December 13, 2022 – Ontario PNP also known as OINP (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program) sent 160 notifications of interest (NOIs) to francophone Express Entry Profiles. This draw invited Express Entry profiles having their CRS score between 341 – 490.
To give a context, CRS cut off score has never been below 424 (July 18, 2022) for OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, other than the September 23, 2022 draw. Generally, OINP Francophone draw declares lower and upper range of cut-off, but September 23 draw removed the upper cap.
Additionally, this draw was also special because it only invited 35 occupations (listed below) as specified by the new NOC codes (TEER system). Furthermore, Express Entry profiles created between December 13, 2021 – December 13, 2022 were considered for December 13 OINP draw.
In total, OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream has sent 1,539 NOIs this year. So, Francophiles have a good chance of getting Ontario Provincial Nomination to achieve permanent residency in Canada with comparatively lower CRS score in the Express Entry system.
| Year | Number of Invites |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,539 |
| 2021 | 651 |
| 2020 | 902 |
OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream Invites – Last 3 Years
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List of Invited NOCs
- 41220 – Secondary school teachers
- 41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
- 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- 41200 – University professors and lecturers
- 63202 – Bakers
- 63201 – Butchers – retail and wholesale
- 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
- 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- 72310 – Carpenters
- 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
- 72311 – Cabinetmakers
- 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
- 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
- 72101 – Tool and die makers
- 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
- 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
- 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
- 73111 – Glaziers
- 73100 – Concrete finishers
- 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- 72201 – Industrial electricians
- 72421 – Appliance servicers and repairers
- 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72302 – Gas fitters
- 72320 – Bricklayers
- 72300 – Plumbers
- 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
- 82020 – Supervisors, mining and quarrying
- 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
- 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
OINP Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream Requirements
- A valid Express Entry Profile under
- Federal Skilled Worker Program “OR”
- Canadian Experience Class
- Education: Canadian bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree or its equivalent from another country
- Language requirements:
- A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher in French-Speaking tests TEF/TCF; “And”
- A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 6 or higher in English-Speaking tests, IELTS/CELPIP. Click here for language equivalency chart.
- Intention to live in Ontario
Click here for more information on OINP Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- New Ontario ODSP Payment Coming On October 30
Ontario Disability Support Program recipients will receive their next ODSP payment on Friday, October 30, 2026, the last business day of the month.
The October 30 deposit continues to reflect the 1.9% inflation adjustment that Ontario applied to core ODSP rates on July 1, 2026, marking the fourth consecutive monthly payment at the higher amount.
A single recipient collecting the maximum ODSP income support will receive up to $1,436, while couples and families with dependants qualify for higher amounts under the program’s tiered rate structure.
Ontario Works recipients will also receive their payment on October 30, covering November 2026 living expenses under the standard provincial schedule that issues payments on the last business day of the prior month.
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5 Consecutive Inflation Increases Since 2022
ODSP is tied to annual inflation adjustments since September 2022, and the province has delivered five consecutive increases since then.
The cumulative rise since September 2022 now exceeds 22%, according to the Ontario government’s ODSP program page.
The 2026 provincial Budget confirmed that ODSP will continue to be indexed going forward, providing recipients with some certainty that their payments will keep pace with rising costs.
Before the inflation indexing began, ODSP rates had remained largely stagnant for years despite significant increases in rent, food, and energy prices across Ontario.
Effective Date Increase New Single Maximum September 2022 5.0% $1,228 July 2023 6.5% $1,308 July 2024 4.5% $1,368 July 2025 2.8% $1,408 July 2026 1.9% $1,436 Source: Official ODSP program page. Current ODSP Rates After the Mid-2026 Adjustment
The ODSP payment is divided into two core components: basic needs and a shelter allowance capped at the maximum for each family type.
Actual payments may be lower when verified shelter expenses fall below the applicable maximum.
