cycle, that amount was paid in July.
Recipients with annual OTB entitlement above $500 who elected the delayed single-payment option on Form ON-BEN will receive their full entitlement on June 10, 2027, instead of monthly payments
If you received a deposit in July and August, you should expect the same amount on September 10 unless the CRA processed a change to your file between payments.
OTB Payment Dates 2026-2027
The CRA issues OTB deposits on the 10th of each month, shifting to the last business day before the 10th when it falls on a weekend or statutory holiday.
Confirmed 2026 Dates
- September 10, 2026 (Thursday)
- October 9, 2026 (Friday, moved from Saturday the 10th)
- November 10, 2026 (Tuesday)
- December 10, 2026 (Thursday)
- January 8, 2027 (Friday, January 10 falls on Sunday)
- February 10, 2027 (Wednesday)
- March 10, 2027 (Wednesday)
- April 9, 2027 (Friday, April 10 falls on Saturday)
- May 10, 2027 (Monday)
- June 10, 2027 (Thursday, final payment of the 2026–27 benefit year)
October’s deposit arrives one day early because October 10 falls on a Saturday, making Friday the 9th the last working day before the scheduled date.
Why Your September OTB Might Differ From Previous Months
Most recipients will see the same amount they received in July and August, but several situations can cause a change.
Recently Assessed 2025 Tax Returns
Ontario residents who filed their 2025 return after the April 30 deadline and had it assessed after June 19 may still be waiting for the CRA to issue their first OTB payment.
The CRA’s stated timeline for these cases is four to eight weeks after assessment, and the first deposit will include any accumulated entitlement from prior months in the benefit year.
T1 Adjustments Adding Form ON-BEN
Residents who originally filed without ON-BEN and later submitted a T1 adjustment to add it may see a corrected amount in September that includes the OEPTC and NOEC components for the first time.
Routine digital T1 adjustment requests have a two-week CRA service standard, while routine paper or telephone adjustments have an eight-week standard. Complex adjustments can take substantially longer
Address or Marital Status Updates
A change in marital status, the addition or removal of a dependent, or a move between Ontario regions can all trigger a recalculation of your OTB.
Relocating from a northern district to southern Ontario before September 1 would remove the NOEC from this month’s payment while leaving the other two credits intact.
How to Verify Your September Payment
Log into CRA. My Account before Thursday to confirm your expected OTB amount and verify that your direct deposit details are current.
Check whether OEPTC and NOEC amounts appear in your benefit calculation, since their absence indicates that Form ON-BEN was not included with your filed return.
If your total annual entitlement shows $500 or less and you were assessed in time for the July payment cycle, the CRA should have paid the full amount as a lump sum in July, so no September deposit is expected.
Direct deposit recipients typically see funds on the morning of the scheduled date, while cheque recipients should allow additional time for mail delivery.
The CRA recommends waiting 10 business days after the scheduled payment date before calling the benefits inquiry line at 1-800-387-1193.
Ontario residents with provincial policy questions can reach the Province of Ontario at 1-866-ONT-TAXS.
Ontario residents who also receive the Canada Disability Benefit will see that deposit on September 17, separate from the OTB.
Households receiving ODSP should note that their provincial payment schedule operates on a different calendar from CRA-administered benefits.
The CRA benefit payments landing in Ontario this month arrive on three separate dates, so budgeting around each one individually will prevent any gaps between deposits.
Thursday’s deposit continues the 2026–27 Ontario Trillium Benefit cycle with no changes to the indexed rates calculated from your 2025 tax return.
Ontario residents who filed on time and included Form ON-BEN will see their regular monthly amount arrive automatically on September 10.
Those still waiting for a first payment after a late filing should expect their deposit, with accumulated prior-month entitlement, within four to eight weeks of their assessment date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why would my September OTB amount be different from what I received in August?
The most common trigger is a CRA reassessment or a change to your household information between payment cycles. If you submitted a T1 adjustment to add Form ON-BEN after your original filing, the CRA may have recalculated your entitlement to include the OEPTC and NOEC credits that were previously missing. A reported change of address, marital status update, or revised income figure from a reassessment can also shift your monthly amount in either direction. Checking your benefit details through CRA My Account will show exactly which component changed and by how much.
I received a single OTB deposit in July and nothing since then. Should I be concerned?
No, this is the expected outcome if your total annual OTB entitlement was $500 or less and you were assessed in time for the July payment cycle. The CRA pays entitlements of $500 or less as a single lump sum in the recipient’s first payment month rather than splitting them into monthly installments. You can confirm your annual OTB amount through CRA My Account to verify that the lump sum you received matches your calculated entitlement.
Can newcomers to Ontario qualify for the Ontario Trillium Benefit?
Eligibility depends on meeting the specific residency and age conditions for each of the three credits, and immigration status does not automatically disqualify you. For the OSTC, you need to be an Ontario resident at the start of the payment month and meet at least one qualifying condition, such as being 19 or older. The OEPTC requires Ontario residency on December 31, 2025, and documented housing costs reported through Form ON-BEN. Filing a 2025 tax return is essential because the CRA cannot calculate your entitlement without it, regardless of how long you have lived in the province.
What happens to my OTB if I move from Northern Ontario to Southern Ontario during the benefit year?
Your NOEC payments will stop for months following the move because the CRA verifies your residence in a qualifying northern district on the first day of each payment month. If you relocate to Southern Ontario before September 1, your September deposit will no longer include the NOEC component. However, your OSTC and OEPTC credits will continue as long as you remain an Ontario resident and meet their respective eligibility conditions. You should update your address with the CRA as soon as you move and provide the exact date of the move so your benefit eligibility is calculated correctly.
Is it too late to claim the Ontario Trillium Benefit for the 2026–27 benefit year?
No, you can still file your 2025 income tax return at any point and the CRA will process your OTB entitlement once the assessment is complete, typically within four to eight weeks for returns assessed after June 19. Your first payment will include retroactive amounts for every month that has already passed in the benefit year. You can also recover unclaimed OEPTC and NOEC credits from previous years by submitting T1 adjustment requests for any year going back up to a decade, which could result in a substantial retroactive deposit covering multiple years of missed benefits.
Fact-Checked: All payment dates, benefit maximums, income thresholds, phase-out rates, eligibility conditions, and application procedures in this article are verified against official Ontario government, Canada Revenue Agency, and Government of Canada sources current as of September 8, 2026. January through June 2027 payment dates are expected dates based on the CRA’s published payment rules and have not yet been individually confirmed on the CRA’s 2027 calendar.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Individual benefit amounts depend on personal circumstances, including income, marital status, housing costs, and location within Ontario. Always verify your specific entitlement through CRA. My Account. Consult a qualified professional for advice on your individual situation.
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- 7 Big Express Entry Draw Changes Proposed In New Report
Canada’s flagship immigration selection system is under pressure, and one of the country’s largest banks is calling for a dramatic overhaul.
The Royal Bank of Canada published a sweeping report on September 1, 2026, titled “A Smarter Immigration Strategy,” arguing that Express Entry is no longer working as originally intended.
The central finding is stark: category-based selection rounds are allowing lower-scoring candidates to leapfrog higher-ranking applicants who have been waiting in the EE pool.
RBC found that admission through the Canadian Experience Class requires more than 100 CRS points higher on average than admission through some category-based selections.
The report calls for restoring the original points-based model, prioritizing the highest-scoring Express Entry candidates, and potentially reversing the 2022 legislative changes that first opened the door to additional category-based draws.
We (Immigration News Canada) have grouped the report’s major Express Entry-related proposals into 7 potential changes and explain what each could mean for candidates.
Table of Contents
1. Restore the Points-Based System by Admitting the Highest-Ranking Candidates First
RBC’s first and most direct recommendation is to return Express Entry to its founding purpose: selecting applicants with the highest projected earning potential.
The Comprehensive Ranking System was designed to score candidates on factors including education, language ability, work experience and age, then invite the top scorers first.
RBC’s report notes that Express Entry has delivered strong results when it operates this way.
According to IRCC data cited in the report, immigrants arriving through the Canadian Experience Class earned median incomes of $92,100 after 10 years, compared with $67,400 for the broader economic immigrant group and $47,600 for Canadians overall.
Those outcomes are driven by the points system selecting applicants most likely to thrive economically.
RBC argues that the introduction of category-based draws has eroded this advantage by creating parallel streams where candidates with lower CRS scores receive invitations ahead of higher-scoring applicants.
Under the report’s proposed framework, Express Entry draws would consistently prioritize the highest-ranking candidates in the pool regardless of occupation or category eligibility.
If adopted, this would move federal selection closer to a model in which candidates are primarily prioritized by CRS ranking rather than occupation-specific federal category eligibility.
2. Rein In or Remove Federal Category-Based Express Entry Draws
The second recommendation directly targets the category-based selection framework that IRCC introduced in 2023.
RBC argues that sub-categories within Express Entry are undermining the program by creating lower entry thresholds for specific occupation groups.
The report illustrates this with a concrete example: a teaching assistant selected through the educational occupations category may receive an invitation ahead of an engineer or nurse practitioner with a significantly higher CRS score in the general pool.
This dynamic has played out throughout 2026, with French-language proficiency draws inviting candidates at CRS scores as low as 382, while Canadian Experience Class draws have required scores above 500.
Healthcare and trades occupation draws have similarly invited candidates at CRS cutoffs well below the CEC threshold.
RBC recommends that Canada “refrain from leveraging the Express Entry program to advance short-term aims by adding sub-categories within it or other federal economic immigration categories alongside it.”
IRCC’s spring 2026 consultations separately explored merging the three federal high-skilled programs into a single Federal High Skilled program.
Those consultations explicitly excluded category-based selection, which IRCC reviews through a separate process.
RBC suggests going further by eliminating the category-based draw structure entirely at the federal level.
This is RBC’s recommendation, not an IRCC policy decision.
3. Reverse the 2022 Legislation That Enabled Additional Category-Based Draws
RBC goes beyond recommending administrative changes and suggests that Parliament may need to reverse the legislation itself.
In 2022, the federal government introduced legislative amendments that gave the immigration minister authority to create EE categories beyond the original three programs: the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
That legislative change is what enabled IRCC to conduct category-based draws targeting healthcare workers, French-language speakers, STEM professionals, trades workers, transport occupations and education professionals.
RBC notes that the list of the categories has already changed multiple times since 2022 and argues this illustrates “how quickly skill demands change and the futility of designing permanent immigration around them at a national level.”
The 2026 category restructuring announced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab in February added five new occupation categories, including physicians, senior managers and military recruits, while modifying work experience requirements for existing categories.
RBC argues that reversing the 2022 authority could end federal category-based draws and return federal Express Entry selection to a much stronger points-based focus, while targeted labour-market selection would largely shift to provinces and territories.
This is the most aggressive of the seven potential changes outlined here and would require Parliamentary action, not simply a ministerial instruction change.
4. Set a Minimum Proportion of Economic Immigration Through Express Entry
RBC recommends that policymakers consider whether guaranteeing a minimum share of permanent economic immigration through Express Entry would strengthen both economic outcomes and public confidence in the system.
The report highlights a striking long-term trend: in 2000, nearly 80% of economic immigrants were admitted through federally managed points-based selection, but that share has dropped to roughly 30% in recent years.
This decline reflects the growth of the Provincial Nominee Program, which now accounts for a significant portion of economic admissions, along with the introduction of other non-points-based federal pathways.
Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada has set a 2026 target of 109,000 admissions under Federal High Skilled programs, which include the federal programs managed through Express Entry, within an overall economic immigration target of 239,800.
IRCC separately describes Federal High Skilled admissions as accounting for roughly 45% of economic immigration admissions.
RBC is proposing that policymakers consider establishing a minimum share for the admissions so that points-based federal selection retains a significant role in economic immigration.
5. Re-Introduce a Minimum Core CRS Score for Express Entry
One of the less-discussed recommendations in the report is reintroducing a minimum CRS threshold for Express Entry draws based on core selection factors.
RBC notes that CRS cut-off scores dropped from the mid-400s before the pandemic to as low as 75 in 2021 when Canada sought to meet permanent residency targets during travel restrictions.
Although scores have recovered significantly since then, with CEC draws in 2026 consistently requiring scores above 500 and French-language draws reaching as low as 382, the original points system was built with a formal minimum threshold that had to be met for any admission.
RBC recommends considering a minimum cut-off based on core selection factors, explicitly excluding points awarded for a provincial nomination.
The distinction matters because provincial nominees receive an automatic 600-point CRS boost, which pushes PNP draw cutoffs into the 700-plus range regardless of a candidate’s underlying human capital score.
This change would affect candidates at the lower end of the CRS score distribution and could permanently close the door on the ultra-low cutoffs seen during the pandemic years.
6. Shift Category-Based Selection to Provinces and Territories
Rather than eliminating category-based immigration entirely, RBC recommends relocating it from the federal level to the provincial and territorial level.
The logic is that talent shortages in healthcare, skilled trades and other sectors vary dramatically by region, making provinces better positioned to identify and recruit for specific occupations.
RBC points to the Provincial Nominee Program’s track record of distributing immigration benefits across Canada as evidence that this approach works.
When the PNP launched in 1998, only 11% of economic immigrants settled outside Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, but by 2024 that proportion had risen to 37%.
However, RBC also flags serious problems with the current PNP landscape, including roughly 80 provincial pathways that vary significantly across provinces despite addressing similar needs.
The report recommends that provinces coordinate to reduce system complexity by moving toward fewer, more stable categories with adjustable criteria.
RBC also notes that provincial nominees selected from the Express Entry pool tend to earn about 30% more after three years than nominees selected through non-EE streams, suggesting provinces should lean more heavily on the pool for their nominations.
Under this model, the federal government would focus on high-CRS selection through Express Entry, while provinces handle occupation-specific recruitment through their own nominee programs.
7. Commit to Regular CRS Recalibration Reviews
The final recommendation addresses the scoring formula itself.
RBC argues that Canada should commit to regular reviews of the Comprehensive Ranking System to ensure it reflects changing labour market dynamics, particularly as artificial intelligence reshapes which skills remain valuable.
This recommendation aligns in part with IRCC’s own spring 2026 consultations, which proposed overhauling the CRS to give more weight to factors most strongly associated with economic success.
IRCC identified strong official-language skills and high temporary-resident earnings as the strongest predictors, while Canadian work experience, job offers, university education and younger age were classified as moderate predictors.
Spousal, sibling, French bonus and Canadian-study points were identified as relatively weaker predictors.
IRCC is considering additional CRS points for Canadian work experience or valid job offers in high-wage occupations.
RBC separately suggests incorporating temporary-worker earnings data directly into Canada’s immigration scoring mechanism, which would strengthen the two-step immigration pipeline by rewarding candidates who have already demonstrated high earning potential in the Canadian labour market.
RBC’s recommendation goes beyond a one-time update by calling for a recurring recalibration process that would keep the CRS formula current as the Canadian economy evolves.
If implemented alongside the other changes discussed above, this would create a system where Express Entry is governed by a regularly updated, evidence-based points formula, with no parallel category-based streams at the federal level.
What the 100-Point CRS Gap Means for Current Candidates
The most striking data point in the entire RBC report is the CRS score gap between different Express Entry pathways.
Canadian Experience Class cutoffs have remained above 500 throughout 2026, ranging from a low of 507 to a high of 523 through September 1.
By contrast, category-based draws have operated at significantly lower thresholds, with the physicians category recording a CRS cutoff of just 169 in February 2026, the lowest category-based cutoff since category-based selection began in 2023.
French-language draws have consistently invited candidates around 382 to 420 throughout the year.
RBC’s finding that CEC admission requires “over 100 points more, on average” than category-based admission quantifies what many Express Entry candidates have observed throughout the 2026 draw cycle.
A candidate with a CRS score of 495 who qualifies only for CEC draws has not received an invitation in 2026, while a candidate at CRS 400 who met the French-language category requirements could have received an invitation in several 2026 French-language rounds.
This gap has created a two-tier dynamic within Express Entry where category eligibility often matters more than overall human capital score.
What Ending Category-Based Draws Could Mean for Specific Groups
If RBC’s recommendations were adopted, the effects would ripple across every candidate profile in the Express Entry pool.
CEC candidates with high CRS scores could be among the biggest beneficiaries if a larger share of federal invitations were issued through CRS-driven selection instead of being allocated to category-based rounds.
French-language candidates currently benefit from dedicated draws that account for a large share of all category-based invitations and offer cutoffs roughly 100 points below CEC thresholds.
Under current CRS rules, French-speaking candidates can receive up to 50 additional CRS points for French proficiency, depending on their English-language results.
If dedicated French-language category draws were eliminated, those candidates would lose that separate selection pathway, while any future treatment of French bonus points would depend on accompanying CRS reforms.
Healthcare workers, skilled trades professionals, education workers and transport occupation candidates who currently qualify for the lower-cutoff category draw would similarly need to compete on overall CRS score alone.
RBC acknowledges this tension directly, noting that “one could argue that all of Canada’s economic immigration should come through Express Entry,” but that doing so “would ignore talent shortages in communities across the country.”
That is precisely why the report proposes shifting category-based selection to the provincial level rather than eliminating it entirely.
Provinces would continue running targeted draws for healthcare, trades and other shortage occupations through their own nominee programs, while the federal EE system would focus on top CRS scorers.
IRCC Has Not Announced These Changes
It is essential that Express Entry candidates understand the distinction between a policy recommendation from a private-sector institution and an official government announcement.
RBC is Canada’s largest bank and its thought leadership reports carry significant weight in public policy discussions.
However, IRCC continues to operate category-based Express Entry draws as of September 2026.
IRCC continues to operate category-based selection in 2026 and has conducted rounds for French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, trades, physicians, senior managers, transport and skilled military recruits, among others.
The Immigration Levels Plan itself does not publish separate admission targets for each Express Entry category.
IRCC’s own spring 2026 public consultations on Express Entry reform explored significant changes to the CRS formula and program structure, but no final regulations have been published.
The 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan consultations closed in June 2026, and the new plan is expected to be tabled by November 2026.
Implementation would depend on the change.
Some reforms could be made through Ministerial Instructions, regulatory amendments would be published through the Canada Gazette process, and reversing the 2022 statutory authority for category-based selection would require Parliament.
What Candidates Should Watch Next
The RBC report arrives at a moment when Express Entry is already in the middle of its most significant policy discussion in years.
IRCC’s own consultations have proposed merging the three existing programs into a single Federal High Skilled program and overhauling the CRS formula, signalling that the department recognizes some of the same structural problems RBC has identified.
The question now is how far the government is willing to go. Candidates should monitor three developments closely in the months ahead.
The first is the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, expected in fall 2026, which will reveal whether Ottawa changes the overall Federal High Skilled allocation and broader economic immigration priorities.
The second is the outcome of IRCC’s Express Entry consultations, which are expected to inform future amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and Ministerial Instructions.
IRCC has not announced a final implementation timeline.
The third is whether any political momentum builds around reversing the 2022 legislation, which would be the most consequential structural change to Express Entry since the program launched in 2015.
Until official changes are announced, category-based Express Entry draws remain active, and candidates should continue building their profiles accordingly.
RBC’s ‘A Smarter Immigration Strategy’ report makes a detailed private-sector case for fundamentally restructuring how Canada selects economic immigrants through Express Entry.
Whether Ottawa acts on any of these proposals will depend on political will, the upcoming 2027–2029 Levels Plan, and the outcome of IRCC’s own ongoing consultations.
For now, Express Entry candidates should focus on maximizing their CRS scores, exploring provincial nomination pathways and monitoring official IRCC announcements for any confirmed policy changes.
Follow Immigration News Canada for complete coverage of every Express Entry draw result, IRCC policy announcement and immigration reform development as it happens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Canada ending category-based Express Entry draws?
No, RBC’s September 2026 report recommends removing federal category-based draws and restoring a stronger points-based system, but these are recommendations from a private-sector institution. IRCC continues to conduct category-based draws across healthcare, trades, French-language proficiency, physicians, senior managers and other occupation categories throughout 2026. The Immigration Levels Plan does not publish separate admission targets for each Express Entry category, and IRCC has not announced plans to end them.
How many more CRS points does the Canadian Experience Class require compared to category-based draws?
RBC found that CEC admission requires more than 100 CRS points higher on average than some category-based selections. In 2026, CEC cutoffs have ranged from 507 to 523, while French-language draws invited candidates at CRS scores as low as 382, and the physicians category recorded a cutoff of 169, the lowest category-based cutoff since that type of selection began in 2023.
What would happen to French-language Express Entry draws if RBC’s recommendations were adopted?
Dedicated French-language Express Entry rounds would no longer exist at the federal level. French-speaking candidates can currently receive up to 50 additional CRS points for French proficiency, depending on their English-language results, and provinces could continue targeting Francophone candidates through their own Provincial Nominee Programs. However, the significantly lower CRS cutoffs that French-language draws currently offer would disappear from federal Express Entry.
What 2022 legislation does RBC want reversed for Express Entry?
In 2022, amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act gave the immigration minister authority to create Express Entry categories beyond the original three programs. RBC recommends potentially reversing this authority, which would end federal category-based draws and return federal Express Entry selection to a much stronger points-based focus. Reversing a statutory provision would require Parliamentary action.
When could these Express Entry changes actually take effect?
No timeline exists because these are RBC recommendations, not government proposals. Implementation would depend on the type of change: some reforms could be made through Ministerial Instructions, regulatory amendments would go through the Canada Gazette process, and reversing the 2022 statutory authority would require Parliament. IRCC has not announced a final implementation timeline for its own Express Entry consultation outcomes.
Fact-Checked: All data and recommendations attributed to RBC in this article are drawn directly from the “A Smarter Immigration Strategy” report published on September 1, 2026, by RBC Thought Leadership. CRS cutoff scores and Express Entry draw data referenced throughout are based on official IRCC rounds of invitation results as published through September 2026. This article has been reviewed to ensure no government policy decisions, official quotes, dates or statistics have been fabricated or misrepresented.
Disclaimer: This article is published by Immigration News Canada for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. RBC’s recommendations have not been adopted by the federal government, and IRCC has not announced any plans to end category-based Express Entry draws. Candidates should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer before making decisions based on potential future policy changes.
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- New Canada Tariffs To Make These 629 Items More Expensive Effective September 8
Effective September 8, 2026, Canada is imposing new counter-tariffs on hundreds of U.S.-origin products that touch nearly every aisle of Canadian retail.
The Department of Finance Canada initially published the tariff schedule on August 25 and revised it on August 26.
The current list contains 629 tariff items covering $27.6 billion in annual imports from the United States, down from 874 tariff items in the original version after 254 fish and seafood classifications were removed and nine other items were added.
The number 629 refers to customs tariff items or classifications, not necessarily 629 individual retail products.
The new tariff rates are 15%, 25%, and 50%, depending on the product, and each rate matches the corresponding duty the United States placed on the same Canadian goods.
Canadian shoppers could eventually notice price increases on everything from cheese and clothing to refrigerators, smartphones, plywood, and toilet paper if retailers pass the added import costs through to store shelves.
This article breaks down the full list of affected products by category, explains which tariff rate applies to each group, and identifies the items most likely to affect everyday household spending in Canada.
Table of Contents
What Changes On September 8, 2026?
The counter-tariffs take legal effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, as confirmed in the official government backgrounder.
The tariffs cover $27.6 billion in U.S. goods entering Canada and apply at three distinct rates.
Products in the 50% band include steel, aluminum, furniture, clothing and apparel, concentrated dairy products, plastics, paper and pulp products, cosmetics, smartphones, and several sporting and recreational goods.
The 25% band covers cheese, major household appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, softwood lumber, certain steel and aluminum derivative products, insulated wiring, toilet paper, kitchen furniture, and certain dishwasher parts.
Products at the 15% rate include certain dies and moulds, HVAC equipment, forklifts, agricultural machinery, and some electronics.
Ottawa framed the action as a dollar-for-dollar response to Washington’s August 22 decision to impose 50% Section 338 tariffs on $27.6 billion of Canadian exports.
For steel and aluminum specifically, existing Canadian counter-tariffs that have been in place since March 2025 will increase from 25% to 50% to match the higher American rate.
Existing counter-tariffs on U.S. automobiles remain separately in effect and are not part of the September 8 list.
U.S. goods that are already in transit to Canada when the tariffs take effect are exempt from the new duties.
Full List Of Items To Become More Expensive In Canada
The following categories are drawn from the revised August 26 tariff schedule published by the Department of Finance Canada, reorganized into consumer-friendly groupings.
Clothing And Apparel
Tariff rate: 50%
The September 8 list includes cotton T-shirts, knitted pullovers and cardigans made from cotton or synthetic fibres, women’s dresses and trousers of synthetic materials, men’s suits and blazers of wool, men’s and women’s overcoats and jackets of man-made fibres, synthetic gloves and mittens, and garments made from coated or laminated fabrics.
At a 50% tariff, covered U.S.-origin apparel faces the steepest new duty of any consumer category, which could put upward pressure on retail prices for affected clothing imported into Canada.
Beauty And Personal Care Products
Tariff rate: 50%
Perfumes and toilet waters, lip makeup products, eye makeup preparations, manicure and pedicure products, and certain hair preparations all appear on the September 8 list at the highest rate.
American-made cosmetics brands that ship U.S.-origin products to Canadian retailers could see meaningful cost increases at the border, though brands sourcing from manufacturing facilities outside the United States would not be affected by these specific duties.
Refrigerators And Freezers
Tariff rate: 25%
Household refrigerators and freezers of various sizes and configurations are included at a 25% counter-tariff under HS heading 8418.
Major kitchen appliance purchases are among the clearest areas where Canadians could see price movement, since many popular refrigerator brands manufacture in the United States.
Cooking And Kitchen Appliances
Tariff rate: 25%
Electric stoves, ranges, ovens, cookers, rice cookers, bread makers, grills, and cooking plates are included at 25%.
Certain household dishwasher parts, including water-containment chambers and door assemblies, are also subject to a 25% tariff, though the finished household dishwasher itself does not appear on the revised list.
For families shopping for new kitchen equipment, the tariff could add a notable premium to covered U.S.-origin appliances, particularly in categories where a handful of American manufacturers dominate the Canadian market.
Household Products
Tariff rates: 25% to 50%
Toilet paper and paper towels are on the list at 25%, while disposable paper tablecloths, serviettes, and other paper-based household items appear at 50%.
Plastic tableware, kitchenware, and other household articles made from plastics carry a 50% tariff.
Household washing machines and clothes dryers are listed at 25%.
Chandeliers, pendant lights, and other light fixtures appear in the 50% bracket.
Carpets, rugs, and textile floor coverings of nearly all materials and construction methods are subject to tariffs ranging from 25% to 50%.
Food And Dairy Products
Tariff rates: 25% to 50%
Concentrated milk and cream in powder or granule form, whey protein concentrates, powdered whey, milk albumin, and casein products all carry a 50% counter-tariff.
Every variety of cheese on the list, including cheddar, mozzarella, brie, gouda, provolone, Swiss, parmesan, havarti, romano, blue-veined cheese, and processed cheese, is subject to a 25% tariff.
Natural honey imported from the United States faces a 50% duty, and molasses carries the same rate.
Baking mixes and prepared doughs containing butterfat are also listed at 50%.
Canadians who regularly purchase U.S.-origin specialty cheeses or dairy ingredients could see some of the most visible grocery price pressures from this category.
Plastics And Packaging
Tariff rate: 50%
Plastic floor coverings and wall coverings made from vinyl chloride polymers, self-adhesive plastic film and tape, polyethylene bags and packaging, and disposable plastic plates, cups, and trays are all included at 50%.
Businesses that rely on U.S.-sourced plastic packaging for food service or shipping could face higher input costs, potentially flowing through to consumers.
Home Renovation And Construction Materials
Tariff rates: 25% to 50%
Softwood lumber, including pine, fir, spruce, and hemlock varieties, is subject to a 25% counter-tariff.
Plywood and veneered panels of all types, including bamboo, hardwood, and coniferous plywood, carry a 50% rate.
Gypsum drywall boards faced with paper are listed at 50%.
Glass containers and jars used in construction and packaging are subject to a 50% tariff.
Copper wire, added to the list on August 26, also faces a 50% duty.
Anyone planning a home renovation using U.S.-sourced lumber, plywood, or drywall should be aware that these materials may cost considerably more after September 8.
Furniture
Tariff rates: 25% to 50%
Wooden household furniture is subject to a 50% counter-tariff, while kitchen furniture items such as cabinets are listed at 25%.
Seating with wooden or metal frames appears at rates between 25% and 50% depending on the specific tariff classification.
Steel And Aluminum Products
Tariff rate: 50% (increased from existing 25%)
Steel ingots, semi-finished steel, flat-rolled steel products in every width and coating type, steel bars, rods, wire, angles, shapes, sections, structural steel, pipes, tubes, and fittings all move to 50%.
Aluminum bars, rods, wire, foil, plates, and structural profiles also face the 50% rate.
Prefabricated steel structures such as bridges, towers, scaffolding, and door and window frames are included.
Steel, aluminum, and other metal products make up a substantial share of the revised 629-item schedule, making metals the largest overall group covered by the September 8 measures.
The cost increase could ripple through Canadian construction and manufacturing sectors over the coming months.
Tools And Equipment
Tariff rates: 15% to 50%
Tool rates vary substantially by classification. Certain powered hand tools, including saws and chain saws, carry a 25% tariff, while several hand-tool classifications reach 50%. Some specialized dies, moulds, and machinery-related tools fall within the 15% band.
Tradespeople and contractors who depend on specific American tool brands could feel the cost difference on large orders, particularly for items in the higher tariff brackets.
Agricultural Equipment
Tariff rates: 15% to 25%
Rider-type counterbalanced forklifts and certain agricultural mowers are listed at 15%, while powered horizontal-blade lawn mowers carry a 25% rate.
Forklifts and works trucks also appear at 15% to 25% depending on the specific classification.
Canadian farmers and landscaping businesses that purchase American-made equipment could see a moderate increase in acquisition costs.
Paper, Pulp And Packaging Products
Tariff rates: 25% to 50%
Chemical wood pulp, tissue stock, coated paper and paperboard, envelopes, notebooks, binders, folders, corrugated cartons, and paper bags are all on the list.
Many of these products carry a 50% rate, while certain kraft paper and paperboard items fall at 25%.
Office supply costs and commercial packaging expenses could rise for businesses sourcing these materials from the United States.
Electronics And Electrical Equipment
Tariff rates: 15% to 50%
Smartphones are listed at a 50% counter-tariff, one of the most consumer-visible items on the entire September 8 schedule.
Video game consoles, including major platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo systems, also face a 50% duty on U.S.-origin units.
Insulated electric wiring and conductors are listed at 25%, while certain electronic components and telecommunications equipment appear across the 15% to 50% range depending on the specific product.
Air conditioning units and parts fall at 15% to 25%.
Sporting And Recreational Goods
Tariff rate: 50%
Golf clubs and golf equipment, fishing rods, and exercise equipment are all subject to a 50% counter-tariff.
Wood charcoal, added to the list on August 26, also faces a 50% rate, which could affect the cost of barbecue supplies sourced from the United States.
Full List Of All 629 Tariff Items Effective September 8
The table below summarizes every product group on the revised August 26 schedule by HS chapter, with the number of tariff items in each group, the applicable rates, and common product descriptions.
For individual tariff-item-level lookup, the complete line-by-line schedule is published on the Department of Finance Canada website.
HS Ch. Product Group Items Rate What It Covers 04 Dairy: milk, cream, whey 16 50% Concentrated milk powder, cream, whey protein, powdered whey 04 Cheese and curd 30 25% Cheddar, mozzarella, brie, gouda, provolone, Swiss, parmesan, havarti, romano, processed cheese, blue-veined cheese, fresh cheese 04 Natural honey 1 50% All natural honey 17 Molasses 4 50% Cane molasses and other molasses in powder or liquid form 19 Baking mixes and doughs 10 50% Mixes and doughs containing butterfat for bakery preparation 33 Cosmetics and perfumes 5 50% Perfumes, lip makeup, eye makeup, manicure/pedicure products, hair preparations 35 Dairy-derived proteins 5 50% Casein, milk albumin, milk protein substances, peptones 39 Plastics and packaging 6 50% Vinyl floor/wall coverings, self-adhesive film, polyethylene bags, plastic tableware, kitchenware, household articles 44 Wood and lumber 5 25% Softwood lumber: pine, fir, spruce, hemlock, S-P-F 44 Plywood and panels 12 50% All plywood types: bamboo, tropical, hardwood, coniferous, LVL, blockboard 44 Wood charcoal 2 50% Wood charcoal, agglomerated or not 47 Wood pulp 1 50% Chemical dissolving-grade wood pulp 48 Paper and tissue stock 3 25–50% Tissue/towel stock (50%), kraft paper (25%), coated paper (50%) 48 Household paper products 4 25–50% Toilet paper (25%), facial tissues and towels (25%), paper tablecloths (50%), other paper household items (50%) 48 Packaging and stationery 7 50% Corrugated cartons, paper bags, envelopes, notebooks, binders, folders, paper trays/plates 49 Printed matter 1 50% Printed pictures, designs, photographs 57 Carpets and floor coverings 32 25–50% Knotted, woven, tufted, and felt carpets in wool, nylon, synthetic, and other materials 61 Knitted apparel 6 50% Cotton T-shirts, cotton/synthetic pullovers and cardigans, synthetic dresses and trousers, synthetic gloves 62 Woven apparel 17 50% Men’s wool suits/blazers/trousers, women’s synthetic dresses, overcoats, protective garments, cotton and synthetic garments 68 Plaster/drywall 1 50% Gypsum drywall boards reinforced with paper 70 Glass containers 1 50% Glass bottles, jars, and packing containers 72 Iron and non-alloy steel ~134 50% Steel ingots, semi-finished steel, flat-rolled products (hot/cold, all widths, coated/uncoated), bars, rods, wire, angles, shapes, sections, rails, piles, tubes, pipes, fittings 73 Steel articles and structures ~80 25–50% Structural steel, bridges, towers, scaffolding, doors, windows, fasteners, springs, stoves, radiators, kitchen sinks, sanitary ware 74 Copper products ~6 50% Copper wire of various cross-sections 76 Aluminum products ~40 50% Aluminum bars, rods, wire, plates, sheets, foil, tubes, pipes, structures, fittings 83 Base metal fittings ~4 25% Hinges, clasps, mountings, and fittings for furniture, doors, vehicles 84 Machinery and appliances ~50 15–25% Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dishwasher parts, forklifts, mowers, cranes, jacks, hoists, certain machinery components 85 Electrical equipment ~16 25–50% Electric ovens/cookers/ranges (25%), insulated wiring (25%), smartphones (50%), electric accumulators, telecom equipment 87 Vehicles ~2 50% Motorcycles, goods/livestock trailers 94 Furniture and lighting ~22 25–50% Wood/metal household furniture (50%), kitchen cabinets (25%), seating (25–50%), chandeliers and light fixtures (50%) 95 Sporting goods and consoles ~5 50% Video game consoles, golf clubs, fishing rods, exercise equipment Note: Item counts marked with “~” are approximate for chapters with large numbers of closely related sub-classifications. The definitive line-by-line reference is the revised August 26 Finance Canada schedule linked above.
September 8 Canada Tariffs At A Glance
Product Category Examples New Tariff Rate Potential Consumer Impact Steel and aluminum Flat-rolled steel, rebar, aluminum foil, structural steel 50% Higher construction, manufacturing, and renovation costs Clothing and apparel T-shirts, sweaters, overcoats, suits, gloves 50% Pricier U.S.-origin clothing at retail Furniture Wood household furniture, cabinets, seating 25% to 50% Costlier home furnishing purchases Dairy products Cheddar, mozzarella, brie, milk powder, whey 25% to 50% Higher cheese and dairy ingredient prices Beauty and cosmetics Perfumes, lipstick, eye makeup, nail products 50% More expensive U.S. beauty brands Appliances Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, stoves, cooking appliances, certain dishwasher parts 25% Increased cost for major kitchen and laundry purchases Smartphones and consoles U.S.-origin smartphones, gaming consoles 50% Potential price hikes on consumer electronics Plastics and packaging Plastic bags, tableware, film, packaging 50% Higher costs for food service and shipping supplies Paper and pulp Toilet paper, tissues, envelopes, notebooks 25% to 50% Gradual increase in paper product prices Construction materials Lumber, plywood, drywall, copper wire 25% to 50% More expensive renovation and building projects Tools Powered hand tools, saws, dies, moulds 15% to 50% Varies by classification, significant for some items Agricultural equipment Mowers, forklifts, farm machinery 15% to 25% Higher equipment costs for farmers Sporting goods Golf clubs, fishing rods, exercise equipment 50% Pricier recreational gear from U.S. brands Honey and sweeteners Natural honey, molasses 50% Costlier imported honey at grocery stores Does A 25% Tariff Mean Prices Will Rise 25%?
No, and this is one of the most common misconceptions in tariff coverage.
A 25% counter-tariff is charged on the declared customs value of the imported goods at the Canadian border, not on the final retail price a consumer pays.
The retail price of any product includes the original import cost, shipping, warehousing, distributor markups, retailer margins, and applicable sales taxes.
As a simplified illustration, consider a U.S.-made kitchen appliance that costs $400 at the border before any tariff.
A 25% counter-tariff adds $100 to the landed cost, bringing it to $500.
If the retailer previously sold that appliance for $600, the tariff-adjusted cost could push the shelf price to roughly $650 to $700, depending on how much of the increase the retailer absorbs and how competition affects pricing decisions.
In practice, the actual retail increase depends on several factors: how much inventory was imported before September 8, whether the retailer can switch to a non-U.S. supplier, how aggressively competitors price the same category, and what margins the business can afford to compress.
This example is an illustration and not a prediction of any specific product’s price trajectory.
Will Canadian-Made Products Get More Expensive Too?
The September 8 counter-tariffs apply exclusively to goods originating in the United States, so a product manufactured entirely in Canada from Canadian-sourced materials is not directly subject to these duties.
However, Canadian manufacturers that rely on U.S.-sourced raw materials or components listed on the tariff schedule could face higher production costs.
A Canadian furniture maker that imports U.S.-origin plywood, a bakery that uses U.S. milk powder, or a contractor that buys American steel could all see input prices rise, and some of that cost increase may eventually reach the consumer.
Companies that source domestically or from non-U.S. trading partners may be less directly affected, though competitive pricing dynamics in a given market can still cause broader price movement.
The federal government’s $7.5 billion support package for affected workers and businesses, announced alongside the counter-tariffs, includes financing through regional development agencies and the Business Development Bank of Canada to help companies manage the transition.
What Canadians Should Know Beginning September 8
Products that were already imported into Canada and sitting in retail or warehouse inventory before September 8 will not be retroactively tariffed, so price changes on store shelves may not appear immediately.
Retailers have the option to absorb some or all of the tariff cost rather than passing it to consumers, particularly in competitive categories where rival brands are sourced from non-U.S. countries.
The tariffs apply only to goods that qualify as U.S.-origin under the CUSMA country-of-origin marking regulations, meaning not every product of a given type sold in Canada is affected.
Simply shipping a product through a U.S. warehouse does not automatically make it subject to the tariff. What matters is whether the product qualifies as U.S.-origin under the applicable marking rules.
Some businesses may accelerate sourcing from alternative countries such as Mexico, the European Union, or Asia-Pacific trading partners to reduce exposure.
Price effects are expected to emerge gradually rather than overnight, as existing inventory cycles through and new import costs begin to flow into the supply chain.
The September 8 counter-tariffs represent the latest major expansion of Canadian trade measures against the United States in the current dispute.
Consumers should expect gradual rather than overnight changes, and the degree of price impact will vary sharply by product category, by retailer, and by how quickly supply chains adjust.
Watching for shifts in pricing on high-visibility items such as appliances, cheese, clothing, and construction materials over the next several weeks will provide the clearest early signal of how deeply these tariffs are reaching Canadian households.
The Department of Finance product list remains the definitive reference, as the government has already revised the schedule once since the initial announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What new Canada tariffs take effect September 8, 2026?
Canada is imposing counter-tariffs of 15%, 25%, and 50% on 629 U.S. tariff items totalling $27.6 billion in annual imports, effective 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The rates match the corresponding U.S. duties on equivalent Canadian goods, targeting sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, furniture, clothing, cosmetics, and electronics.
Which products could become more expensive in Canada?
Products on the September 8 tariff list that could see price increases include cheese, milk powder, refrigerators, washing machines, stoves, smartphones, video game consoles, clothing, furniture, plywood, drywall, steel, aluminum, toilet paper, cosmetics, honey, plastic packaging, office supplies, and tools. The actual price change depends on whether retailers pass the added import cost through to consumers.
Will prices rise by the full tariff amount?
Not necessarily. Tariffs are applied to the customs value of imported goods, not to the final retail price. The amount consumers ultimately pay depends on retailer decisions, available inventory, the ability to source from non-U.S. suppliers, competitive pressure, and exchange rate conditions. A 25% tariff does not automatically translate to a 25% retail price increase.
Do the tariffs apply to Canadian-made products?
No, the September 8 counter-tariffs apply only to goods that originate in the United States under the CUSMA country-of-origin marking regulations. Products manufactured in Canada are not subject to these duties. However, Canadian producers that use U.S.-origin raw materials or components from the tariff list may face higher production costs.
Are all U.S. products subject to the new tariffs?
No, the counter-tariffs cover a specific list of 629 tariff items published by the Department of Finance Canada. Many U.S. products are not on the list. U.S. automobiles are covered by separate existing counter-tariffs and are not part of the September 8 measures. Energy products are also excluded.
Fact-Checked: This article was fact-checked against the revised August 26, 2026, Department of Finance Canada product list, the government backgrounder on Canada’s targeted countermeasures, and supplementary reporting from the Canadian Press. All tariff rates, effective dates, and product classifications cited in this article are sourced from Canada.ca or verified secondary reporting that references the official schedule. The original August 25 list contained 874 tariff items; the revised August 26 list contains 629 tariff items after the removal of 254 fish and seafood classifications and the addition of nine other items. Reviewed and published on September 7, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or trade compliance advice. Tariff classifications are determined at the individual product level and importers should consult a licensed customs broker for specific guidance. Retail price impacts described in this article reflect potential outcomes and are not guarantees of specific price changes. Immigration News Canada is not affiliated with the Government of Canada.