Family Situation Basic Needs Max Shelter Maximum Monthly Total (ODSP + OCB Where Applicable) Single person $825 $611 $1,436 Couple, one disabled (no dependants) $1,189 $959 $2,148 Couple, both disabled (no dependants) Varies Varies $2,416 (capped) Sole-support parent, 1 child $968 $959 $1,927 Single parent, 1 child (ODSP + OCB) Varies Varies $2,073.66 Single parent, 2 children (ODSP + OCB) Varies Varies $2,299.32 Couple, 1 child (ODSP + OCB) Varies Varies $2,373.66 Couple, 2 children (ODSP + OCB) Varies Varies $2,608.32 Source: ODSP program page (updated June 30, 2026). Family rows that include the Ontario Child Benefit are labeled “ODSP + OCB” because the OCB is not part of the ODSP rate itself. The combined family totals assume eligibility for the maximum Ontario Child Benefit of $146.66 per child per month, which is paid separately through the Canada Child Benefit system and may be lower depending on family income.
Several supplementary ODSP allowances, including the Special Diet Allowance and the pregnancy nutritional allowance, remain frozen at previous levels and did not receive the 1.9% adjustment.
How Ontario Works Connects to ODSP
Ontario Works and ODSP are both administered under Ontario’s social assistance framework, but they serve different populations and carry substantially different payment levels.
Ontario Works provides temporary financial assistance to residents in financial need who are actively pursuing employment or participating in job-readiness activities.
The maximum Ontario Works payment for a single person has been frozen at $733 per month since 2018 with no inflation adjustment, creating a growing gap between the two programs.
A single person on ODSP receives $703 more per month than someone on Ontario Works, and that gap widens with each annual ODSP inflation increase.
Ontario Works is often the entry point into the social assistance system, even for individuals who may ultimately qualify for ODSP.
Recipients on Ontario Works who have a qualifying disability can apply for ODSP while still receiving their OW payments.
The online application system also allows applicants to apply for both Ontario Works and ODSP at the same time.
The Disability Adjudication Unit issues its decision within 90 business days after receiving a completed Disability Determination Package, and OW payments continue uninterrupted during that waiting period.
If ODSP is approved, the recipient’s file transfers and assistance is recalculated under ODSP rates and rules.
Feature Ontario Works ODSP Purpose Temporary aid and employment support Longer-term support for persons with disabilities Single person maximum $733/month $1,436/month Inflation indexed No (frozen since 2018) Yes (annual CPI adjustment) Earnings exemption $200/month; 50% clawback above $1,000/month; 75% clawback above Non-exempt asset limit (single) $10,000 $40,000 Non-exempt asset limit (couple) $15,000 $50,000 The $1,000 Monthly Earnings Exemption
ODSP recipients can earn up to $1,000 per month from employment without any reduction to their income support payment.
Net earnings above $1,000 are reduced at 75%, meaning the program deducts 75 cents for every additional dollar earned beyond the exemption threshold.
Full-time students receiving ODSP are exempt from the earnings clawback entirely, regardless of how much they earn.
All employment earnings must be reported to your ODSP caseworker each month, and recipients with earned income may also qualify for the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit through the CRA.
Ontario Works and ODSP both explicitly exempt CWB payments from income calculations, so collecting the federal working benefit does not reduce your provincial disability payment.
Monthly Net Earnings ODSP Deduction Net Gain From Working Before Additional Benefits $800 $0 Full earnings + full ODSP $1,000 $0 Full earnings + full ODSP $1,200 $150 (75% of $200) $1,050 + reduced ODSP $1,500 $375 (75% of $500) $1,125 + reduced ODSP $2,000 $750 (75% of $1,000) $1,250 + reduced ODSP Full-time student (any amount) $0 Full earnings + full ODSP ODSP recipients retain their employment earnings, but their income support is reduced according to the earnings exemption rules.
Eligible recipients may also receive a $100 monthly Work-Related Benefit, while approved child care and disability-related employment expenses can further reduce the amount deducted from ODSP.
Ontario Works applies a more restrictive earnings rule, exempting only the first $200 per month after the recipient has received Ontario Works for three consecutive months, with 50% of net earnings above $200 exempt thereafter.
Non-Exempt Asset Limits for 2026
The non-exempt asset limit for a single ODSP applicant or recipient is $40,000.