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- New Service Canada Benefit Payments Coming In September 2026
Service Canada sits at the centre of the Canadian social network, administering monthly pension payments, disability income support, and employment insurance deposits that collectively deliver billions of dollars to residents in every province and territory.
For newcomers still building their financial footing in Canada, understanding these programs early can make a meaningful difference in long-term financial stability.
September 2026 brings a fresh round of deposits across six major Service Canada benefit programs, including the Canada Disability Benefit, the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor, and Employment Insurance.
Several of these programs are currently paying updated amounts following recent inflation adjustments, with CPP reflecting a 2.0% annual increase from January 2026 and OAS carrying a 1.2% quarterly bump that took effect in July 2026.
The Canada Disability Benefit is also now paying its first-ever indexed amount of $204.20 per month after a 2.1% adjustment in July 2026.
This guide covers every Service Canada benefit payment scheduled for September 2026, along with current maximum amounts, eligibility rules, income thresholds, payment dates from September 2026 through June 2027, and step-by-step application instructions for each program.
Table of Contents
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
The Canada Disability Benefit is a monthly income support payment for working-age Canadians aged 18 to 64 who hold a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Service Canada administers the CDB, which was introduced in July 2025 as a new addition to Canada’s social safety net for persons with disabilities.
The CDB received its first annual inflation adjustment in July 2026 based on a 2.1% Consumer Price Index indexation factor.
The September 17 CDB deposit is the first Service Canada payment of the month, arriving more than a week before CPP and OAS land on September 25.
CDB Eligibility
You must be between 18 and 64 years of age and hold a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate approved by the CRA.
You must have filed a Canadian income tax return for the previous year, as the CDB is income-tested and your benefit amount depends on your reported income.
You must also fall into one of the following status-in-Canada categories: Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, person registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada throughout the previous 18 months.
If you have a spouse or common-law partner, that person must generally also have filed the 2025 federal income tax return, subject to limited waiver provisions.
CDB eligibility ends the month after you turn 65, at which point you would transition to OAS and potentially GIS.
CDB Maximum Amounts (July 2026 to June 2027)
Detail Amount Maximum monthly benefit $204.20 Maximum annual benefit $2,450.40 Indexation rate (July 2026) 2.1% Single income threshold (full benefit) $23,483 Couple income threshold (full benefit) $33,182.50 Working income exemption (single) $10,210 Working income exemption (couple) $14,294 The CDB is a non-taxable benefit that does not need to be reported as income on your annual tax return and does not generate a tax slip.
CDB recipients who also receive CPP disability benefits should note that CPP disability income counts toward the income calculation that determines the CDB amount.
The CDB benefit year runs from July through June, and updated amounts take effect each July based on annual indexation.
CDB Payment Dates: September 2026 to June 2027
Service Canada issues CDB payments on the third Thursday of every month, as published on the official Government of Canada benefits calendar:
- September 17, 2026 (Thursday)
- October 15, 2026 (Thursday)
- November 19, 2026 (Thursday)
- December 17, 2026 (Thursday)
- January 21, 2027 (Thursday)
- February 18, 2027 (Thursday)
- March 18, 2027 (Thursday)
- April 15, 2027 (Thursday)
- May 20, 2027 (Thursday)
- June 17, 2027 (Thursday)
New regulations effective September 1, 2026, authorize a separate one-time $150 CDB supplemental payment to help offset the cost of obtaining the Disability Tax Credit.
Service Canada says eligible recipients may receive the supplement starting in fall 2026, and no separate application is required.
How to Apply for the CDB
The first step is to obtain a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate by having your medical practitioner complete CRA Form T2201 and submit it to the CRA for approval.
Once your DTC certificate is approved, you can apply for the CDB through your My Service Canada Account online, by calling Service Canada at 1-833-486-3007, or by mailing the completed Canada Disability Benefit application form.
You can also apply in person at a Service Canada Centre.
Holding an approved Disability Tax Credit certificate does not automatically enrol you in the Canada Disability Benefit.
You must submit a CDB application to Service Canada.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
The Canada Pension Plan is a contributory social insurance program that provides monthly retirement income, disability benefits, survivor pensions, and children’s benefits to eligible contributors and their families.
Most workers in Canada outside Quebec who are over 18 and earn above the CPP exemption threshold contribute to the Canada Pension Plan through payroll deductions.
Quebec workers generally contribute to the Quebec Pension Plan instead, which operates as a parallel program with comparable benefits.
CPP Eligibility
You must be at least 60 years old and have made at least one valid contribution to the Canada Pension Plan to qualify for a CPP retirement pension.
You do not need to stop working to start receiving CPP, and you can choose to begin your pension as early as age 60 or defer it until age 70.
CPP disability benefits require that you are under 65, have a severe and prolonged disability, and have contributed to CPP in four of the last six years or three of the last six years if you have contributed for at least 25 years.
Survivor pensions are available to the spouse or common-law partner of a deceased CPP contributor, and children’s benefits support dependent children of disabled or deceased contributors.
CPP Maximum Amounts (2026)
Benefit Type Average Monthly (Jul–Sep 2026) Maximum Monthly (2026) Retirement pension (at age 65) $877.01 $1,507.65 Disability benefit $1,234.68 $1,741.20 Survivor’s pension (under 65) $549.62 $803.54 Survivor’s pension (65 and older) $339.36 $904.59 Combined survivor + retirement (at 65) $1,103.97 $1,531.56 Children’s benefit (under 18) $307.81 $307.81 Death benefit (one-time) $2,606.18 $2,500.00 Post-retirement benefit (at 65) $25.76 $54.69 The maximum CPP retirement pension for someone starting at age 65 in 2026 is $1,507.65 per month, as published on the official Government of Canada CPP payment amounts page.
Actual payments vary substantially based on contribution history, pensionable earnings, and the age at which the pension begins.
The average retirement pension for new beneficiaries starting at age 65 during the July-to-September 2026 period is $877.01 per month.
Starting CPP at age 60 locks in a permanent 36% reduction (0.6% per month for 60 months), while deferring to age 70 provides a permanent 42% increase (0.7% per month for 60 months) over the age-65 amount.
CPP benefits in pay increased by 2.0% in January 2026, calculated using the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending October 2025 compared to the same period one year earlier.
CPP Payment Dates: September 2026 to June 2027
- September 25, 2026 (Friday)
- October 28, 2026 (Wednesday)
- November 26, 2026 (Thursday)
- December 22, 2026 (Tuesday)
- January 27, 2027 (Wednesday)
- February 24, 2027 (Wednesday)
- March 29, 2027 (Monday)
- April 28, 2027 (Wednesday)
- May 27, 2027 (Thursday)
- June 28, 2027 (Monday)
The December payment is scheduled earlier than most other months, on December 22, 2026.
There is no extra or 13th payment in December, and the gap between the December 22 deposit and the late-January 2027 payment is the longest stretch between payments in the entire calendar.
How to Apply for CPP
You can apply for a CPP retirement pension online through your My Service Canada Account, by mailing a completed Application for a Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension form (ISP-1000), or in person at a Service Canada Centre.
Service Canada recommends applying six to twelve months before you want your pension to begin.
For CPP disability benefits, submit the Application for a CPP Disability Benefit form (ISP-1151) along with supporting medical documentation from your healthcare provider.
Survivor pension applications are made using Form ISP-1300 and must include proof of the contributor’s death and proof of your relationship.
Old Age Security (OAS)
Old Age Security is a non-contributory pension available to most Canadians aged 65 and older who meet the residency requirements, regardless of whether they ever worked or contributed to any pension plan.
Unlike CPP, OAS is funded from general tax revenues and does not depend on your employment history.
OAS Eligibility
You must be 65 years of age or older and a Canadian citizen or legal resident at the time your OAS application is approved.
If you live in Canada, you need at least 10 years of residence in Canada after age 18 to qualify for a partial pension.
A full OAS pension requires 40 years of Canadian residence after age 18.
If you live outside Canada, you need at least 20 years of Canadian residence after age 18 to receive OAS payments abroad.
Newcomers to Canada should be aware that years of residence begin accumulating from the date of their arrival, and international social security agreements with certain countries may help meet the minimum residency threshold.
OAS Maximum Amounts (July to September 2026)
Quarter Ages 65–74 Ages 75+ Quarterly Increase January – March 2026 $742.31 $816.54 0.3% April – June 2026 $743.05 $817.36 0.1% July – September 2026 $751.97 $827.17 1.2% October – December 2026 TBD (CPI dependent) TBD (CPI dependent) TBD OAS adjusts four times per year in January, April, July, and October based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, as detailed on the official OAS payment amounts page.
Under the Old Age Security Act, published OAS rates do not decrease solely because CPI falls, providing a one-way floor that protects purchasing power.
Seniors aged 75 and older continue to receive the permanent 10% enhancement that was introduced in July 2022 on top of all regular quarterly adjustments.
Seniors who defer OAS past age 65 receive a 0.6% increase for every month of deferral, up to a maximum of 36% at age 70.
OAS Recovery Tax (Clawback)
Higher-income seniors may have their OAS reduced through the recovery tax, which begins at a net world income of $93,454 based on your 2025 income for the July 2026 to June 2027 recovery period.
The recovery rate is 15 cents for every dollar of income above that threshold.
Full OAS is eliminated at approximately $152,062 for seniors aged 65 to 74 and at approximately $157,923 for seniors aged 75 and older.
The recovery tax is spread over 12 monthly OAS payments after CRA calculates the amount.
OAS Payment Dates: September 2026 to June 2027
OAS deposits on the same dates as CPP each month:
- September 25, 2026 (Friday)
- October 28, 2026 (Wednesday)
- November 26, 2026 (Thursday)
- December 22, 2026 (Tuesday)
- January 27, 2027 (Wednesday)
- February 24, 2027 (Wednesday)
- March 29, 2027 (Monday)
- April 28, 2027 (Wednesday)
- May 27, 2027 (Thursday)
- June 28, 2027 (Monday)
How to Apply for OAS
Many Canadians are automatically enrolled for OAS and receive a notification letter from Service Canada the month after they turn 64.
If you do not receive an automatic enrollment letter, you can apply online through My Service Canada Account, by mailing the completed Application for the Old Age Security Pension form (ISP-3550), or by visiting a Service Canada Centre.
Service Canada recommends applying six months before you turn 65 if you have not been automatically enrolled.
If you want to defer your OAS pension past age 65 for a higher monthly amount, you must either decline the automatic enrollment or notify Service Canada before your first payment is issued.
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
The Guaranteed Income Supplement provides additional non-taxable monthly income to low-income OAS recipients and is designed to ensure that the lowest-income Canadian seniors have a basic standard of living.
GIS is paid on top of the OAS pension and the two amounts are typically combined into a single deposit on the same date each month.
GIS Eligibility
You must be receiving an OAS pension and your annual income (excluding OAS) must fall below the applicable income threshold for your marital situation.
If you are single, widowed, or divorced, your individual annual income must be below $22,800.
If your spouse or common-law partner also receives the full OAS pension, your combined annual income must be below $30,096.
Filing your income tax return by April 30 each year is essential because Service Canada recalculates your GIS eligibility every July using your previous year’s tax return.
If your return is not filed on time, your GIS payments may be suspended until the return is processed.
GIS Maximum Amounts (July to September 2026)
Recipient Situation Maximum Monthly GIS Income Threshold Single, widowed, or divorced $1,123.17 $22,800 Spouse/partner receives full OAS $676.09 each $30,096 combined Spouse/partner does not receive OAS $1,123.17 $54,624 combined Spouse/partner receives the Allowance $676.09 $42,144 combined GIS is income-tested and generally declines as other income rises, but the exact reduction depends on marital status and the type of income received.
Employment and self-employment income receive special exemptions under the GIS calculation, including an exemption on the first $5,000 of such earnings and a partial exemption on earnings between $5,000 and $15,000.
A single senior with no other income receives a combined OAS and GIS payment of approximately $1,875 per month starting with the July 2026 quarter.
GIS adjusts quarterly alongside OAS, and the July to September 2026 quarter reflects a 1.2% increase.
GIS Payment Dates: September 2026 to June 2027
GIS deposits on the same schedule as CPP and OAS:
- September 25, 2026 (Friday)
- October 28, 2026 (Wednesday)
- November 26, 2026 (Thursday)
- December 22, 2026 (Tuesday)
- January 27, 2027 (Wednesday)
- February 24, 2027 (Wednesday)
- March 29, 2027 (Monday)
- April 28, 2027 (Wednesday)
- May 27, 2027 (Thursday)
- June 28, 2027 (Monday)
How to Apply for GIS
If you already receive OAS and your tax return indicates that your income falls below the GIS threshold, Service Canada may automatically assess your eligibility.
If you are not automatically enrolled, you can apply by completing the Application for the Guaranteed Income Supplement form (ISP-3025) and mailing it to Service Canada or by visiting a Service Canada Centre in person.
You can also call Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to request an application form or check your eligibility.
The Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor
The Allowance is a monthly benefit for low-income individuals aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner receives OAS and GIS.
The Allowance for the Survivor is a similar monthly benefit for low-income individuals aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner has died.
Both programs bridge the income gap for near-seniors who are not yet old enough to qualify for OAS and GIS on their own.
Allowance Eligibility and Amounts
You must be aged 60 to 64, be a Canadian citizen or legal resident, and have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after turning 18.
The maximum monthly Allowance for the July to September 2026 quarter is $1,428.06, and the combined couple income must be below $42,144 per year.
The maximum monthly Allowance for the Survivor is $1,702.34, and your individual annual income must be below $30,696.
Both the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor end the month after you turn 65, at which point you transition to OAS and potentially GIS.
Allowance Payment Dates: September 2026 to June 2027
Allowance payments follow the same monthly schedule as CPP, OAS, and GIS:
- September 25, 2026 (Friday)
- October 28, 2026 (Wednesday)
- November 26, 2026 (Thursday)
- December 22, 2026 (Tuesday)
- January 27, 2027 (Wednesday)
- February 24, 2027 (Wednesday)
- March 29, 2027 (Monday)
- April 28, 2027 (Wednesday)
- May 27, 2027 (Thursday)
- June 28, 2027 (Monday)
How to Apply for the Allowance
Apply by completing the Application for the Allowance or Application for the Allowance for the Survivor form and submitting it to Service Canada by mail or in person.
Your spouse or common-law partner must already be receiving OAS and GIS for you to be eligible for the regular Allowance.
Contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 if you need assistance or want to confirm your eligibility before applying.
Employment Insurance (EI)
Employment Insurance provides temporary income support to Canadians who have lost their job through no fault of their own or who need time away from work for specific life events, including illness, pregnancy, caregiving, or the care of a critically ill family member.
Service Canada administers all EI claims and payments under the Employment Insurance Act.
EI Eligibility
To qualify for EI regular benefits, you must have been employed in insurable employment, lost your job through no fault of your own, and accumulated between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment in the 52 weeks before your claim, depending on the unemployment rate in your region.
You must be ready, willing, and able to work each day and must be actively looking for work while receiving benefits.
EI special benefits cover maternity leave (up to 15 weeks), standard parental leave (up to 40 weeks shared, maximum 35 for one parent), extended parental leave (up to 69 weeks shared), sickness benefits (up to 26 weeks), compassionate care (up to 26 weeks), and family caregiver benefits (up to 15 weeks for adults, 35 weeks for children).
EI Maximum Amounts (2026)
Detail 2026 Amount Benefit rate 55% of average insurable weekly earnings Maximum weekly benefit $729 Maximum insurable earnings $68,900 Employee premium rate $1.63 per $100 of insurable earnings Maximum annual employee premium $1,123.07 Benefit duration (regular) 14 to 45 weeks Waiting period 1 week (unpaid) Your actual weekly EI benefit is calculated at 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to the $729 maximum.
Low-income families with children may qualify for the EI Family Supplement, which can increase the benefit rate up to 80% of insurable earnings.
You can work part-time while on EI and keep 50 cents of your benefit for every dollar you earn, up to 90% of your original weekly earnings.
EI Payment Schedule in September 2026
Employment Insurance does not have a single September payment date. Most claimants submit reports every two weeks according to their individual claim schedule.
After an eligible report is processed, direct-deposit payments generally arrive within two to three business days. Cheques may take five to seven business days to arrive by mail.
You can check your next reporting date and payment status at any time through your My Service Canada Account.
How to Apply for EI
Apply online through the Service Canada website at canada.ca as soon as possible after your last day of work.
You have four weeks from your last working day to submit your application, but applying early prevents lost benefits.
You do not need to wait for your Record of Employment (ROE) from your employer, as most employers now submit ROEs electronically to Service Canada.
After your claim is approved, you must complete biweekly reports online through My Service Canada Account or by calling the automated telephone reporting service at 1-800-531-7555 to continue receiving payments.
Service Canada administers the largest retirement, disability, and employment support programs in the country, delivering monthly income to millions of Canadians across every province and territory.
Whether you are a retiree depending on CPP and OAS, a working-age Canadian with a disability receiving the CDB, or someone navigating a job loss through Employment Insurance, knowing your exact payment dates and current maximum amounts helps you budget with confidence.
September 2026 marks a month where several freshly adjusted benefit amounts are already in effect, making it an ideal time to verify your payment details through your My Service Canada Account and ensure your direct deposit information is up to date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a newcomer to Canada qualify for Service Canada benefits immediately after landing?
Eligibility varies by program. Employment Insurance requires insurable hours from Canadian employment, so you must first work in a job that deducts EI premiums. OAS requires a minimum of 10 years of Canadian residence after age 18 for a partial pension, though international social security agreements with certain countries may count foreign residence. CPP requires at least one valid contribution from Canadian employment. CDB eligibility depends on immigration or legal status. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, and people registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act may qualify if they meet the other requirements. Temporary residents generally must also have lived in Canada throughout the previous 18 months.
What happens if my Service Canada payment does not arrive on the scheduled date?
Government payment dates are issue dates, and deposits may take a few days to appear. Posted cheques can take longer.
Service Canada advises waiting five to ten business days before contacting the program about a missing scheduled payment.
For CPP, OAS, or GIS payment inquiries, call 1-800-277-9914.
For Canada Disability Benefit inquiries, call 1-833-486-3007.
For Employment Insurance inquiries, call 1-800-206-7218.
Have your Social Insurance Number ready when calling.Can I receive both CPP disability benefits and the Canada Disability Benefit at the same time?
Yes, these are separate programs with different eligibility requirements and payment schedules. However, the CDB is income-tested, and your CPP disability payments count as income in the calculation that determines your CDB amount. A recipient collecting the maximum CPP disability benefit of $1,741.20 per month would likely receive a reduced CDB amount or no CDB at all, depending on their total annual income and marital status.
Does receiving the OAS recovery tax mean I lose my GIS as well?
The OAS recovery tax applies to seniors with net world income above $93,454 based on 2025 income, but GIS is income-tested separately using a different income definition that excludes OAS payments themselves. In practice, a senior earning enough to trigger the OAS clawback would almost certainly exceed the GIS income thresholds and would not be receiving GIS. The two programs target very different income levels, with GIS aimed at the lowest-income seniors and the recovery tax affecting the highest earners.
Why does the December Service Canada payment arrive earlier than usual?
The December payment is scheduled earlier than most other months, on December 22, 2026. The gap between this deposit and the late-January 2027 payment is the longest stretch between payments in the entire calendar. There is no bonus or 13th payment in December, so recipients should plan their budgets accordingly for this extended gap.
Fact-Checked: All 2026 payment dates, benefit amounts, indexation rates, and eligibility thresholds referenced in this article are verified against the official Government of Canada CPP payment amounts page, the OAS payment amounts page, the Canada Disability Benefit program and eligibility pages, the Employment Insurance program parameters published by Employment and Social Development Canada, and the Government of Canada benefits payment calendar, as of September 6, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The September through December 2026 payment dates are from the official Government of Canada benefits payment calendar. The January through June 2027 payment dates are projected using Service Canada’s standard scheduling pattern and are subject to official confirmation when the 2027 calendar is published. Benefit eligibility and amounts depend on individual circumstances including contribution history, residency, income, and marital status. Contact Service Canada or consult a licensed financial or tax professional for advice specific to your circumstances.
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- 10 New Ontario Laws and Rules In September 2026
September 2026 is delivering one of the busiest months for new provincial rules, policy shifts, and program changes Ontario has seen in years.
Transit fares, rental laws, school grading, university funding, highway speeds, and healthcare access are all changing within the same four-week window.
Some of these changes took effect on September 1, others land on September 8 or September 21, and a few carry deadlines at the end of the month.
Whether you rent an apartment, ride the TTC, drive a 400-series highway, or have a child starting high school, at least one of these items will directly affect your daily life.
Ontario also saw a heavy round of new provincial rules take effect in July 2026, and several new federal laws arrived alongside them in September.
Here is a full breakdown of 10 major Ontario laws, rules, and changes taking effect this month.
Table of Contents
1. New Ontario School Rules Begin
Ontario’s Ministry of Education has overhauled secondary school assessment and evaluation practices for the 2026-27 school year, and the changes are among the most substantial in over two decades.
Most secondary courses will now include a mandatory written final exam as a fixed percentage of the final grade.
For Grades 9 and 10, the final mark is now composed of 65% classroom work, 20% final evaluation, and 15% attendance and participation.
For Grades 11 and 12, the breakdown shifts to 65% classroom work, 25% final evaluation, and 10% attendance and participation.
In core subjects like math, English, and science, the written exam accounts for the full 20% or 25% final-evaluation weight.
Other courses generally follow a split of 10% exam and 15% culminating task, or a 15% exam and 10% task combination, depending on the subject.
Exemptions exist for specific course types, including locally developed compulsory credit courses, workplace-preparation and open courses, co-operative education, and interdisciplinary studies.
The Grade 9 EQAO mathematics assessment will now serve as the written final exam and count for 20% of the final course grade.
Attendance and participation are graded together on a five-level scale.
A student who misses more than 10% of classes for unexcused absences falls below level 1, which directly affects their final mark.
Teachers will assess whether students contribute to discussions, ask relevant questions, and support a positive classroom culture.
Students who began Grade 9 in 2025-26 or later must complete the new financial literacy graduation requirement, generally through the compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies course.
Students need a mark of 70% or higher on the financial literacy modules, which make up 5% of their final Career Studies grade.
Ontario also updated the kindergarten curriculum for the first time in several years as part of the broader education overhaul.
These education changes arrive alongside new immigration-linked benefit eligibility rules that Ontario introduced in August 2026.
2. Ontario Tuition And OSAP Rules Change
Ontario’s seven-year freeze on domestic tuition officially ended this fall.
Public colleges and universities can now raise tuition by up to 2% annually for the next three years under a new framework announced on February 12, 2026.
After the initial three-year period, future increases will be capped at 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.
Even with these increases, the provincial government says Ontario tuition will remain below 2019 levels until at least 2030.
The bigger shift for students is the restructuring of the Ontario Student Assistance Program.
Starting with the 2026-27 academic year, students will receive a maximum of 25% of their provincial OSAP funding as non-repayable grants.
At least 75% of OSAP funding will now be issued as repayable loans.
This is a dramatic reversal from the previous structure, where a much larger share of provincial aid could be delivered as grants.
For eligible study periods beginning on or after August 1, 2026, students at private career colleges are no longer eligible for the Ontario Student Grant, although other OSAP assistance may still depend on individual eligibility.
Alongside the OSAP restructuring, Ontario committed $6.4 billion in additional funding over four years to public universities, colleges, and Indigenous Institutes.
Annual operating support is rising to $7 billion, which the province describes as the highest level in its history.
The province also enhanced the Student Access Guarantee, a needs-based program designed to help low-income students cover tuition, books, and mandatory fees when OSAP falls short.
Students and families planning for post-secondary education can review the full OSAP eligibility requirements before applying.
Major New Landlord And Tenant Rules Take Effect
September 21, 2026, marks the second wave of amendments to Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act under Bill 60 and Bill 97.
These changes follow the first wave that took effect on July 1, 2026, which included shortened review deadlines, doubled maximum fines for landlord misconduct, and a mandatory payment agreement form.
The most significant September 21 change is the reduction of the N4 non-payment notice period from fourteen days to seven days for monthly and yearly tenancies.
Under the current rules, a tenant who misses rent and receives an N4 has fourteen days to pay before the landlord can file an L1 eviction application with the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Starting September 21, that window drops to seven days.
The tenant can still void the notice by paying in full within that seven-day period, but the timeline before a landlord can proceed to the Board is now cut in half.
Ontario is also introducing a statutory definition of persistent late payment for the first time.
The new regulation expressly includes situations where a tenant fails to pay rent within seven days of the due date on at least three occasions within any six-month period, subject to limited exceptions.
A landlord may rely on that pattern in seeking termination through the LTB.
Renoviction protections are also being strengthened with new written communication requirements.
Landlords who issue an N13 for renovations must now provide an estimated completion date, notify the tenant of changes, confirm when the unit is ready, and give tenants at least sixty days to exercise their right of first refusal.
Tenants seeking to raise certain issues during non-payment eviction hearings will now need to pay half of the claimed rent arrears no later than seven days before the hearing.
A separate change allows landlords who serve an N12 personal-use notice with at least 120 days’ notice to waive the standard one-month compensation requirement.
Under Ontario Regulation 240/26, the person named in an N12 must move in within sixty days of the tenant vacating, or a rebuttable presumption of bad faith takes effect.
The 2026 Ontario rent increase guideline remains at 2.1% for units subject to rent control.
4. Ontario Launches Another Major Family-Doctor Expansion
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones announced on August 18, 2026, that Ontario is opening a new call for proposals in September to create or expand approximately 78 primary care teams.
The stated goal is connecting another 600,000 people to a family doctor or primary-care provider.
This $250 million investment is part of the province’s broader $3.4 billion Primary Care Action Plan, which aims to connect every person in Ontario to primary care by 2029.
Communities across Ontario will be eligible to apply for funding through the September call for proposals.
All Ontario Health Teams will receive guidance in September before the call officially launches.
Primary care teams bring together doctors, nurse practitioners, registered and practical nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians, and other professionals under one roof.
Separately, 124 successful applicants from the 2026-27 funding round are already receiving funding for new or expanded primary care teams.
Those teams are expected to connect another 500,000 patients to primary care, including people currently waiting through the Health Care Connect registry.
The government says more than 20,000 physicians have been added to Ontario’s health-care workforce since 2018, including a 14% increase in the number of family doctors.
Ontario is also developing a province-wide primary care medical record system intended to integrate patient information and reduce administrative demands on providers.
The province has been making substantial investments across healthcare and social services in 2026, including changes to ODSP payment schedules and new CRA benefit payment timelines for Ontario residents.
5. More Ontario Highways Move To 110 km/h
Ontario is completing the latest phase of its highway speed-limit expansion, with the goal of posting 110 km/h on nearly 89% of the provincial highway network by the end of September 2026.
The province is raising the limit from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on an additional 938 kilometres of highways, with the rollout occurring in stages from late June through September 30.
Currently, approximately 873 kilometres of provincial highways carry a posted speed limit of 110 km/h.
Once all September changes take effect, roughly 89% of the network will operate under the higher limit, up from 43% before the expansion began.
The sections moving to 110 km/h by September 30 include Highway 403 from QEW to Highway 401, Highway 404 from Highway 401 to Mulock Drive, Highway 406 from Westchester Avenue to Highway 58, Highway 407 from Brock Road to Highway 35/115, Highway 412 from Highway 401 to Highway 407, Highway 418 from Highway 401 to Highway 407, the QEW from Freeman Interchange to Highway 403, and two additional QEW stretches in the Niagara region.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said drivers travelling between Sarnia and Toronto could save nearly 20 minutes under the new limits.
Those driving from Toronto to Ottawa could save close to half an hour.
The expansion builds on previous speed-limit increases introduced on six highway sections in 2022 and ten sections in 2024.
All affected highway sections underwent detailed engineering and technical assessments before the increases were approved.
Newly constructed freeways, including Highways 413 and 425, are being designed with a posted speed limit of 110 km/h from the start.
The stunt-driving threshold remains unchanged at 40 km/h or more over the posted limit, meaning drivers on an 110 km/h highway who reach 150 km/h face vehicle impoundment and licence suspension.
Ontario introduced new driving licence rules linked to immigration status verification under the same Bill 60 legislation that also delivered the rental law changes.
6. Medical Schools Must Reserve At Least 95% Of Seats For Ontario Residents
Starting with the fall 2026 admissions cycle, all Ontario medical schools must allocate at least 95% of their undergraduate seats to residents of Ontario.
Under the new framework, the remaining seats are generally limited to eligible applicants from elsewhere in Canada, which effectively eliminates the traditional international-applicant pathway for undergraduate medical-school admission in Ontario, subject to the legislation and any prescribed exceptions.
The law does provide an exception if there are insufficient qualified Ontario applicants to fill the reserved seats.
The policy was announced by Premier Doug Ford on October 25, 2024, as part of Ontario’s response to the province’s family-doctor shortage.
More than 2.5 million Ontarians currently lack a primary care provider, and the province says locally trained graduates are significantly more likely to remain and practice in Ontario.
Ontario now has seven operating medical schools, with York University expected to bring the total to eight when its program opens by 2028.
The new legislation formalizes a seat-allocation structure and makes it a binding requirement across all Ontario medical schools.
The province also expanded the Learn and Stay Grant, investing $88 million to cover tuition and educational costs for 1,360 undergraduate medical students who commit to practicing family medicine in Ontario.
Ontario’s broader immigration-linked policy changes in 2026 also include a redesigned Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program with new workforce-priority pathways.
7. Permanent Flashing School-Zone Warning Signs Due
Ontario municipalities that previously operated automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones must have permanent large warning signs with flashing lights installed by September 2026.
This deadline stems from Bill 56, the legislation that banned municipal speed cameras across Ontario effective November 14, 2025.
When the province repealed speed camera authority, it required municipalities to install interim large signs by mid-November 2025 and permanent flashing-light signage by September 2026.
The replacement signs read “Maximum 40 km/h” and “School Zone” and are meant to serve as the primary visual deterrent for speeding drivers near schools.
Several municipalities reported logistical issues with the initial signs, with both Toronto and Ottawa noting that the province-supplied signs were physically too large for existing poles.
The province provided a $210 million fund to help affected municipalities cover the cost of alternative traffic-calming measures, including the flashing signs, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and curb extensions.
Safety advocates and multiple municipal councils have criticized the speed camera ban, citing research showing cameras reduced speeding by 45% in Toronto school zones.
The permanent flashing-light deadline coincides with the start of the new school year across Ontario.
Parents with school-age children may also want to review Ontario’s 2026 statutory holidays and long weekends to plan around the fall schedule.
8. Major GO Train And Bus Schedule Changes
Metrolinx began rolling out service changes across four GO Train lines on September 5, with additional adjustments starting September 8 and September 12.
The Lakeshore East, Lakeshore West, Barrie, and Stouffville lines are all affected, primarily during off-peak hours.
Rush-hour rail service remains unchanged, but weekend and evening train frequencies are being reduced on several corridors.
Weekend service on the Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West lines is returning to 30-minute intervals, down from the 15-minute service that was in place during the summer and the FIFA World Cup period.
Midday and evening service to and from Niagara Falls on weekdays is also being adjusted.
On the Barrie line, several weekday evening trains have been removed from the schedule, and weekend train service will run every two hours between 2:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
The Stouffville line will have no weekend train service until after 3:00 p.m., with replacement buses operating on routes 65, 68, and 71.
Metrolinx attributed the changes to seasonal demand adjustments, train-crew training and certification needs, and recovery from elevated ridership during the FIFA World Cup.
The transit agency said the interim measures are expected to remain in place until spring 2027.
GO bus schedules are also changing, with the return of service to post-secondary campuses on several routes and the addition of a new Route 43 between Mount Pleasant GO Station in Brampton and McMaster University in Hamilton.
These schedule changes arrive in the same month as several new CRA benefit payments for Ontario families and ongoing provincial benefit payment adjustments.
9. New TTC Fare-Capping Rules Now In Effect
As of September 1, 2026, the Toronto Transit Commission has introduced monthly fare capping for all riders who pay electronically.
Adults, youth, seniors, and Fair Pass customers who consistently use the same PRESTO card, debit or credit card, or mobile-wallet device will ride free after 47 paid trips within the calendar month.
The trip count resets at the beginning of each new month, and riders do not need to sign up or opt in.
Only the first tap of each new trip counts toward the 47-fare cap, because additional taps within the existing two-hour transfer window remain free.
Riders must tap the same card or device every time for their fares to accumulate toward a single cap.
A physical PRESTO card and the same card loaded into a mobile wallet are treated as separate payment methods.
If a rider switches between devices mid-month, neither device will reach the cap on its own.
The TTC simultaneously discontinued several existing fare products on August 31, 2026.
The adult monthly pass, youth monthly pass, senior monthly pass, Fair Pass monthly pass, youth twelve-month pass, and senior twelve-month pass are no longer available for purchase.
Adult twelve-month passes and post-secondary student monthly passes remain active and continue to offer the lowest per-ride cost for riders who use them daily.
Toronto’s 2026 operating budget approved the fare-capping program alongside a third consecutive fare freeze, with current adult pay-as-you-go fares remaining at $3.30 by PRESTO debit or credit and $3.35 by cash.
The TTC says the monthly cap will drop from 47 paid trips to 40 in 2027.
The Ontario One Fare Program that launched in 2024 continues to operate alongside the new TTC fare cap for riders connecting between TTC and regional transit agencies.
10. GO Transit And UP Express Fare-Evasion Fines Increase
Metrolinx is dramatically increasing fines for fare evasion on GO Transit and the UP Express, effective September 8, 2026.
A first-time offence will now carry a $200 fine, up from the previous $35 penalty.
That represents a 471% increase for passengers caught travelling without valid proof of payment.
Subsequent offences escalate sharply: $300 for a second offence, $400 for a third, and $500 for a fourth.
A fifth offence will result in a Provincial Offence Notice carrying a $600 set fine, while a sixth or subsequent offence can lead to a court summons and a fine of up to $1,000 upon conviction.
Metrolinx says fare evasion costs the transit system approximately $21 million in lost revenue each year.
The agency urged commuters to avoid fines by tapping their PRESTO, debit, or credit card at the start and end of each trip.
Riders who transfer between GO trains and buses, or between GO Transit and connecting transit agencies, should tap the same card every time.
Anyone using a discounted fare, including students and veterans, must carry valid identification in case of an inspection.
The increased fines follow a 2022 graduated-penalty structure that started at just $35 for first offences.
September 2026 is reshaping daily life for millions of Ontarians across transit, housing, education, healthcare, and transportation.
Many of these changes carry specific deadlines and compliance requirements that make it essential to understand the exact dates and rules before they take effect.
Residents should bookmark official provincial and municipal sources and review how each change applies to their specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will TTC fare capping apply to cash-paying riders?
No, monthly fare capping only applies to electronic payments made with a PRESTO card, debit card, credit card, or mobile wallet. Cash fares are exact-fare, one-way trips that do not count toward the 47-trip cap. Riders who regularly pay with cash and want to benefit from capping will need to switch to one of the accepted electronic payment methods and use the same card or device consistently throughout the month.
Can a landlord serve a 7-day N4 notice before September 21, 2026?
No, any N4 notice served before September 21 must use the existing fourteen-day termination period to be legally valid. A landlord who serves a seven-day N4 before the effective date risks having the notice declared void by the Landlord and Tenant Board. The new timeline applies only to notices served on or after September 21, regardless of when the rent arrears originally accrued.
Do the new OSAP grant-to-loan ratios affect students who are already enrolled and receiving OSAP?
Yes, the restructured 25% maximum grant and 75% minimum loan ratios apply to all OSAP recipients beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, regardless of whether the student is newly enrolled or continuing. Students who received their OSAP for the 2025-26 year under the old structure will see the new ratios reflected in their next funding cycle. The 2026-27 OSAP application already reflects these changes.
What happens if a municipality misses the September 2026 deadline for installing flashing school-zone signs?
The province established the deadline when it banned speed cameras under Bill 56, and municipalities were provided provincial funding through a $210 million traffic-calming fund to help cover installation costs. The Ontario government has not publicly detailed specific enforcement actions for municipalities that miss the deadline, though the requirement is tied to provincial legislation. Affected municipalities have been working with the Ministry of Transportation throughout 2026 to meet the installation schedule.
Will GO Transit rush-hour service be affected by the September schedule changes?
No, Metrolinx has confirmed that rush-hour rail service on all affected lines remains unchanged. The September service reductions apply exclusively to off-peak periods, including weekday evenings and weekends on the Lakeshore West, Lakeshore East, Barrie, and Stouffville lines. Replacement GO bus service is available on routes 65, 68, and 71 during periods when trains are not operating, though buses are subject to road traffic conditions.
Fact-Checked: All information in this article has been verified against official sources as of September 5, 2026, including the TTC’s official September 2026 fare-capping update, Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act regulations and related Bill 60 and Bill 97 amendments, the Ontario government’s postsecondary funding and OSAP changes, the Ministry of Education’s Growing Success assessment and evaluation framework, the Ontario Newsroom’s highway speed-limit expansion announcement, Ontario’s medical-school admissions legislation, Metrolinx’s September GO rail and bus service changes and new GO Transit and UP Express fare-evasion fine schedule, the Ontario government’s September primary-care expansion, and the province’s school-zone speed-camera replacement framework.
Disclaimer: This article is published by Immigration News Canada for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Policies, programs, and regulations described in this article are subject to change. Readers should consult official Ontario government sources, their local municipality, or a qualified professional for guidance specific to their individual circumstances.
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New Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Coming On September 10
- New CRA Benefit Payments For Ontario Residents In September 2026
2 major Canada Revenue Agency – CRA benefit payments are scheduled for eligible Ontario residents during September 2026.
The Ontario Trillium Benefit is scheduled for September 10, followed by the Canada Child Benefit on September 18.
Both payments fall within the 2026–27 benefit year that began in July, and amounts are calculated using your 2025 income tax return data under updated inflation-indexed 2026 amounts.
There is no Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment or Advanced Canada Workers Benefit payment during September.
This article covers the verified payment date, eligibility criteria, updated maximum amounts, income thresholds, and all remaining 2026 deposit dates for each of these two CRA-administered benefits.
Table of Contents
Canada Child Benefit
The next Canada Child Benefit deposit is confirmed for Friday, September 18, 2026, marking the third CCB payment of the 2026–27 benefit year.
This tax-free monthly payment from the CRA helps eligible families across Ontario cover the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.
Maximum amounts increased in July under the annual inflation indexation, and the September deposit continues at these higher rates calculated from your 2025 adjusted family net income.
Who May Qualify for the CCB
You may qualify for the Canada Child Benefit if you live with a child under 18 and are primarily responsible for that child’s care and upbringing.
You or your spouse or common-law partner must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, individual registered or entitled to be registered under the Indian Act, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 consecutive months and holds a valid permit in the 19th month.
How to Apply for the CCB
You must apply for the Canada Child Benefit when you first become eligible.
Applications can be made through birth registration and the Automated Benefits Application, CRA My Account, or by submitting Form RC66.
Once enrolled, recipients and their spouse or common-law partner must continue filing income tax returns each year so the CRA can recalculate and maintain their payments.
Newcomers to Canada should submit Form RC66 along with Schedule RC66SCH to activate their CCB entitlement after arrival, as explained in our CCB newcomer eligibility guide.
CCB Amounts and Income Thresholds for 2026–27
The CRA confirmed an inflation indexation that raised maximum CCB amounts starting with the July 2026 payment, and September payments continue at these rates.
Age Group Maximum Annual Maximum Monthly Each child under 6 $8,157 $679.75 Each child aged 6 to 17 $6,883 $573.58 Child Disability Benefit (DTC-eligible child) $3,480 $290.00 These are the maximum entitlements available when your adjusted family net income is below $38,237 for the base CCB, or below $82,847 for the Child Disability Benefit component.
Your actual payment depends on the number of children in your care, their ages, your family’s adjusted net income, and whether any child qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit.
For families with adjusted family net income between $38,237 and $82,847, the CRA applies a graduated reduction based on the number of children, at rates ranging from 7% to 23% of income above the threshold.
A second reduction formula applies when adjusted family net income exceeds $82,847, gradually reducing the benefit further as family income rises.
If your calculated monthly CCB is less than $20, the CRA normally pays your entitlement as a single lump sum rather than issuing monthly deposits.
Changes in custody arrangements, marital status, or the number of children must be reported to the CRA through My Account to ensure your payments reflect your current situation.
Upcoming CCB Payment Dates
- September 18, 2026
- October 20, 2026
- November 20, 2026
- December 11, 2026
Ontario Trillium Benefit
Eligible Ontario residents receiving their OTB in monthly installments are scheduled to receive the next payment on Thursday, September 10, 2026, as confirmed by the CRA Ontario Trillium Benefit program page.
The OTB is a tax-free payment that the CRA administers on behalf of the Ontario government, combining three separate provincial tax credits into a single deposit that appears in your bank account under the label Canada PRO Deposit.
September’s payment continues the 2026–27 benefit year that launched with the July 10 deposit.
Three Credits Inside the OTB
You only need to qualify for one of the following three credits to receive the Ontario Trillium Benefit.
Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)
The OSTC helps lower-income Ontario residents offset the provincial portion of the HST they pay on everyday purchases.
For the 2026–27 benefit year, the maximum OSTC is $378 per eligible adult and per child under 19, up from $371 in the previous cycle.
The OSTC is fully automatic and requires no application beyond filing your tax return, with the credit calculated for each household member.
This credit begins to reduce at 4% of adjusted family net income above approximately $29,047 for individuals and $36,309 for families.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)
The OEPTC is designed to help Ontario residents with property tax and the sales tax portion of their energy costs.
For the current benefit year, the maximum OEPTC is $1,307 for non-senior adults aged 18 to 64 and $1,488 for seniors aged 65 and older.
Residents in public or non-profit long-term care homes can receive up to $290, and students in designated school residences can receive up to $25.
Unlike the OSTC, the OEPTC requires you to complete Form ON-BEN with your tax return each year, reporting your rent, property tax, or other eligible housing costs.