For a couple, the limit is $50,000 with an additional $500 for each dependent child in the benefit unit.
One primary motor vehicle per benefit unit is exempt, along with a principal residence, a Registered Disability Savings Plan of any value, prepaid funeral arrangements with no dollar cap, and certain trust assets depending on how they are structured and held.
Ontario Works limits are substantially lower at $10,000 for a single person and $15,000 for a couple, giving ODSP recipients considerably more financial flexibility.
Canada Disability Benefit Stacks With ODSP
Ontario has formally confirmed that the federal Canada Disability Benefit is fully exempt as income for ODSP calculations.
Eligible ODSP recipients who also receive the CDB can collect both payments simultaneously with no reduction to their provincial support.
The maximum CDB payment is $204.20 per month following a 2.1% indexation that took effect in July 2026, and the next CDB deposit was issued on October 15.
A one-time $150 supplemental CDB payment was also introduced in fall 2026 to help offset the cost of obtaining the Disability Tax Credit certification required for the benefit.
A single ODSP recipient collecting the maximum from both programs could receive combined monthly income support of up to $1,640.20 before factoring in the Ontario Trillium Benefit and other provincial credits.
Holding an approved Disability Tax Credit certificate does not automatically enrol someone in the CDB.
You must submit a separate Canada Disability Benefit application through the official application on Canada.ca, by phone at 1-833-486-3007, in person at a Service Canada office, or by paper application.
Benefit Program Maximum Monthly Amount ODSP basic needs + shelter (single) Up to $1,436 Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) Up to $204.20 Combined ODSP + CDB Up to $1,640.20 Ontario Trillium Benefit Varies by income and credits Who Qualifies for ODSP
To qualify for the Ontario Disability Support Program, an applicant must have a substantial physical or mental impairment that is continuous or recurrent, expected to last at least one year, and causes substantial restrictions in personal care, community functioning, or workplace functioning.
Applicants must also be Ontario residents aged 18 or older with non-exempt assets within the prescribed limits.
Ontario amended ODSP eligibility regulations on August 13, 2026, restricting access for persons without legal status in Canada.
Under the August 13, 2026 amendments, individuals authorized to remain in Canada only temporarily, including many work permit holders, study permit holders and visitors, are generally ineligible for Ontario Works and ODSP unless they have made a refugee protection claim or applied for permanent residence, subject to the applicable regulatory conditions.
Exceptions can apply for refugee claimants and individuals with pending permanent residence applications, so the exclusion is not absolute.
The application process involves both a financial eligibility assessment and a disability determination handled by the Disability Adjudication Unit.
You can apply online at ontario.ca/odsp or by calling 1-888-789-4199.
Remaining ODSP Payment Dates for 2026
After the October 30 deposit, the November 30 date for ODSP payments has been confirmed, while the December 2026 payment date has not yet been announced.
Benefit Month Payment Date October 2026 Friday, October 30, 2026 November 2026 Monday, November 30, 2026 December 2026 To be confirmed (typically issued earlier for the holidays) Both programs generally issue payments near the end of each month, but ODSP payments cover the current benefit month, while Ontario Works payments cover the following month. For example, payments issued October 30 cover October for ODSP recipients and November for Ontario Works recipients.
The next annual inflation adjustment to ODSP rates will take effect in July 2027, and the specific percentage will be determined by the provincial Consumer Price Index.
The October 30 ODSP deposit marks the fourth payment at the higher July 2026 rates, with the 1.9% inflation adjustment now fully embedded in every payment going forward until the next annual recalculation.
Recipients who also qualify for the Canada Disability Benefit should verify that their CDB application is active, since Ontario fully exempts the federal payment from ODSP income calculations.
The Ontario Trillium Benefit provides additional tax-free provincial credits for eligible low-income Ontarians, and the next OTB payment is scheduled for November 10, 2026.
Anyone currently on Ontario Works who believes they may have a qualifying disability should explore applying for ODSP to access higher payment rates, broader health benefits, and the more generous $1,000 monthly earnings exemption.