The OEPTC is income-tested, and its reduction threshold varies by family situation.
For 2026, the reduction begins above $29,047 for a single non-senior with no children, $36,309 for married or common-law non-seniors, and $43,571 for married or common-law senior households.
Without Form ON-BEN, eligible residents will not receive the OEPTC or NOEC components of their Ontario Trillium Benefit.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)
The NOEC provides additional support for residents of Northern Ontario who face higher home energy costs than those in the southern part of the province.
For the 2026–27 benefit year, the maximum NOEC is $189 for single individuals with no children and $290 for couples and single parents.
Northern Ontario includes the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming.
The NOEC uses separate income thresholds from the OEPTC.
For 2026, the credit begins to reduce above $50,833 for a single person with no children and above $65,356 for couples and single parents, at a rate of 1%.
OTB Summary for 2026–27
OTB Component Maximum Amount Application Required Ontario Sales Tax Credit $378 per person No (automatic with tax return) OEPTC (ages 18–64) $1,307 per year Yes (Form ON-BEN) OEPTC (ages 65+) $1,488 per year Yes (Form ON-BEN) NOEC (single, no children) $189 per year Yes (Form ON-BEN) NOEC (couple/single parent) $290 per year Yes (Form ON-BEN) An eligible family of four in Southern Ontario could receive up to approximately $2,820 per year through the OSTC and OEPTC components alone, while a comparable family in Northern Ontario could receive up to approximately $3,110 when the NOEC is included.
Lump Sum Payment Rules
If your total annual OTB entitlement is $500 or less for the 2026–27 benefit year, the CRA will pay your entire annual amount as a single lump sum with the July payment rather than spreading it across 12 monthly instalments.
This threshold was increased from $360 in the previous benefit year, as announced in the 2026 Ontario Budget.
Recipients with an annual entitlement above $500 can choose to receive their full benefit as a single payment in June 2027 by ticking box 61060 on Form ON-BEN when filing their 2025 tax return.
Late-Filed Returns and OTB Payments
For the OTB specifically, if your 2025 return was assessed after June 19, 2026, the CRA says your first payment will generally be issued within four to eight weeks after assessment and will include any applicable prior-month entitlement.
Upcoming OTB Payment Dates
- September 10, 2026
- October 9, 2026
- November 10, 2026
- December 10, 2026
Why Your Tax Return Determines Both Payments
Your annual income tax return is the single most important factor connecting both of these September benefit payments.
The CRA uses your 2025 tax return data to calculate your Canada Child Benefit and Ontario Trillium Benefit amounts directly.
If you or your spouse or common-law partner have not yet filed a 2025 return, your CCB payments may be delayed, reduced, or stopped entirely until the CRA completes your assessment.
You can verify your benefit status and expected payment amounts at any time through CRA My Account.
September 2026 CRA Benefit Payment Dates for Ontario
Benefit September 2026 Date Maximum Monthly Amount Ontario Trillium Benefit September 10 Varies by components Canada Child Benefit September 18 $679.75 per child under 6 Payments are issued on the scheduled dates, although they may take a few days to appear and mailed cheques can take longer.
The CRA asks CCB recipients to wait five working days after the payment date before contacting the agency, while OTB recipients should wait ten working days.
September 2026 delivers two CRA-administered benefit payments to eligible Ontario households on separate dates within the month, continuing the 2026–27 benefit year that began with higher indexed amounts in July.
October will bring the next round of quarterly payments under the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, alongside the regular monthly CCB and OTB deposits.
Residents who have recently moved, changed marital status, or experienced changes in custody arrangements should update their information through CRA My Account before the next payment cycle to avoid delays or incorrect amounts.
Filing your tax return remains the single most important step for maintaining uninterrupted access to both of these benefit programs, and both spouses or common-law partners must file each year even if one has no income.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can an Ontario resident receive both the CCB and the OTB in the same month?
It is possible for an Ontario resident to receive both the Canada Child Benefit and the Ontario Trillium Benefit in the same month, provided they meet the separate eligibility requirements for each program independently. A parent with at least one child under 18 who also files a tax return with Form ON-BEN completed and reports eligible housing costs could qualify for both September deposits. Each benefit is calculated using different criteria and income thresholds, so receiving one does not guarantee eligibility for the other.
Does the October Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment cover the gap left by having no quarterly payment in September?
The CGEB follows a fixed quarterly schedule with payments in July, October, January, and April, so September was never a scheduled CGEB month. The October 5, 2026, deposit covers the same quarterly period it would have under the former GST/HST credit structure, and the amount reflects the 25% enhancement that took effect in July 2026.
What happens to Ontario Trillium Benefit payments if you move out of Ontario partway through the year?
If you move out of Ontario during the benefit year, your OTB payments will stop for subsequent months because the CRA determines eligibility based on your province of residence at the beginning of each payment month. You may become eligible for equivalent provincial credits in your new province, and you should update your address with the CRA immediately to avoid overpayments that would need to be repaid.
Will the $150 CDB supplement arrive on the same date as the regular September CDB payment?
The regulations creating the $150 supplement took effect on September 1, 2026, but Service Canada has not confirmed the exact deposit date for the supplement. The regular monthly CDB payment is scheduled for September 17, but the supplement may be processed separately and could arrive on a different date. Recipients do not need to apply for the supplement, and both the regular CDB and the supplement will be covered in our upcoming Service Canada payments article.
Can newcomers to Ontario apply for the Ontario Trillium Benefit in their first year in Canada?
Newcomer eligibility depends on the specific OTB component. For the 2026 OEPTC and NOEC, applicants generally needed to be Ontario residents on December 31, 2025, and meet the applicable housing or energy-cost requirements for 2025. The Ontario Sales Tax Credit has separate eligibility rules. The 18-month temporary-resident requirement applies to the Canada Child Benefit and should not be applied generally to the OTB.
Fact-Checked: All payment dates, maximum benefit amounts, income thresholds, and eligibility requirements in this article have been verified against official Government of Canada sources, including the CRA benefits payment calendar, the Canada.ca program pages for the Canada Child Benefit and the Ontario Trillium Benefit, and the CRA’s OEPTC and NOEC calculation sheets, as of the date of publication.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Actual payment amounts vary based on individual circumstances, including income, family composition, residency, and filing status, and readers should consult the CRA or a qualified professional for personalized guidance.
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- New Express Entry Draw On September 4 Sends 3,500 PR Invitations
Nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and dozens of other healthcare professionals received 3,500 invitations to apply for permanent residence through a new Express Entry draw on September 4, 2026.
The draw targeted candidates eligible under the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category, requiring a minimum CRS score of just 475 points.
That threshold sits 46 points below the 521 required in the September 1 Canadian Experience Class draw, creating a significant shortcut for workers whose occupations appear on the 37-profession eligibility list.
The 475 cutoff matches the score recorded in the previous healthcare draw on June 25, holding steady despite a 71-day gap between rounds.
The September 4 healthcare round extends a busy Express Entry stretch that included the August 31 PNP draw at CRS 697, the September 1 CEC draw at CRS 521, and the September 3 physicians draw at CRS 198.
Table of Contents
September 4 Express Entry Draw Results
The table below presents the official details of the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations draw conducted on September 4, 2026.
Detail Value Draw Category Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 3 Date and Time of Draw September 4, 2026 at 11:16:45 UTC Number of Invitations Issued 3,500 CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate 475 Rank Required 3,500 or above Tie-Breaking Rule May 26, 2026 at 00:26:14 UTC What The May 26 Tie-Breaking Date Reveals
Candidates with a CRS of exactly 475 only received an invitation if their Express Entry profile was submitted before May 26, 2026, at 00:26:14 UTC.
That timestamp sits roughly 101 days before the draw itself, which tells us that multiple candidates at exactly 475 were competing for the final invitation slots.
By comparison, tie-breaking dates in recent CEC draws have been as recent as two weeks before the draw, reflecting a much thinner cluster of candidates at those higher CRS levels.
The most recent pool snapshot placed 16,981 profiles in the 471 to 480 CRS band overall, though IRCC does not publish a breakdown of how many of those profiles belong to healthcare-eligible candidates specifically.
Healthcare-eligible candidates at exactly 475 who entered the pool after May 26 remain in the system and will be considered for the next healthcare round.
A 46-Point Shortcut Below The CEC Threshold
The gap between today’s 475 healthcare cutoff and the 521 CEC cutoff from September 1 is the clearest illustration of how category-based selection reshapes the Express Entry landscape for eligible workers.
A registered nurse, dental hygienist, or social worker sitting at CRS 480 would have no realistic path to a CEC invitation under current conditions.
Through today’s healthcare draw, that same candidate received an invitation with 5 points to spare.
Healthcare CRS cutoffs in 2026 have ranged from 467 on February 20 to the current 475, consistently operating well below CEC thresholds throughout the year.
The CRS score distribution snapshot from August 30 counted 74,105 candidates in the 451 to 500 CRS range, the most populated segment of the entire Express Entry pool.
CEC draws at 521 cannot reach any of these candidates, but healthcare draws at 475 cut directly into the upper half of that bracket.
For healthcare workers in that bracket, category-based selection offers a more accessible route to permanent residence than waiting for a CEC invitation.
All 37 Eligible Healthcare And Social Services Occupations
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed at least 12 months of full-time work experience within the past three years in a single occupation from the list below, gained in Canada or abroad, as outlined in the category-based selection criteria announced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab in February 2026.
The minimum work-experience requirement for renewed occupation-based categories increased from six months to twelve months in 2026.
Occupation NOC Code TEER Category Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians 32104 2 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists 31112 1 Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists 32123 2 Chiropractors 31201 1 Dental hygienists and dental therapists 32111 2 Dentists 31110 1 Dietitians and nutritionists 31121 1 General practitioners and family physicians 31102 1 Licensed practical nurses 32101 2 Massage therapists 32201 2 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations 33101 3 Medical laboratory technologists 32120 2 Medical radiation technologists 32121 2 Medical sonographers 32122 2 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates 33102 3 Nurse practitioners 31302 1 Nursing coordinators and supervisors 31300 1 Occupational therapists 31203 1 Optometrists 31111 1 Other medical technologists and technicians 32129 2 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating 31209 1 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment 32109 2 Paramedical occupations 32102 2 Pharmacists 31120 1 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants 33103 3 Pharmacy technicians 32124 2 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals 31303 1 Physiotherapists 31202 1 Psychologists 31200 1 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses 31301 1 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists 32103 2 Social and community service workers 42201 2 Social workers 41300 1 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine 31100 1 Specialists in surgery 31101 1 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies 41301 1 Veterinarians 31103 1 The list spans 20 TEER 1 occupations requiring a university degree, 14 TEER 2 occupations typically requiring a college diploma, and 3 TEER 3 occupations that require apprenticeship training or on-the-job experience.
Social workers and community service workers are included alongside clinical health roles, which broadens the category well beyond hospital-based professionals.
Healthcare Draw Trajectory Across 2026
IRCC has now conducted three Healthcare and Social Services Occupations draws in 2026, starting with the February 20 round that issued 4,000 invitations at CRS 467.
The June 25 round arrived 125 days later with 4,000 invitations at CRS 475, and today’s draw holds that same cutoff with a slightly smaller volume of 3,500.
The 475-point cutoff appearing in two consecutive healthcare draws suggests IRCC has found a stable operating point for this category under current pool conditions.
The spacing between healthcare rounds has been irregular as IRCC scales back its overall invitation pace in the second half of the year.
The gap between the first and second rounds was 125 days, while the gap between the second and third was 71 days, so there is not yet a predictable cadence for this category.
Positioning For The Next Healthcare Round
Candidates below 475 should explore every available option to push their CRS higher before the next healthcare draw.
Even a modest language-score improvement can increase CRS, particularly when it crosses an important CLB threshold, although the exact gain depends on the candidate’s overall profile.
Adding a second official language at NCLC 7 or above also unlocks eligibility for French-language proficiency draws, which have operated between CRS 382 and 420 in 2026 as documented in the August draw analysis.
Candidates who cannot realistically reach the healthcare cutoff through language gains alone should investigate provincial nominee programs, where a nomination adds 600 CRS points and usually places a candidate in a highly competitive position for a future PNP-specific round.
Age is a particularly sensitive variable for healthcare workers above 30, and the CRS strategy guide for candidates over 30 outlines how additional credentials and work experience can offset the annual age-based point reduction.
What To Do If You Received An Invitation
Open your IRCC online account and confirm that your profile status reads “Invited to Apply” with a visible countdown timer.
The clock starts the moment the invitation lands in your account and runs for exactly 60 calendar days, with no option to pause or extend.
After accepting the invitation, IRCC provides a personalized document checklist through the permanent residence application portal, which may include police certificates, a medical exam from a panel physician, proof of settlement funds, an educational credential assessment, and valid language test results depending on your program stream and circumstances.
Healthcare professionals should also begin confirming whether their credentials will need assessment by a provincial regulatory body upon arrival, as licensing requirements differ by province and occupation.
Candidates should verify the validity requirements for all time-sensitive documents, particularly language results, medical documentation, and police certificates, because an incomplete application can be rejected.
If the 60-day window passes without a submission, the invitation expires and IRCC removes the profile from the Express Entry pool entirely.
A candidate whose invitation expires would need to create and submit a new Express Entry profile and be accepted back into the pool before becoming eligible for future draws.
The September 4 healthcare draw reinforces how category-based selection continues to create a significantly lower CRS pathway for eligible health and social services professionals compared with recent CEC rounds.
Candidates who missed the 475 cutoff should keep their Express Entry profiles active, work on improving their CRS where possible, and remain ready for the next healthcare round.
Follow Immigration News Canada for verified Express Entry draw results, healthcare category analysis, and CRS trends as each round is published.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does my healthcare experience need to be from Canada to qualify?
No, the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category explicitly accepts work experience gained in Canada or abroad. The requirement is at least 12 months of full-time work in a single eligible occupation within the past three years, and that experience does not need to be continuous. This is one of the key distinctions between healthcare draws and CEC draws, which require Canadian work experience specifically.
Why is the healthcare CRS cutoff so much lower than the CEC cutoff?
Healthcare category draws rank candidates who meet both Express Entry program eligibility and the healthcare-category criteria. CEC rounds rank only CEC-eligible candidates. The cutoff in either type of draw depends on the number and CRS distribution of eligible candidates and the number of invitations IRCC chooses to issue. Because the healthcare-eligible pool is narrower, IRCC reaches lower CRS levels to fill its target invitation count, which produces the consistently lower thresholds observed in 2026.
When is the next healthcare Express Entry draw expected?
IRCC has not announced the next healthcare draw date, and with only three healthcare rounds so far in 2026 and gaps of 125 and 71 days between them, the timing of the next round remains uncertain, as IRCC does not confirm draw schedules in advance.
Can I qualify under both the healthcare category and the Canadian Experience Class?
A candidate who has skilled Canadian work experience in a healthcare occupation listed in the eligibility table can qualify under both CEC and the healthcare category simultaneously. IRCC will select that candidate through whichever draw type reaches their CRS score first, so maintaining dual eligibility maximizes the number of rounds in which an invitation is possible.
What does 2026-Version 3 mean in the draw category name?
The version number refers to the set of ministerial instructions governing the draw, not the draw sequence number, and is updated whenever the Minister of Immigration issues new or revised instructions for the healthcare category. Version 3 indicates that the instructions governing today’s draw incorporate any updates to the occupation list, experience requirements, or other eligibility criteria made since the category was last revised.
Fact-Checked: All draw data in this article has been verified against the official Express Entry rounds of invitations page published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on September 4, 2026, the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations eligibility criteria published on IRCC’s category-based selection page, the CRS score distribution snapshot dated August 30, 2026, and IRCC permanent residence admissions statistics.
Disclaimer: This article is published by Immigration News Canada for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional immigration advice. Category eligibility, occupation lists, draw timing, and CRS thresholds are determined by IRCC and can change without advance notice. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or licensed immigration lawyer for guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.
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- New Canada Immigration Processing Times As Of September 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published its September 2026 processing time data on September 2–3, 2026, and the headline is staggering.
Citizenship certificate processing has now hit 33 months, leaping by eight months in a single reporting cycle, while the queue swelled by 14,200 applicants to approximately 136,000 people.
That figure stood at 10 months in March 2026, meaning this single category has added 23 months of processing time in roughly six months.
On the permanent residency side, the Federal Skilled Worker Program reversed its August improvement, climbing back to seven months after briefly reaching six months for the first time in 2026.
Spousal sponsorship for applicants inside Canada outside Quebec improved to 26 months, down one month, while parents and grandparents sponsorship outside Quebec continued its downward trend to 28 months, marking five consecutive months of decline.
The most notable shift in the weekly data is the Pakistan super visa, which dropped by 37 days in a single week to 139 days, the sharpest single-week decline in any temporary category this month.
Visitor record extensions eased slightly to 410 days from 416 but remain well above the 148-day level recorded on January 28, 2026.
IRCC now uses both forward-looking and historical processing times. Monthly estimates generally project how long a new application could take based on inventory and expected processing capacity, while weekly historical timelines reflect how long IRCC took to finalize most recently processed applications.
Monthly categories like citizenship, permanent residency, and family sponsorship were refreshed on September 3.
Weekly categories like visitor visas, study permits, work permits, and PR cards were last updated on September 2.
The September data lands alongside a busy period for Canadian immigration, including the first Express Entry draw of September that issued 2,000 CEC invitations on September 1 and new immigration and refugee rules taking effect on September 7.
This roundup also includes caregiver processing times for the first time, with the consolidated figure sitting at 76 months and approximately 36,900 applicants waiting for a decision.
Incomplete applications may be delayed or returned, making thorough preparation especially important during lengthy processing periods. Review the common refusal reasons before submitting any application.
Below is a full breakdown of every processing time in the September 2026 release.
Table of Contents
Citizenship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
Application Type People Waiting (Change) Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) Change Since Last Month Citizenship grant ~327,100 (-1,100) 12 months No change Citizenship certificate* ~136,000 (+14,200) 33 months +8 months Resumption of citizenship Not available Not enough data No change Renunciation of citizenship Not available 4 months No change Search of citizenship records Not available 18 months +1 month * Applicants residing outside Canada or the United States may face longer processing windows. The citizenship certificate surge is the defining story of the September release, adding eight months of processing time in a single cycle while the queue grew by 14,200 people.
This category has now risen from 10 months in March to 33 months in September, an increase of 23 months in half a year.
Meanwhile, the citizenship grant queue contracted by 1,100 applicants, the first meaningful decline since April 2026.
Permanent Resident Card Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
Application Type Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 21 New PR card 40 days No change -22 days PR card renewal 39 days -1 day +10 days Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
Category People Waiting (Change) Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) Change Since Last Month Spouse/common-law inside Canada (non-Quebec) ~54,700 (-2,100) 26 months -1 month Spouse/common-law inside Canada (Quebec) ~14,200 (+200) 32 months No change Spouse/common-law outside Canada (non-Quebec) ~62,600 (+4,600) 18 months +1 month Spouse/common-law outside Canada (Quebec) ~19,200 (+200) 33 months No change Parents/grandparents (non-Quebec) ~37,500 (-1,500) 28 months -1 month Parents/grandparents (Quebec) ~10,300 (-100) 63 months -1 month The spousal sponsorship for applicants outside Canada, outside Quebec, rose by one month to 18 months, while the queue added 4,600 applicants, the largest single-month jump in any family sponsorship stream this cycle.
Humanitarian and Compassionate And Protected Persons (Updated Monthly)
Category People Waiting (Change) Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) Change Since Last Month H&C outside Quebec ~57,900 (+2,100) More than 10 years No change H&C in Quebec ~20,400 (+300) More than 10 years No change Protected persons inside Canada (outside Quebec) ~86,100 (-6,100) About 13 months No change Protected persons inside Canada (in Quebec) ~42,100 (+200) More than 10 years No change Dependants of protected persons (outside Quebec) ~60,900 (+200) About 41 months +1 month Dependants of protected persons (in Quebec) ~22,600 (+200) More than 10 years No change The protected persons queue outside Quebec shrank by 6,100 applicants for the second consecutive month, matching the August reduction and suggesting IRCC has dedicated sustained processing capacity to this stream.
Permanent Residency Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
Category People Waiting (Change) Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) Change Since Last Month Canadian Experience Class (CEC) ~58,900 (-800) 6 months No change Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) ~53,800 (+1,400) 7 months +1 month Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) Not available Not enough data No change PNP (Express Entry) ~12,800 (+1,000) 7 months No change Non-Express Entry PNP ~101,500 (-900) 13 months No change Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) ~20,400 (-800) 11 months No change Quebec Business Class ~3,700 (No change) 75 months No change Federal Self-Employed** ~8,000 (No change) More than 10 years No change Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) ~11,800 (-300) 26 months No change Start-Up Visa** ~47,500 (-100) More than 10 years No change ** These programs are paused. Applicants already in the queue continue to be processed. The FSWP reversal to seven months, adding one month after reaching six months for the first time in 2026 in August, is a setback for applicants who saw the improvement as a sign of sustained momentum.
The queue also grew by 1,400 applicants to approximately 53,800.
Caregiver Processing Times (Updated Monthly)
IRCC publishes a single consolidated processing time for all caregiver permanent residence programs.
This covers the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, the Home Support Worker Pilot, the Interim Pathway for Caregivers, the Caring for Children Pilot, and the Live-in Caregiver Program. This is the first time our monthly processing times roundup includes this category.
Category People Waiting Processing Time (Sept 3, 2026) Notes Caregivers: All programs ~36,900 76 months First time in our roundup The 76-month timeline and a queue of approximately 36,900 applicants underscore the depth of the backlog in caregiver permanent residence programs.
Temporary Visa Processing Times (Updated Weekly)
IRCC updates temporary residence processing times on a weekly basis, and the figures below reflect data as of September 2, 2026.
We will update this section as soon as IRCC publishes new weekly data, so check back regularly for the latest numbers.
Visitor Visas From Outside Canada
Country Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 India 31 days -1 day -51 days United States 20 days -1 day -5 days Nigeria 80 days +2 days +40 days Pakistan 78 days +1 day +22 days Philippines 18 days -2 days +2 days Visitor Visa and Extensions From Inside Canada
Category Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 Visitor visa (from inside Canada) 11 days -1 day — Visitor record extension 410 days -6 days +262 days Visitor record extensions eased to 410 days from 416 last week, but the figure remains 262 days above the January 28 level and nearly double the 214-day reading recorded on July 22, highlighting how sharply this category deteriorated over the summer months.
Super Visa Processing Times
Country Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 India 66 days +5 days -184 days United States 116 days -7 days -71 days Nigeria 52 days -3 days +14 days Pakistan 139 days -37 days +1 day Philippines 93 days -11 days -23 days The Pakistan super visa plunged by 37 days in a single week, from 176 to 139 days, the largest one-week improvement recorded in any temporary category across the entire September release.
Study Permit Processing Times From Outside Canada
Country Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 India 5 weeks No change No change United States 5 weeks No change No change Nigeria 9 weeks No change +4 weeks Pakistan 7 weeks No change +3 weeks Philippines 4 weeks No change -1 week Study Permit From Inside Canada and Extensions
Category Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 Study permit (from inside Canada) 8 weeks +1 week — Study permit extension 64 days No change -40 days The inland study permit increased by one week to 8 weeks, the first upward movement in this category since the May data.
New study permit proof of funds requirements took effect on September 1, which may affect upcoming application volumes.
Work Permit Processing Times From Outside Canada
Country Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 India 10 weeks +1 week +1 week United States 2 weeks No change -1 week Nigeria 9 weeks No change +2 weeks Pakistan 7 weeks -1 week -13 weeks Philippines 7 weeks +2 weeks +1 week India work permit processing rose to 10 weeks, the highest level for Indian applicants in this category since the March 2026 data.
The Philippines also climbed sharply, adding two weeks to reach seven weeks.
Work Permit From Inside Canada and Other Categories
Category Processing Time (Sept 2, 2026) Change Since Last Week Change Since January 28, 2026 Work permit from inside Canada (initial and extension) 113 days -2 days -121 days Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) 101 days +2 days — International Experience Canada (IEC) 6 weeks No change — Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) 5 minutes No change No change Inland work permits continued their sustained decline at 113 days, now 121 days below the January 28, 2026 level and two days lower than the August 26 update.
The sustained improvement in this category remains one of the most significant positive trends across the entire 2026 processing dataset.
Most eTA applications show a processing time of about 5 minutes. Some applications require additional processing, in which case IRCC says applicants will receive an email within 72 hours with next steps.
The September 2026 IRCC processing times reveal a system delivering targeted improvements in some categories while the citizenship certificate crisis accelerates beyond any prior benchmark.
Inland work permits at 113 days, CEC holding steady at six months, parents and grandparents sponsorship declining for the fifth consecutive month, and the Pakistan super visa plunging by 37 days are all positive indicators that IRCC is clearing backlogs in targeted streams.
However, the 33-month citizenship certificate timeline, the FSWP reversal to seven months, the 410-day visitor record extension, and spousal sponsorship outside Canada adding 4,600 applicants to its queue suggest that capacity constraints are deepening in several high-volume categories, a pattern that has intensified across every monthly release since May.
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 surged to 33 months when it was 10 months in March 2026?
Citizenship certificate processing climbed by eight months in a single reporting cycle to reach 33 months, up from 25 months in August and 10 months in March 2026. Over the same six-month period, the queue grew by approximately 85,100 applicants, from about 50,900 in March to 136,000 in September. The sustained acceleration is largely tied to the volume of applications under the Bill C-3 citizenship-by-descent provisions, which removed the first-generation limit in December 2025 and triggered an unprecedented surge in certificate applications from abroad.
Why did the Federal Skilled Worker Program go back up to 7 months after improving to 6 months in August?
The FSWP processing time returned to seven months in September after briefly dropping to six months in August for the first time in 2026. The queue also grew by 1,400 applicants to approximately 53,800, reversing the August decline of 3,400. This suggests the one-month improvement in August may have reflected a temporary clearing burst rather than a sustained capacity shift, and applicants should expect seven months as the more stable baseline for this stream heading into fall 2026.
What is the caregiver processing time and why is it included in this roundup for the first time?
IRCC publishes a single consolidated processing time for all caregiver permanent residence programs, covering the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, the Home Support Worker Pilot, the Interim Pathway for Caregivers, the Caring for Children Pilot, and the Live-in Caregiver Program. The combined estimate is 76 months with approximately 36,900 applicants in the queue. This is the first time our monthly processing times roundup includes this category, which is why no month-over-month comparison appears in the table above.
Are visitor record extensions actually starting to come down?
Visitor record extensions dropped to 410 days in the September 2 update, six days lower than the August 26 reading of 416 days. While the weekly decline is the largest in recent updates, the figure remains 262 days above the January 28, 2026, level and nearly double the 214-day reading from July 22. The modest decline suggests IRCC is beginning to chip away at the extension backlog, but a sustained return below 300 days would require multiple consecutive weeks of similar reductions, which has not yet materialized in the 2026 data.
How often does IRCC update processing times and when will the next refresh happen?
IRCC updates temporary residence processing times on a weekly basis, typically releasing new data on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. The figures in this article reflect the September 2 weekly data and the September 3 monthly data. Weekly updates cover visitor visas, study permits, work permits, super visas, electronic travel authorizations, PR cards, and all related subcategories like inland applications and extensions. Monthly categories like citizenship, family sponsorship, humanitarian and compassionate claims, and permanent residency through economic programs are updated once per month and will next be refreshed in October 2026. Save this page and check back regularly to see the latest weekly numbers as they become available.
Fact-checked: All processing times, queue figures, and comparison data in this article are sourced directly from the official IRCC processing time tool updated on September 3, 2026 (monthly categories) and September 2, 2026 (weekly categories).
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.
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- New Canada Prescription Drug Rules Coming In October 2026
Health Canada is replacing the patchwork of federal regulations that currently govern prescription drugs containing controlled substances with a single consolidated framework that takes effect on October 1, 2026.
The new Controlled Substances Regulations, published in the Canada Gazette on December 17, 2025, will merge the Narcotic Control Regulations, the Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations, Parts G and J of the Food and Drug Regulations, and the New Classes of Practitioners Regulations into one modernized set of rules.
6 temporary class exemptions issued under subsection 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act will also be absorbed into the permanent regulatory text.
The transition is designed to be seamless for patients filling prescriptions at Canadian pharmacies, but the regulatory machinery behind those prescriptions is changing in ways that pharmacists, healthcare practitioners, hospitals, licensed dealers, and travellers crossing the border with medication all need to understand before the October 1 deadline.
Table of Contents
What the October 1 Consolidation Replaces
Canada’s controlled substances have been governed by separate regulations organized by drug category since the 1960s.
Narcotics such as morphine, codeine, and fentanyl were regulated under the Narcotic Control Regulations.
Controlled drugs, including certain amphetamines and barbiturates, fell under Part G of the Food and Drug Regulations.
Targeted substances like benzodiazepines operated under the Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations.
Restricted drugs, including LSD and psilocybin when used in authorized research, were regulated under Part J of the Food and Drug Regulations.
Each framework carried its own licensing procedures, record-keeping obligations, and security requirements, which sometimes conflicted with or duplicated the others.
Beginning October 1, all four categories will be listed in Schedules 1 through 4 of the new Controlled Substances Regulations instead of being scattered across three separate regulatory instruments.
The definition of what qualifies as a controlled substance is not changing.
What is changing is where those substances are listed and the administrative rules that pharmacists and licensed dealers must follow when handling them.
Key Changes for Pharmacists and Practitioners
The most visible shift for pharmacy professionals is the permanent embedding of authorities that have operated on a temporary basis since March 2020.
A pandemic-era class exemption under subsection 56(1) of the CDSA gave pharmacists expanded flexibility to extend, renew, and transfer prescriptions for narcotics, controlled drugs, and targeted substances such as benzodiazepines.
That temporary exemption was extended in 2021 with a final expiry date of September 30, 2026.
On October 1, those same authorities become permanently established under the consolidated regulations.
Pharmacists will continue to be able to extend, renew, and transfer prescriptions for controlled substances under the new permanent rules without any gap in coverage on the transition date.
Therapeutic Substitution Becomes a Permanent Federal Authority
One of the most significant new provisions removes the federal regulatory barrier that currently prevents pharmacists from therapeutically substituting one controlled substance for another, provided the pharmacist is authorized to do so under the laws of the province or territory where they practise.
The Canadian Pharmacists Association has highlighted shortages involving acetaminophen with codeine or oxycodone as an example of situations in which greater pharmacist flexibility can help maintain patient access to treatment.
However, there is an important qualification that patients and pharmacists must understand.
The federal regulation creates the authority, but a pharmacist can only exercise it where their province or territory has also enabled therapeutic substitution within its scope-of-practice rules.
Ontario, for example, has not included therapeutic substitution within the scope of practice for Ontario pharmacists, as explained by the Ontario College of Pharmacists.
Ontario pharmacists can adapt prescriptions for controlled substances, including adjustments to dose, dosage form, regimen, and route of administration, but they cannot swap one controlled substance for a different one.
Provinces and territories that have already authorized therapeutic substitution in their pharmacy legislation will see the new federal authority take effect immediately on October 1.
Expanded Authorities for Pharmacy Technicians
The consolidated regulations also formally authorize pharmacy technicians to independently perform a range of activities involving controlled substances where permitted under provincial or territorial regulation.
These activities include compounding, transferring prescriptions, and on-site destruction of controlled substances.
As with pharmacist authorities, the federal regulation is enabling legislation that requires a matching provincial authorization before a pharmacy technician can carry out these tasks.
New Hospital Framework
The regulations introduce a newly defined category of “persons in charge of a hospital” who will be authorized to permit employees, including pharmacy professionals, to administer, sell, provide, send, deliver, and transport controlled substances.
This framework also incorporates class-exemption permissions for on-site destruction of controlled substances and transfers to licensed dealers for destruction.
Hospital administrators will need to review the new regulatory text to confirm that their internal protocols for handling controlled substances align with the consolidated rules before October 1.
What Changes for Patients Filling Prescriptions
For Canadians who fill prescriptions for controlled substances, the practical impact of the October 1 transition should generally be limited.
No prescription that was valid on September 30 will become invalid on October 1.
The consolidation itself does not newly reclassify existing prescribed controlled substances, and no medications are being removed from the controlled substances list as part of this regulatory reform.
Patients should not experience any disruption when filling prescriptions at their regular pharmacy.
The transition is administrative and structural, not clinical.
However, patients who rely on controlled substances for ongoing treatment should be aware that the permanent establishment of prescription-renewal and prescription-transfer authorities means these accommodations are no longer dependent on a temporary exemption that could theoretically be revoked.
That provides an additional layer of regulatory certainty for Canadians who depend on medications such as opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, or stimulant medications for conditions like ADHD.
Updated Rules for Travellers Carrying Prescription Medication
One of the most significant consumer-facing changes taking effect October 1 involves Canadians and international travellers carrying prescribed controlled substances across the border.
Under the new regulations, travellers entering or leaving Canada will be permitted to carry up to a 90-day supply of prescribed medication containing a narcotic, controlled drug, or targeted substance, provided the federal requirements are met.
This replaces the 30-day limit that currently applies to narcotics and controlled drugs and aligns them with the existing 90-day allowance for targeted substances.
The medication must be in the traveller’s actual possession or baggage.
When entering Canada, it must be declared to a customs officer at the port of entry.
Except for a limited low-dose codeine exception, the medication must also be in a container obtained from a health-care provider with prescribed information on the label, including the patient or animal’s name, the health-care provider, the drug name, strength and quantity, and the authorized daily dose.
The new rules also allow travellers to carry qualifying prescription medication for an accompanying person or for an accompanying animal for which they are responsible.
Restricted drugs listed in Schedule 4 are not covered by this traveller authorization.
Parallel amendments to the Cannabis Regulations will also allow travellers to carry up to a 90-day supply of prescribed drugs containing cannabis, such as authorized pharmaceutical products, as confirmed in the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement.
This does not legalize taking other cannabis products or medical cannabis across Canada’s international border.
The Canada Border Services Agency’s general guidance on drugs and travel reminds all travellers that attempting to cross a border with controlled substances without authorization can result in criminal charges, denied entry, or seizure of the medication.
Newcomers to Canada and returning travellers should keep all prescription medication in its original pharmacy-labelled container and carry a copy of the prescription or a letter from their doctor confirming the medical necessity of the medication.
Linked Changes to Cannabis Regulations
The consolidation also triggers amendments to the Cannabis Regulations to maintain consistency between the two legislative frameworks.
Cannabis licence holders and licensed dealers will be required to record the drug identification number for prescription drugs containing cannabis when conducting activities such as import, sale, and distribution.
Pharmacists will also be authorized to distribute drugs containing cannabis to licensed dealers for the purpose of destruction and to other pharmacists for the purpose of filling prescriptions.
Revised responsibilities for master growers under the Cannabis Regulations are also included in the coordinating amendments.
Unified Licensing Framework
The consolidated regulations establish a single licensing framework across all controlled substance categories, replacing the multiple licensing streams that previously existed under separate regulations.
Licensed dealers will operate under harmonized requirements for record-keeping, security, and reporting.
The new framework also introduces updated requirements around licence suspensions and mandatory reporting to Health Canada.
Health Canada is updating forms, web pages, and implementation materials ahead of the new framework.
Pharmacy professionals should also consult their provincial or territorial regulator for jurisdiction-specific guidance.
Key Transition Dates
Date What Happens December 17, 2025 New Controlled Substances Regulations published in the Canada Gazette, Part II October 1, 2026 Health Canada revokes the six relevant subsection 56(1) class exemptions incorporated into the new framework October 1, 2026 Consolidated Controlled Substances Regulations come into force October 1, 2026 Narcotic Control Regulations repealed October 1, 2026 Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations repealed October 1, 2026 Parts G and J of the Food and Drug Regulations are repealed October 1, 2026 New Classes of Practitioners Regulations repealed October 1, 2026 Cannabis Regulations amendments take effect Provincial Variations Will Shape Real-World Impact
Because Canada’s health-care system divides authority between federal and provincial governments, the practical effect of the October 1 changes will vary depending on where a pharmacist practices.
The federal regulations set the ceiling of what pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are authorized to do with controlled substances.
Provincial and territorial legislation determines which of those federally enabled authorities a pharmacy professional can actually exercise.
Pharmacists in provinces that have broadly empowered their pharmacy professionals will gain immediate access to new authorities like therapeutic substitution on October 1.
Pharmacists in provinces that have not updated their scope-of-practice rules will see no change in what they can do at the dispensing counter, even though the federal framework now permits it.
What Pharmacists and Patients Should Do Before October 1
Pharmacists and health-care practitioners should review the full text of the new Controlled Substances Regulations, published as SOR/2025-242 in the Canada Gazette, to confirm that their current dispensing and prescribing practices align with the consolidated framework.
Pharmacy teams should check with their provincial regulatory college for jurisdiction-specific guidance on which new authorities apply in their province.
Hospital administrators should review the new “person in charge of a hospital” provisions and update internal controlled substance handling protocols as needed.
Patients who take prescription medication containing controlled substances do not need to take any action before October 1.
Their prescriptions remain valid, and the transition should not affect their ability to fill or refill prescriptions at their regular pharmacy.
Travellers planning to enter or leave Canada with prescription medication containing controlled substances around the October 1 transition date should ensure they carry proper documentation, including original labelled containers and a copy of their prescription.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will my current prescription for a controlled substance stop working on October 1?
No, the prescriptions that were valid before October 1 remain valid after October 1. The consolidation reorganizes the regulatory framework behind controlled substance prescriptions but does not change what substances are controlled or invalidate any existing prescriptions.
Can my pharmacist now swap my medication for a different controlled substance?
That depends on where you live. The federal regulations will remove the regulatory barrier to therapeutic substitution beginning October 1, but only pharmacists in provinces or territories that have independently authorized this practice within their scope-of-practice legislation can exercise the authority. Ontario pharmacists, for example, cannot therapeutically substitute one controlled substance for another because the province has not enabled this authority. Ask your pharmacist whether therapeutic substitution is available in your province.
Do the rules for travelling with controlled-substance medication change on October 1?
Yes, travellers will be permitted to carry up to a 90-day supply of prescribed medications containing narcotics, controlled drugs, or targeted substances, subject to the new possession, labelling, and declaration requirements. The rules will also allow qualifying medication to be carried for an accompanying animal.
What is the difference between prescription adaptation and therapeutic substitution?
Prescription adaptation allows a pharmacist to adjust aspects of an existing prescription, including the dose, dosage form, regimen, or route of administration, without changing the medication itself. Therapeutic substitution goes further by allowing the pharmacist to replace the prescribed controlled substance with a different one from the same therapeutic class. Both require appropriate clinical judgment, but therapeutic substitution carries additional provincial authorization requirements under the new consolidated framework.
Are any substances becoming newly controlled because of the October 1 consolidation?
The consolidation itself does not newly control substances that were previously legal. Two synthetic opioids, spirobrorphine and spirochlorphine, will appear in Part 3 of Schedule 4 of the new Controlled Substances Regulations beginning October 1, but both have already been under temporary federal control since June 5, 2026. Their inclusion in the new schedule continues those existing controls.
Fact-Checked: All information in this article has been verified against the Controlled Substances Regulations (SOR/2025-242) as published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 159, Number 26 on December 17, 2025, the accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement, Health Canada’s regulatory guidance on controlled substances and precursor chemicals, the Canadian Pharmacists Association’s public statement on therapeutic substitution, the Ontario College of Pharmacists’ implementation guidance on the Controlled Substances Regulations, the Government of Canada’s traveller guidance on prescription medication containing controlled substances, and the Canada Gazette Order amending the Controlled Substances Regulations for spirobrorphine and spirochlorphine (SOR/2026-72).
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or pharmaceutical advice. Consult a licensed health-care professional or your provincial pharmacy regulatory college for guidance specific to your situation.
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- New Canada Immigration And Refugee Rules Effective September 7
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board is introducing new rules governing the use of artificial intelligence in immigration and refugee proceedings effective September 7, 2026.
Under the new Practice Notice, signed by IRB Chairperson Manon Brassard on July 10, 2026, parties appearing before the Board will be prohibited from using AI to generate or materially change personal evidence such as Basis of Claim narratives, affidavits and witness statements.
Certain other uses of AI will trigger mandatory disclosure requirements, including AI that generates or materially changes content in a document submitted to the IRB, while AI-assisted translation or transcription must always be disclosed.
The Practice Notice applies across all four divisions of the IRB: the Refugee Protection Division, the Refugee Appeal Division, the Immigration Division and the Immigration Appeal Division.
That means the rules cover refugee protection claims, refugee appeals, immigration appeals, sponsorship appeals, residency obligation appeals, removal order appeals, admissibility hearings, detention reviews and other matters within IRB jurisdiction.
An important distinction: these are rules for proceedings before Canada’s independent immigration and refugee tribunal. They are not blanket AI rules governing every Canadian immigration application.
The Practice Notice does not automatically apply to Express Entry applications, study permit applications, work permit applications, visitor visa applications or citizenship applications submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Those are separate processes handled by IRCC, not the IRB.
Table of Contents
Also read: All The New Canada Immigration Changes Coming In 2026
AI Cannot Be Used To Create Or Rewrite Personal Evidence
This is the most consequential rule in the new Practice Notice.
Starting September 7, parties must not use artificial intelligence to generate or materially change content that reports or reflects a person’s evidence.
The IRB specifically identifies Basis of Claim narratives, affidavits and witness statements as examples of material that must be based on a person’s own knowledge and experience.
The Practice Notice lists the following as prohibited uses of AI:
Using an AI tool to draft a Basis of Claim narrative, affidavit or witness statement. Using AI to rewrite a person’s story. Using AI to create or alter photographs, videos, screenshots or other corroborative evidence.
This rule carries particular weight in refugee proceedings. The Basis of Claim narrative is the foundational document in a refugee protection claim.
It is the claimant’s personal account of why they are seeking protection, their experiences, their fear of persecution, and the specific events that led them to Canada.
Board members may consider inconsistencies between a claimant’s Basis of Claim narrative, testimony and other evidence when assessing credibility.