The provincial government has committed to maintaining annual ODSP inflation indexation, with future July adjustments depending on the applicable inflation calculation rather than a guaranteed increase of a fixed amount every year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will the October 30 ODSP payment be higher than the September 29 deposit?
No, the October 30 deposit will be the same amount as the September 29 payment because both fall within the same rate period that began on July 1, 2026.
Ontario adjusts ODSP rates once per year every July based on the provincial inflation rate, and the 1.9% increase that took effect in July 2026 applies to all payments through June 2027.
The next potential change to your ODSP amount will come in July 2027 when Ontario applies the next annual inflation adjustment.Can I receive both the Ontario ODSP payment and the federal Canada Disability Benefit at the same time?
Yes, Ontario has formally confirmed that the Canada Disability Benefit is fully exempt as income for ODSP purposes, which means your CDB payment of up to $204.20 per month will not reduce your ODSP amount by a single dollar.
The CDB is administered by Service Canada and requires a separate application even if you already hold an approved Disability Tax Credit certificate.
Your combined monthly income from ODSP and CDB as a single recipient could reach up to $1,640.20, and additional provincial credits may further increase your total support.What happens to my ODSP if I start working and earn more than $1,000 per month?
The first $1,000 per month in net employment earnings is fully exempt and will not reduce your ODSP income support at all.
Every dollar earned above $1,000 is subject to a 75% reduction, meaning ODSP deducts 75 cents from your payment for each additional dollar.
Full-time students on ODSP are exempt from earnings deductions entirely, regardless of how much they earn during the academic period.
You must report all employment earnings to your caseworker monthly, and failure to report can result in an overpayment that the province may recover.Can I apply for ODSP while I am currently receiving Ontario Works payments?
Yes, Ontario Works recipients who believe they meet the ODSP disability criteria can submit an ODSP application while continuing to collect their OW payments.
The province’s online application system allows you to apply for both programs simultaneously.
Your Ontario Works payments will continue without interruption during the application process, which includes a 90-business-day disability determination window from the Disability Adjudication Unit after it receives your completed Disability Determination Package.
If ODSP is approved, your file transfers and your assistance is recalculated under ODSP rates and rules, which currently provide a single person with up to $703 more per month than Ontario Works.Do I need to file my taxes every year to keep receiving ODSP?
Tax filing is not a general annual requirement for receiving the regular ODSP payment itself.
Your ODSP income support continues based on your ongoing eligibility and information reported to your caseworker.
However, filing your annual tax return is essential for receiving CRA-administered benefits that many ODSP recipients also depend on, including the Canada Disability Benefit, the Ontario Trillium Benefit, and the Canada Workers Benefit.
Failing to file means the CRA cannot calculate those entitlements, which could result in missed payments from separate programs that supplement your ODSP income.Fact-Checked: All ODSP payment dates, rates, asset limits, earnings exemptions and eligibility requirements were verified against the official Ontario Disability Support Program, the Ontario Disability Support Program policy directives, and the Government of Canada benefits payment calendar for federal disability benefit payment dates.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional or review the official ODSP income support policy directives for guidance on your specific situation.
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- New Express Entry Draw On October 27 Issues 5,000 ITAs
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 5,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence in the latest Express Entry draw held on October 27, 2026.
The new selection targeted candidates with French-language proficiency and recorded a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 407.
This marks a significant decline of 28 points from the previous French-language draw on October 16, when 5,000 candidates received invitations with a minimum CRS score of 435.
Today’s selection is Express Entry draw number 452 and the second consecutive round held this week, following the October 26 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw that invited 792 candidates.
With the latest round, IRCC has issued 5,792 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence over two consecutive days.
The results also highlight the continued importance of French-language proficiency in Canada’s Express Entry immigration system, with French-speaking candidates benefiting from dedicated invitation rounds that have generally recorded lower CRS requirements than recent Canadian Experience Class selections.