If AI generated or materially rewrote the narrative instead of it being based on the claimant’s own knowledge and experience, that would violate the new Practice Notice and could trigger the consequences set out by the IRB.
The same prohibition applies to affidavits and witness statements in IRB proceedings. These materials must reflect what the person actually knows and experienced, and AI cannot be used to draft or materially rewrite that personal evidence.
They must reflect what the person actually knows and experienced, not what an AI tool produced based on a prompt.
Spellcheck And Grammar Tools Are Still Allowed
The Practice Notice does not prohibit all technology assistance. Minor assistive functions such as spellcheck, grammar correction and formatting assistance remain permitted, provided those tools do not generate the evidence or make material changes to it.
The distinction is between minor assistance correcting a spelling error, fixing grammar, adjusting formatting and AI-generated or materially rewritten content.
Running a refugee claimant’s handwritten notes through a spell-checker is not the same as feeding their story into a generative AI tool and submitting what it produces.
The IRB has not established a rigid word-count or percentage threshold for what constitutes a “material change.” The test is whether the AI generated the content or materially changed the wording or substance.
New AI Declaration Required Starting September 7
If AI is used to generate or materially change text in a document submitted to the IRB, the party must include a declaration in the document.
The declaration essentially confirms that AI was used to create or materially change text, that all AI-generated content has been reviewed and verified by a named individual, and that the authenticity of any cited case law or other legal authorities has been checked.
A declaration is not required for minor assistive functions such as spellcheck, grammar correction or formatting assistance, provided those tools do not generate or materially change the wording of the document.
Parties may also choose to provide additional information about which AI software was used, why it was used, and whether AI was used for the entire document or only for specific paragraphs.
This additional detail is optional; the Practice Notice says parties “may” include it, not that they must. But the core declaration itself is mandatory whenever AI generates or materially changes text.
AI Translation And Transcription Must Be Disclosed
Use of AI for translation or transcription must always be disclosed. This is an especially important practical rule given the multilingual nature of IRB proceedings.
The IRB division rules already require translated documents to be accompanied by a declaration from a human translator.
If artificial intelligence is used to assist with the translation, the human translator must disclose that AI assistance in their declaration.
AI translation is not itself prohibited. The core requirement is disclosure and continued compliance with the applicable translation rules, including the human translator declaration.
AI translation does not eliminate the need for a human translator to stand behind the accuracy of the document.
Legal Cases And Citations Must Be Verified
The IRB’s Practice Notice addresses a well-documented risk with generative AI: the creation of false, fabricated or inaccurate information, including fictitious legal citations.
Parties remain responsible and accountable for everything they present before the Board. Where AI is used, parties must ensure the AI-generated content is accurate, verifiable and trustworthy.
The IRB specifically requires systematic verification of legal principles and case citations using reliable sources.
The Practice Notice identifies reliable sources as legal databases, official government websites, commonly referenced commercial publishers and trusted public services such as CanLII.
An AI-generated summary is not itself an adequate source for verifying legal authority.
Parties Must Be Ready To Explain Their AI Use
The new rules go beyond disclosure. Parties should be prepared to answer questions about how artificial intelligence was used in their proceeding.
When requested, they must be able to establish the authenticity and accuracy of their documents.
This means the September 7 regime is not a box-ticking exercise. The person submitting material to the IRB remains accountable for the underlying information.
If a Board member has questions about whether a document was AI-generated or whether the information in it is authentic, the party needs to be able to respond.
Do Not Use AI To Bulk Up Submissions
The IRB has directed parties not to fill their submissions with AI-generated information that does not relate to the particular facts of their case.
The Board’s message is clear: longer submissions are not automatically stronger submissions.
The Practice Notice cites Messa c. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration), 2025 CF 1557, in connection with this concern.
Padding a submission with irrelevant AI-generated material does not strengthen a case and may invite scrutiny.
Privacy Risks With AI Tools
The IRB warns parties to exercise caution when using AI tools to ensure sensitive information is kept confidential. Some AI tools do not have sufficient security features to protect information.
This warning is particularly relevant in refugee matters, immigration proceedings, detention matters and cases involving personal or sensitive evidence.
Refugee claimants, for example, may be disclosing details about persecution, violence or personal circumstances that could put them or their family members at risk if that information were exposed through an insecure AI platform.
What Happens If You Do Not Follow The New AI Rules?
This is where the Practice Notice has real teeth. If a party does not comply, the IRB says it may take the following actions:
Refuse to accept a document for filing or otherwise decline to rely on it. Draw negative inferences about the credibility of the evidence.
Disclose information concerning counsel to the appropriate professional regulatory authority under the IRB’s Policy on Disclosing Information Regarding the Conduct of Authorized Representatives to Regulatory Bodies.
Restrict or prohibit counsel from appearing before the IRB. Take any other action considered necessary.
These are possible measures the IRB says it may take depending on the circumstances. Not every violation will automatically trigger every consequence.
But the range of potential consequences is broad, from having evidence disregarded to having a lawyer or consultant barred from appearing before the Board.
An important distinction: consequences affecting counsel or authorized representatives, such as referral to a professional regulator or restrictions on appearing before the IRB, are directed at counsel.
An ordinary self-represented refugee claimant would not be reported to a professional regulatory body, though the IRB could still refuse or decline to rely on a document and draw negative inferences about the credibility of the evidence.
The Rules Cover All Four IRB Divisions
The breadth of this Practice Notice matters. The new AI rules apply across all four divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board:
The Refugee Protection Division hears refugee protection claims and determines whether a claimant is a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection.
The Refugee Appeal Division hears appeals of RPD decisions, both from claimants and from the Minister. The Immigration Division conducts admissibility hearings and detention reviews.
The Immigration Appeal Division hears immigration appeals, including sponsorship appeals, certain removal order appeals and residency obligation appeals.
Any proceeding before any of these four divisions is subject to the new AI rules starting September 7.
What Changes On September 7?
Before September 7, the Practice Notice had been issued but had not yet come into force.
Parties already had existing legal and procedural obligations not to fabricate evidence or submit false information. Those obligations obviously continue. September 7 marks the commencement of new AI-specific rules.
Starting September 7:
The prohibition on using AI to generate or materially change personal evidence, including Basis of Claim narratives, affidavits, witness statements and corroborative evidence, becomes applicable.
The mandatory AI declaration requirement applies whenever AI generates or materially changes text in a document submitted to the IRB.
AI-assisted translation and transcription disclosure requirements apply. The obligation to systematically verify legal principles and case citations using reliable sources applies under the Practice Notice.
The potential consequences for non-compliance, including refusal of documents, negative credibility inferences and possible action against counsel, apply.
Who Should Pay The Most Attention
Anyone involved in an IRB proceeding should understand these rules, but certain groups need to pay especially close attention:
- Refugee claimants preparing or revising their Basis of Claim narrative. People appealing refugee decisions to the Refugee Appeal Division.
- Immigration appellants, including those appealing sponsorship refusals, removal orders or residency obligation findings.
- People involved in admissibility proceedings or undergoing detention reviews.
- Immigration lawyers representing clients before any IRB division.
- Immigration consultants appearing before the IRB as authorized representatives. Other authorized representatives.
- Self-represented parties preparing and submitting their own documents.
- Translators preparing translated documents for IRB proceedings, who must disclose any AI assistance used in the translation.
The core practical takeaway is understanding the distinction between legitimate assistive AI use such as spellcheck and grammar correction and the prohibited generation or material alteration of personal evidence.
Also read: 10 New Canada Immigration Laws And Changes Coming In 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the new Canada AI rules for immigration and refugee cases?
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has issued a new Practice Notice governing the use of artificial intelligence in IRB proceedings, effective September 7, 2026. The rules prohibit using AI to generate or materially change personal evidence such as Basis of Claim narratives, affidavits and witness statements. AI that generates or materially changes content in a document submitted to the IRB must be declared, while AI-assisted translation or transcription must always be disclosed. Minor spellcheck, grammar correction and formatting assistance do not require a declaration when they do not generate or materially change the wording.
Can I still use AI for my immigration case after September 7?
AI is not entirely banned. Spellcheck, grammar correction and formatting assistance remain allowed, provided those tools do not generate evidence or materially change the wording or substance of a document. However, using AI to draft a Basis of Claim narrative, rewrite a person’s story, create or alter photographs, or generate other personal evidence is prohibited. Any AI use that generates or materially changes text in a document submitted to the IRB requires a declaration.
Do the new IRB AI rules apply to Express Entry or visa applications?
No, the Practice Notice governs proceedings before the IRB — Canada’s independent immigration and refugee tribunal. It does not automatically apply to Express Entry applications, study permit applications, work permit applications, visitor visa applications or citizenship applications submitted to IRCC.
What is the AI declaration requirement for IRB proceedings?
If AI is used to generate or materially change text in a document submitted to the IRB, the party must include a declaration confirming that AI was used, that the content has been reviewed and verified by a named individual, and that cited case law and legal authorities have been checked for authenticity. A declaration is not required for minor assistive functions such as spellcheck or grammar correction.
What happens if I use AI without disclosing it to the IRB?
The IRB may refuse to accept the document for filing, decline to rely on it, draw negative inferences about the credibility of the evidence, report counsel to their professional regulatory authority, restrict or prohibit counsel from appearing before the Board, or take other necessary action. These are potential consequences the IRB may apply depending on the circumstances.
Does AI translation still require a human translator declaration at the IRB?
Yes, the IRB division rules require translated documents to be accompanied by a declaration from a human translator. If AI assisted with the translation, the human translator must disclose that assistance. AI translation does not eliminate the requirement for a human translator declaration.
Fact-Checked: This article is based on the official Practice Notice: Use of artificial intelligence in IRB proceedings, published by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, signed by Chairperson Manon Brassard on July 10, 2026, and coming into force on September 7, 2026. All substantive claims were verified against this primary source as of September 3, 2026. Additional sources include the IRB’s procedures and practice notices page, the Policy on Disclosing Information Regarding the Conduct of Authorized Representatives to Regulatory Bodies, and official IRB division pages.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers involved in IRB proceedings should consult a qualified immigration lawyer or authorized representative for guidance specific to their case. Anyone appearing before or submitting material to the IRB from September 7 onward should understand what AI use is prohibited, what must be disclosed, and that responsibility for the accuracy and authenticity of material remains with the party.
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- 10 New Alberta Laws And Rules In September 2026
Alberta’s 2026–27 year is starting with one of the most sweeping packages of new rules the province has introduced in a single month.
Several major legislative changes took effect on September 1, with additional rules scheduled for September 15, September 22, and September 30.
The changes touch a wide range of Albertans. New health coverage rules redefine when the provincial plan pays for certain services.
A large education package imposes new classroom-neutrality requirements and mandates reading and math screening for young students.
Regulated professionals across dozens of occupations now have new protections for off-duty expression and their regulators face new restrictions on mandatory diversity training.
Courts, land titles offices, corporate boardrooms and the securities system are all adjusting as well.
Here is what changes, when each change takes effect, who is affected and what Albertans should know going forward.
Table of Contents
1. Alberta Health Coverage Rule Changed September 1
A provision of the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), that directly affects the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan took effect on September 1, 2026.
Under the newly proclaimed amendment, Alberta’s definition of publicly insured health services now excludes certain services when a person is already eligible and entitled to receive those same services through a qualifying health-benefit arrangement.
These qualifying arrangements can be established or maintained by employers, insurers, associations, or other organizations, and the exclusion can extend to qualifying dependents.
In practical terms, this means that if a person has access to health services through, for example, an employer-funded health plan or a privately maintained physician-services arrangement, those particular services may no longer be billed to the public plan.
The provincial insurance plan does not cover services that are already available to the person through their qualifying private arrangement.
This change is distinct from the broader payor-of-last-resort provisions under the same legislation, which are scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026.
Those October provisions will require that private drug and supplemental health coverage be billed before provincial programs for a broader range of benefits.
What this does not mean is that Alberta has eliminated public coverage for medically necessary care.
Albertans who do not have qualifying private coverage continue to receive insured health services through the AHCIP as before.
The change primarily affects the coordination between public and private coverage for people who already have qualifying health-benefit arrangements.
Separately, Alberta’s new dual-practice framework is also launching in September.
Under that model, certain “flexibly participating” physicians can provide publicly funded insured services while also providing privately funded services under the new framework.
2. Major New Alberta School Rules Are Now In Effect
Most of the Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, 2026, Alberta’s omnibus education legislation that received royal assent on May 14, came into force on September 1.
Sections 1 through 12, 14 through 17, 19 through 22, and 24 were proclaimed on September 1. The changes are extensive and affect school authorities, teachers, parents and students across the province.
Key provisions now in effect include:
Requirements that education programming not approved or authorized under the Education Act be fair, impartial, neutral and free of personal bias, and that classrooms support diverse student viewpoints.
Restrictions preventing school authorities from issuing statements or taking positions on political, social or ideological matters that are not relevant to their statutory duties under the Education Act.
Protections for school employees against being compelled to participate in activities or express statements on conscientious, political, social or ideological beliefs that conflict with their personal views.
Requirements that courses, programs of study and instructional materials encourage students to explore a range of perspectives and form their own views.
Provisions strengthening parental involvement in their child’s learning and in non-instructional school activities.
Requirements that the delivery of courses and programs of study be continuously monitored and taught with a focus on academic rigour.
A mandate for literacy and numeracy intervention supports when screening indicates a student has difficulties.
Authority for digital administration of provincial assessments.
New student-code-of-conduct provisions requiring a statement prohibiting violence at school and during school-related activities.
The language in the Education Act has also shifted from “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe” to “a safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours.”
School authorities have until December 1, 2026, to comply with the code-of-conduct and updated-language requirements.
Amendments to charter school regulations establishing eligibility requirements and providing the Minister with additional authority in cases of non-compliance also took effect September 1.
What is not yet in effect: Several provisions have later implementation dates. Requirements respecting the display of flags and the playing of the Canadian national anthem remain under review, with effective dates still to be determined.
The same applies to rules governing the naming or renaming of public school buildings.
Amendments to the Professional Conduct and Competency for Teachers and Teacher Leaders Regulation, which will require objectivity, balanced presentation of issues, and support for diverse student viewpoints, are scheduled for December 1, 2026.
A new regulation to establish provincial strategic priorities for school authorities takes effect October 31, 2026, with compliance by December 1, 2026.
3. New Literacy And Numeracy Screening Requirements Begin
The Education (Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy) Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), was also proclaimed in force on September 1.
This is a separate piece of legislation from the broader classroom-rules bill above, though it amends the same Education Act.
The law embeds mandatory literacy and numeracy screening requirements for Kindergarten through Grade 3 directly into the Education Act.
Under the new sections 30.2 through 30.7, school authorities and applicable independent early childhood services operators must screen children and students, share results with parents, and provide screening data to the Department of Education and Childcare for the Minister.
The amendments also require that literacy and numeracy intervention supports be provided when screening results indicate a child or student has difficulties. The Minister is required to publish an annual report on screening results.
For the 2026–27 school year, Kindergarten screenings occur in winter only. Students in Grades 1 through 3 are screened in both fall and winter, with a spring screening required for students who need additional supports after the winter screening.
The legislation gives the Minister power to create regulations outlining additional details. The full screening schedule is set out in the General Information Bulletin for 2026–2027 Literacy and Numeracy Screenings.
This overlaps with the broader education bill in that both emphasize early literacy and numeracy supports, but the screening requirements are legally grounded in the separate Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy amendment, not in the classroom-neutrality legislation.
4. Regulated Professions Neutrality Act Takes Effect
The Regulated Professions Neutrality Act was proclaimed in force on September 1, 2026, but with significant exceptions for certain sectors.
For most regulated professions and tradespeople in Alberta, including lawyers, real estate professionals, funeral service providers, and several others, the new rules apply immediately.
Regulators in these professions can no longer discipline members for expressive conduct that occurs off duty, subject to specific exceptions.
The exceptions that still allow discipline for off-duty expression include:
Threats or conduct involving the use of a professional’s position to harm an identifiable person. Misconduct related to professional boundaries involving a client, patient or student, or their close relatives, guardians or caregivers.
Sexual misconduct involving clients, patients, students, minors or secondary school students. Intentional communications to a minor or secondary school student of an improper sexual character.
Specified criminal offences. These exceptions must also be reflected in the legislation or regulations governing the specific regulated profession.
Mandatory training restrictions: The act prohibits regulators from requiring cultural competency, unconscious bias, or diversity, equity and inclusion training under any circumstances.
Mandatory education or training imposed by regulators must be limited to topics directly related to professional competence and ethics.
Regulators are also barred from giving preferential or adverse treatment to members for the purpose of achieving diversity, equity or inclusion goals based on personal identity characteristics.
Not everyone is covered yet. The act’s application to teachers and teacher leaders under the Education Act does not take effect until January 4, 2027.
For health professionals regulated under the Health Professions Act, the implementation date is August 10, 2027. Early childhood educators, however, are covered starting September 1, 2026.
The Law Society of Alberta has already responded to the legislation by discontinuing its standalone equity, diversity and inclusion committee for 2026.
5. New Rules For Complaints Against Alberta Lawyers
Changes to Alberta’s Legal Profession Act, introduced through the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, took effect on September 1.
The amendments establish an improved screening process to quickly dismiss frivolous, bad-faith, and meritless complaints against lawyers. Previously, complaints could proceed further through the system before being filtered out.
The changes also direct the Law Society of Alberta to establish a process for a complainant to request an appeal if their complaint is dismissed, rather than the complainant being automatically entitled to an appeal.
Separately, the amendments make decisions by the Law Society’s Hearing Committee appealable to the Court of King’s Bench rather than to the Benchers of the Law Society. However, the Court of King’s Bench appeal provisions have not yet been proclaimed in force and will take effect at a later date.
These complaint-screening changes intersect with the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, which separately limits the grounds on which the Law Society can discipline lawyers for off-duty expressive conduct.
6. New Alberta Land Titles Rules
A package of Land Titles Act amendments took effect September 1, 2026, through provisions of the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.
In addition to the legislative amendments, a practical administrative change has been introduced affecting how lawyers submit land registration documents.
Effective September 1, Document Registration Request packages submitted by members of the Law Society of Alberta may now be subject to a $25 re-examination fee for each Notice of Deficiency issued.
The fee applies only to certain document types and is charged when a previously deficient package is submitted for re-examination under the same Document Registration Request.
It applies to all packages examined on or after September 1, including packages that were already in the Pending Registration Queue before that date.
The fee does not apply when a new Document Registration Request is submitted. It also does not apply to submissions from the public or other account holders, only to lawyer-submitted packages.
This change is most relevant to lawyers handling conveyancing and real estate transactions, as well as other legal professionals who submit land registration documents.
It creates a financial incentive for clean submissions and is expected to help reduce the volume of deficient filings that create backlogs at the Land Titles Office.
Most individual Albertans will not directly pay this fee. For a list of applicable document types, see the Re-examination Fee Information Sheet.
Separately, as of April 1, 2026, requests to extend deficient Document Registration Requests beyond 30 days are no longer approved.
7. Environmental Remediation Applications Are Now Digital-Only
Another administrative change became fully mandatory after September 1. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas now accepts applicable Limited and Site-based Remediation Certificate applications only through the Digital Regulatory Assurance System, or DRAS.
Remediation certificate applications for provincially regulated sites had already moved into DRAS earlier in 2026, but September 1 marked the end of the transition period for other submission methods.
Email and paper-based submissions are no longer accepted for these applications.
The requirement applies to contaminated sites regulated by the Alberta government under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
It does not apply in the same way to upstream oil and gas sites regulated by the Alberta Energy Regulator, which use the AER’s OneStop system.
This is primarily an administrative filing change affecting environmental consultants, property owners with contaminated-site obligations, and land remediation professionals rather than a broad new environmental law.
8. Digital Court Orders Becoming Mandatory
Beginning September 15, 2026, Alberta’s Court of King’s Bench requires Digital Orders for all Applications, Judge desk applications, and Judge civil chamber matters filed through the King’s Bench Filing Digital Service Civil and Chambers.
PDF order uploads will no longer be accepted for these matters. This applies even to matters that were originally submitted before September 15 but subsequently returned to counsel for resubmission after the implementation date.
PDF orders may still be submitted for Justice desk applications and chambers hearings for now, though counsel is encouraged to transition to digital orders for those as well.
For support, counsel can contact jsg.filingsupport@gov.ab.ca.
This change primarily affects lawyers and legal professionals who regularly file applications in King’s Bench.
Self-represented litigants and parties who do not file through the applicable electronic service are not directly affected by this particular requirement.
It does not mean that all Alberta court orders across every type of proceeding must now be digital.
9. New Securities Access Model
On September 22, 2026, new Canadian securities rules take effect that allow non-investment-fund reporting issuers to use an optional Access Model for certain continuous disclosure documents.
Under the new rules, participating issuers can satisfy their delivery obligations for annual financial statements, interim financial reports and related management discussion and analysis by making the documents electronically accessible rather than sending them through traditional direct delivery.
Participation is optional. To qualify, issuers must file the documents on SEDAR+ and make them accessible on their website within specified timelines. SEDAR+ will provide filing-notification functionality so that investors are alerted when new documents are available.
Investors retain the right to request electronic or paper copies of the documents at any time. The changes amend National Instrument 51-102 (Continuous Disclosure Obligations) and National Instrument 54-101 (Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer).
This reform is closely connected to the September 2 Business Corporations Act amendment described above. The statutory change enables the securities-level access model by removing the corporate-law mailing obligation for reporting issuers that comply with the new securities rules. Together, they form a single coordinated shift toward electronic delivery of corporate financial documents.
10. Alberta Physiotherapist Provisional Register Closes
At 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2026, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta’s Provisional Register permanently closes to new and former applicants.
The Provisional Register has allowed physiotherapy applicants who have passed the written component of a competency examination but have not yet completed the clinical component to practice on a provisional basis while preparing for their clinical exam.
After September 30, applicants who have not entered the Provisional Register will generally need to meet the examination requirement for Alberta’s General Register.
For new applicants, this includes passing the Canadian Physiotherapy Examination, the new single licensure examination that combines written and clinical components.
This does not affect physiotherapists who are already on the General Register.
Existing provisional registrants may continue on the Provisional Register for up to two years from their initial registration date or until they have made two unsuccessful clinical examination attempts, whichever comes first.
Individuals currently registered in other Canadian jurisdictions on similar interim registers may still be eligible for a streamlined registration process through September 30, provided they meet all the eligibility criteria, including continuous registration in their current jurisdiction at the time their Alberta application is approved.
Anyone considering an application through the Provisional Register route should be aware that applications are valid for only 90 days from submission, and the register closes regardless of whether an application is in progress.
September 2026 is one of the busiest single months for new Alberta rules in recent memory.
Several of the changes described above carry compliance deadlines that extend into October, November and December, and the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act will continue rolling out to teachers in January 2027 and health professionals in August 2027.
Albertans affected by any of these changes should consult the linked primary sources for the most current details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What new laws took effect in Alberta on September 1, 2026?
Several major changes took effect on September 1. Most of the Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms began, imposing neutrality requirements on school authorities and protecting employees from compelled expression. The Education (Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy) Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2) was proclaimed, mandating reading and math screening for Kindergarten through Grade 3. A provision of the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2) changed when certain health services are covered by the provincial plan where a qualifying health-benefit arrangement exists. The Regulated Professions Neutrality Act took effect for most regulated professions, though teachers and health professionals have later dates. Changes to lawyer complaint screening under the Legal Profession Act and Land Titles Act amendments also began September 1.
What new Alberta rules are taking effect in September 2026?
In addition to the September 1 changes, a Business Corporations Act amendment on September 2 permits reporting issuers to deliver financial documents electronically. Environmental remediation applications became digital-only through DRAS. Digital court orders become mandatory for certain Applications Judge matters on September 15. A new securities access model for corporate financial documents launches September 22. And the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta’s Provisional Register closes permanently on September 30.
What changed in Alberta schools in September 2026?
Alberta schools are now subject to neutrality and impartiality requirements for education programming, restrictions on school authorities taking positions on political or ideological matters, employee protections against compelled expression, strengthened parental-involvement provisions, academic-rigour requirements, and mandatory literacy and numeracy screening for K–3 with expansion to Grades 4–5. The new Grades 4–6 social studies curriculum is also being implemented. Flag-display requirements and school-naming rules have not yet taken effect.
Are Alberta health care rules changing in September 2026?
Yes. Effective September 1, a provision of the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), affects when services are covered by the AHCIP where a person already has access to qualifying health-benefit arrangements through an employer or other organization. This does not eliminate public coverage for Albertans without such arrangements. Separate payer-of-last-resort rules for drug and supplemental health benefits are scheduled for October 1, and the dual practice surgery model allowing physicians to work in both public and private systems also launches in September.
What new Alberta rules take effect later in September 2026?
On September 15, digital orders become mandatory for certain Court of King’s Bench applications. On September 22, new securities rules allow reporting issuers to use an electronic access model for financial statements and related disclosure documents. On September 30, the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta’s Provisional Register closes permanently to new applicants.
Fact-check: This article was fact-checked on September 2, 2026, using primary and official sources, including the Alberta government’s proclamation register, Alberta Education and Childcare, literacy and numeracy screening requirements, Alberta’s Regulated Professions Neutrality Act guidance, Alberta Land Titles, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, the Alberta Court of King’s Bench, the Alberta Securities Commission and the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta. Official sources confirm the September 1 and September 2 legislative commencements as well as additional changes scheduled for September 15, September 22, and September 30.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes and reflects laws, regulations, policies and administrative requirements confirmed from official sources as of September 2, 2026. Alberta laws, regulations, implementation dates and government guidance can subsequently be amended or updated. Readers affected by a specific legal, health-care, professional, securities, education or regulatory requirement should consult the applicable government department, regulator or qualified professional for advice concerning their individual circumstances.
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- Canada Could Narrow These 5 Express Entry Categories In 2027
Canada could significantly tighten eligibility for five major Express Entry labour-shortage categories in 2027 as IRCC concentrates invitations on a smaller set of occupations and economic priorities.
The five current labour-shortage categories most directly implicated by that narrowing language are healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education, and transport.
No category has yet been confirmed for removal, and no final 2027 occupation lists have been announced.
The more consequential part of the 2027 consultation may be what happens inside each category rather than whether a category continues at all.
Even if all five labour-shortage categories survive, IRCC could potentially shrink their eligible occupation lists by prioritizing the most severe shortages, higher-skilled occupations, federal economic priorities, or jobs that are not already well served by other immigration pathways.
This potential narrowing is occurring alongside a broader policy shift toward attracting highly skilled international talent in areas connected with emerging technologies, research, artificial intelligence, and other strategic sectors.
Table of Contents
5 Express Entry Categories That Could Face Narrower Selection In 2027
These five categories currently form the labour-shortage side of the category-based Express Entry selection.
IRCC established them to address persistent workforce gaps in sectors that affect the daily lives of Canadians, from access to healthcare and education to infrastructure and transportation.
The table below summarizes the possible outcomes based on analysis of IRCC’s consultation framework.
The right-hand column reflects analytical interpretation of the consultation direction, not confirmed government decisions.
Current Category What Could Potentially Change In 2027 (Analysis) Healthcare and social services Eligible occupations could become more targeted toward the most persistent shortages STEM Could focus more heavily on strategic and high-demand technical occupations aligned with federal talent priorities Trades Could prioritize construction and occupations tied to housing and infrastructure needs Education Could focus on occupations facing the most persistent nationwide shortages Transport Could be narrowed or reconsidered depending on federal priorities What Does IRCC Mean By Narrowing Express Entry Categories?
The word “narrowing” in the context of IRCC’s 2027 consultation can mean two distinct things, and the difference matters enormously for candidates.
The first possibility is fewer labour-shortage categories altogether.
IRCC could decide that not all five existing labour-shortage categories should continue receiving dedicated category-based Express Entry rounds in 2027.
A category that does not carry forward would no longer generate its own invitation rounds, and candidates whose occupation falls only within that category would lose the advantage it previously provided.
The second possibility is smaller occupation lists within existing categories.
IRCC could retain some or all five categories but substantially reduce the number of occupations eligible within them.
This second possibility is critically important because the consultation specifically asks whether category-based selection should focus on a smaller, more targeted group of occupations instead of broadly covering all occupations expected to experience long-term shortages.
IRCC’s consultation identifies several criteria that could guide this prioritization.
Those criteria include occupations experiencing the most persistent and severe shortages as projected by Employment and Social Development Canada.
They also include occupations aligned with Government of Canada priorities and occupations requiring higher training levels at TEER 0, 1, or 2.
A further consideration is whether an occupation is already adequately served through Provincial Nominee Programs or other permanent residence pathways.
Finally, the consultation raises the limited admission space available under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan as a factor that could require further prioritization of which labour shortages receive federal immigration selection support.
STEM Could Become More Targeted In 2027
STEM does not necessarily face elimination from Express Entry category-based selection.
A more plausible direction under the consultation framework is a more selective STEM occupation list concentrated around Canada’s strategic economic priorities.
IRCC’s consultation specifically references the International Talent Attraction Strategy, which identifies priority sectors including emerging technologies, healthcare, and skilled trades.
It also references Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which recognizes AI talent as a critical strategic asset and calls for expanding the temporary worker Global Talent Stream to accelerate entry and onboarding of highly skilled AI talent.
Budget 2025 further commits to launching an accelerated pathway for U.S. H-1B visa holders working in specialty occupations, targeting talent in STEM, healthcare, research, advanced industries, and other key sectors.
This policy context suggests a potential shift away from a broad STEM labour-shortage category toward more strategically selected technical talent aligned with federal innovation priorities.
IRCC’s operational category data show that STEM-eligible candidates represented 28.7% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in 2023, 18.4% in 2024, and 5.8% in 2025.
The current STEM-eligible occupation list for 2026 contains 11 occupations, including cybersecurity specialists, various engineering disciplines, and engineering technologists.
Transport Could Be One Of The Categories To Watch Closely
Transport has an unusual history within category-based selection that makes it particularly worth monitoring.
IRCC introduced Transport as a category in 2023 alongside the original category-based selection launch.
IRCC’s operational category data show that 2,033 Transport-eligible candidates received an ITA in 2023 and 1,340 did so in 2024.
In February 2025, when IRCC overhauled Express Entry categories, the Transport category was removed entirely for that year.
It then returned for 2026 when IRCC announced five new categories alongside renewed existing ones.
That history of removal and restoration demonstrates that IRCC has already shown willingness to add or remove Transport depending on changing labour-market priorities.
It makes Transport one of the categories candidates may want to watch particularly closely as IRCC determines its 2027 priorities.
The current 2026 Transport occupation list is notably small, containing just four occupations: aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors; air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors; aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors; and automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers.
Trades Could Become More Focused On Housing And Construction
The Trades category already leans heavily toward construction-related occupations in its current 2026 eligible list.
IRCC’s consultation text explicitly states that trades categories have included construction occupations intended to help address housing needs since 2023.
The 25 currently eligible trade occupations for 2026 include carpenters, plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, roofers, concrete finishers, construction managers, home building and renovation managers, and several other roles directly connected to building and infrastructure.
If IRCC moves toward a more targeted labour-shortage model for 2027, one potential direction would be a Trades category that gives even greater emphasis to occupations directly connected with homebuilding, construction, and infrastructure.
This would not necessarily mean all non-construction trades lose eligibility.
It could, however, mean a shorter and more focused occupation list that prioritizes the occupations most directly tied to Canada’s housing supply goals.
IRCC’s operational category data show that trade-eligible candidates represented 4.4% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in 2025, up from 3.4% in 2023, with 78% of those trade-eligible invitees already in Canada.
Healthcare And Social Services May Remain A Major Priority
Healthcare and social services remain among the most strongly connected categories to Canada’s long-term labour needs.
IRCC’s operational category data show that healthcare-eligible candidates represented 9.7% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in 2023 and 18.6% in 2025.
In 2025, 19,200 healthcare-eligible candidates received ITAs, the second-highest count among the category-eligibility groups reported by IRCC after French-language proficiency.
The category itself may therefore be less vulnerable to removal than some others.
Its occupation list could still be narrowed, however, if IRCC adopts a smaller and more targeted labour-shortage model.
The current 2026 healthcare and social services list includes 37 eligible occupations spanning TEER 1 through TEER 3, from specialists in clinical medicine and nurse practitioners to pharmacy assistants and social workers.
If IRCC applies the consultation’s prioritization criteria, occupations requiring TEER 1 or 2 levels of training within the healthcare and social services category, or those experiencing the most persistent shortages, could receive stronger priority over currently eligible TEER 3 roles.
Education Could Also Face A More Targeted Occupation List
Education is a relatively new addition to Express Entry category-based selection, introduced in 2025.
IRCC issued 9,200 invitations to education-eligible candidates in 2025, representing 8.9% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in its operational category data.
The distinction that matters here is between maintaining Education as a category and maintaining every occupation currently included in it.
The current 2026 list includes five occupations: secondary school teachers, elementary school and kindergarten teachers, early childhood educators and assistants, instructors of persons with disabilities, and elementary and secondary school teacher assistants.
If IRCC chooses to target only the most severe nationwide shortages, the Education occupation list could potentially be adjusted even if the overall category survives.
A category with five occupations already operates as a relatively narrow list, so any further reduction would be especially significant for affected candidates.
French-Language Express Entry Appears To Be In A Different Position
French-language proficiency operates in a fundamentally different policy space from the five labour-shortage categories discussed above.
It should not be grouped with them when assessing vulnerability to narrowing.
The Government of Canada’s Policy on Francophone Immigration aims to maximize permanent resident admissions of French speakers outside Quebec.
Category-based selection is described in IRCC’s consultation as the primary mechanism to support this objective.
The 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan set French-speaking admission targets at 9% for 2026, 9.5% for 2027, and 10.5% for 2028, with a commitment to reach 12% by 2029.
French-language proficiency is the largest category-eligibility group in IRCC’s recent operational data by a wide margin.
IRCC data show that French-language-eligible candidates represented 49.2% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in 2025, up from 17.8% in 2023.
IRCC’s consultation explicitly states it is considering maintaining the focus on Francophone immigration for category-based selection in 2027.
None of this guarantees the French-language category will remain unchanged, but the rising targets and dedicated federal policy clearly place it in a stronger position than the labour-shortage categories under review.
Canada Could Shift Express Entry Toward Strategic Global Talent
The potential narrowing of labour-shortage categories is part of a larger policy story.
IRCC’s consultation describes a broader direction: expanding the approach to attract and retain highly skilled international workers with expertise in occupations that support Canada’s economic growth.
The consultation references four specific federal strategies and initiatives that could inform Express Entry category-based selection in 2027.
IRCC’s International Talent Attraction Strategy aims to prioritize, attract, and retain top talent in priority sectors including emerging technologies, healthcare, and skilled trades.
The Canada Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative is designed to recruit leading international researchers in critical fields.
Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy calls for expanding the Global Talent Stream to accelerate entry and onboarding of highly skilled AI talent.
Budget 2025 commits to an accelerated pathway for H-1B visa holders in the United States, targeting talent in STEM, healthcare, research, and advanced industries.
The possible transition in Express Entry selection could move from a broad occupation-based labour-shortage targeting model toward a smaller group of acute shortages combined with strategic global talent, French-language candidates, and candidates aligned with major federal economic priorities.
This analysis is based on the government’s consultation direction, not an announced Express Entry redesign.
How IRCC Could Decide Which Occupations Stay Eligible
Several criteria from the consultation could shape which occupations remain eligible for category-based Express Entry selection in 2027.
Possible Decision Factor What It Could Mean For Occupation Eligibility Severity of Canada’s labour shortage Occupations with the most critical workforce gaps could receive priority over those with moderate shortages Persistence of the shortage over time Occupations facing sustained multi-year shortages, as projected by ESDC, could be prioritized over short-term gaps Skill level or TEER classification Higher-skilled occupations at TEER 0, 1, or 2 could be favoured over TEER 3 roles currently eligible in some categories Alignment with federal priorities Occupations connected to housing, AI, emerging technology, or healthcare could receive stronger support Coverage by other immigration programs Occupations already well served through PNPs or other pathways could be deprioritized in Express Entry Available permanent residence admission space Limited immigration levels could force more selective allocation of invitations across fewer occupations The limited number of permanent residence admissions available under the Immigration Levels Plan makes this prioritization increasingly important.
Canada’s levels plan targets 380,000 permanent resident admissions annually for 2026, 2027, and 2028 within a range of 350,000 to 420,000.
Express Entry typically accounts for more than 30% of economic immigration admissions, which means the number of invitations available for any single category is inherently constrained.
What This Could Mean For Express Entry Candidates
Candidates currently relying on category eligibility should not assume their occupation will remain eligible in 2027.
Equally, candidates should not panic or make major career changes based solely on consultation proposals that have not been finalized.
Several practical steps are worth considering.
Confirm that your Express Entry profile accurately reflects your current NOC code and work experience.
Monitor IRCC’s eventual 2027 category announcement, which will follow the conclusion of consultations and internal review.
Work on improving your Comprehensive Ranking System score independently of category eligibility, since candidates can also be selected through program-specific or general Express Entry rounds.
Consider French-language proficiency where realistically achievable, given its strong position within Express Entry and consistently lower CRS cutoffs.
Investigate Provincial Nominee Programs as a parallel pathway, especially if your occupation could be deprioritized in Express Entry.
Maintain valid language test results and keep all Express Entry profile information accurate and current.
Avoid making major immigration decisions based solely on consultation proposals that may change before final implementation.
When Will Canada Announce The 2027 Express Entry Categories?
IRCC’s 2027 consultation on category-based selection opened on August 4, 2026, and closed on September 1, 2026.
The consultation gathered feedback from the public, stakeholders, industry representatives, unions, employers, workers, settlement organizations, and immigration researchers.
Consultation feedback does not itself change Express Entry eligibility.
IRCC also engages federal, provincial, and territorial partners on priorities under consideration and reviews labour market information and past results on category-based selection.
In previous years, IRCC has typically announced new category priorities in the first quarter of the following year.
The 2026 categories were announced on February 18, 2026, and the 2025 categories were announced in February 2025.
No exact announcement date for the 2027 categories has been confirmed by IRCC.
Final 2027 categories and eligible occupation lists remain subject to an official ministerial announcement that will be published on the IRCC website once approved.
Express Entry in 2027 could become meaningfully more selective within the labour-shortage categories that have shaped category-based selection since 2023.
The potential narrowing extends beyond the question of which categories survive and into the more granular question of which occupations remain eligible within them.
No final categories or occupation lists have been announced, and candidates should watch the eventual IRCC announcement rather than assuming current 2026 eligibility will carry into 2027.
Follow Immigration News Canada for confirmed 2027 Express Entry category and occupation-list updates as IRCC releases them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Canada removing Express Entry categories in 2027?
IRCC has not confirmed the removal of any Express Entry category for 2027. IRCC’s 2026 consultation asked for feedback on whether current categories should continue and whether labour-shortage selection should be narrowed or adjusted. Any changes will be announced through an official ministerial decision after consultations and internal review are complete.
Which Express Entry categories could be narrowed in 2027?
The five labour-shortage categories that could potentially face narrowing are healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education, and transport. IRCC’s consultation specifically raises the possibility of narrowing the number or eligibility of categories aimed at addressing labour shortages. This could mean fewer categories, fewer eligible occupations within categories, or a combination of both approaches.
Could Canada remove the STEM Express Entry category?
Removal of the STEM category has not been confirmed and is not the only possible outcome. A more plausible direction under the consultation framework is a more strategically targeted STEM occupation list aligned with federal priorities such as AI, emerging technologies, and cybersecurity. IRCC’s operational category data show that STEM-eligible candidates declined from 28.7% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in 2023 to 5.8% in 2025.
Could the Transport category be removed again?
IRCC removed Transport from the Express Entry category-based selection in 2025 and then reinstated it for 2026, demonstrating willingness to adjust the category based on changing priorities. Whether Transport continues in 2027 will depend on the final ministerial decision following consultations, labour market analysis, and policy review. Candidates with experience in the four currently eligible transport occupations should prepare for multiple possible outcomes.
Is Canada removing healthcare occupations from Express Entry?
Healthcare and social services remains one of the strongest Express Entry categories, with healthcare-eligible candidates rising from 9.7% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in 2023 to 18.6% in 2025 in IRCC’s operational category data. The category is closely aligned with Canada’s long-term workforce needs, and IRCC’s talent attraction strategies explicitly reference healthcare as a priority sector. The overall category may be less vulnerable to removal, but specific occupations within the 37-occupation list could potentially be narrowed if IRCC adopts more targeted selection criteria.
Will French-language Express Entry draws continue in 2027?
IRCC’s consultation states the department is considering maintaining the focus on Francophone immigration for category-based selection in 2027. The 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets French-speaking permanent resident admission targets outside Quebec at 9% in 2026, 9.5% in 2027, and 10.5% in 2028, while the government has separately committed to reaching 12% by 2029. French-language-eligible candidates represented 49.2% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in IRCC’s 2025 operational category data, making French the dominant category-eligibility group.
Could Express Entry occupation lists change in 2027?
IRCC has revised eligible occupation lists during past annual category reviews, including substantial changes for 2025, and the lists can change again when categories are established for a new year. IRCC’s 2027 consultation specifically asks whether category-based selection should focus on a smaller, more targeted set of occupations based on severity of shortages, skill level, federal priorities, and coverage by other programs. Candidates should not assume that their currently eligible occupation will automatically carry forward into the 2027 list.
When will IRCC announce the 2027 Express Entry categories?
IRCC has not confirmed a specific date for the 2027 Express Entry category announcement. The 2027 consultation ran from August 4 to September 1, 2026, and IRCC will review the feedback alongside partner engagement and labour market analysis before the Minister establishes new categories. In previous years IRCC announced new categories in February, suggesting a similar timeline could apply for 2027; candidates should monitor the Express Entry category-based selection page for the official announcement.
Fact-Checked: All information in this article has been verified against IRCC’s official 2026 consultations on economic priorities for category-based selection in Express Entry, including the official survey questionnaire; IRCC’s current Express Entry category-based selection page; the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan; and IRCC operational category data as of April 7, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is published by Immigration News Canada 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. IRCC categories, eligible occupations, draw schedules, and invitation volumes can change at any time. Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC, License R708618.
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