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Details Of The Latest Express Entry Draw On October 27
The October 27 draw was conducted under the French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2 category. Here are the complete results:
Draw details Results Express Entry draw number 452 Date October 27, 2026 Draw category French-Language proficiency Invitations issued 5,000 Minimum CRS score 407 Tie-breaking rule July 13, 2026, at 19:22:00 UTC The tie-breaking rule applies to candidates who had exactly 407 CRS points.
Where multiple candidates shared the minimum score, priority was determined by the date and time their Express Entry profiles were submitted.
Candidates with 407 points whose profiles were submitted before the specified tie-breaking time were eligible for selection, provided they satisfied all applicable requirements.
The latest round follows a considerably more competitive French-language selection earlier this month, making the reduction in the CRS threshold one of the most notable developments in today’s results.
French-Language Express Entry CRS Score Drops By 28 Points
The October 27 draw brings the French-language CRS cutoff back below 410 after the previous round required 435 points.
Although the number of invitations remained unchanged at 5,000, the lower cutoff means IRCC reached further down the ranking of eligible French-speaking candidates in this selection.
The change is particularly relevant for candidates with scores between 407 and 434 who were below the minimum CRS requirement of the October 16 draw.
However, candidates must satisfy the French-language category requirements and be eligible under one of the Express Entry programs to receive an invitation.
A comparison of recent French-language selections shows how the minimum score has fluctuated despite IRCC consistently issuing 5,000 invitations in these rounds.
Draw date Invitations Minimum CRS October 27, 2026 5,000 407 October 16, 2026 5,000 435 August 19, 2026 5,000 382 August 6, 2026 5,000 391 July 22, 2026 5,000 399 July 9, 2026 5,000 420 The August 19 round recorded the lowest CRS cutoff among these selections at 382, while the October 16 draw had the highest at 435.
Today’s cutoff of 407 falls between those two results, demonstrating that French-language candidates can face significantly different ranking requirements from one invitation round to another.
The consistent invitation volume is also noteworthy. Across the six rounds listed above, IRCC has issued a combined 30,000 invitations to French-language candidates.
Nevertheless, previous invitation volumes and CRS scores do not guarantee similar results in upcoming draws.
Who Is Eligible For French-Language Express Entry Draws?
French-language proficiency is one of the categories used by IRCC to select candidates through the Express Entry system.
Unlike a general invitation round, which ranks candidates across the broader eligible pool, a French-language category draw considers candidates who satisfy its specific language requirements.
Under the French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2 category instructions, candidates must demonstrate French-language proficiency of at least Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 7 in all four language abilities:
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
Applicants must obtain these results through an approved French-language test, and the test results must be less than two years old.
They must also meet the eligibility requirements of an Express Entry-managed immigration program.
Qualifying for the French-language category does not automatically guarantee an invitation.
Candidates are still ranked according to their CRS scores, and IRCC invites the highest-ranking eligible candidates up to the number of invitations established for a particular draw.
Canada uses French-language category-based selections to support Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
For candidates who meet the necessary requirements, French-language proficiency can therefore provide access to invitation rounds with different CRS thresholds from those recorded in Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program draws.
Latest Express Entry Draws In 2026
The latest French-language selection comes amid a series of Express Entry draws targeting different immigration categories.
Recent rounds have included Canadian Experience Class candidates, provincial nominees, skilled trades workers, healthcare professionals and candidates with Canadian senior management experience.
Here are the latest Express Entry results:
Draw Date Category Invitations CRS 452 October 27 French-language proficiency 5,000 407 451 October 26 Provincial Nominee Program 792 761 450 October 16 French-language proficiency 5,000 435 449 October 15 Canadian Experience Class 2,500 519 448 October 13 Provincial Nominee Program 752 772 447 October 1 Trades occupations 3,500 476 446 September 29 Canadian Experience Class 2,000 518 445 September 28 Provincial Nominee Program 733 725 444 September 16 Senior managers with Canadian work experience 250 389 443 September 15 Canadian Experience Class 2,000 519 442 September 14 Provincial Nominee Program 576 734 441 September 4 Healthcare and social services occupations 3,500 475 440 September 3 Physicians with Canadian work experience 229 198 439 September 1 Canadian Experience Class 2,000 521 438 August 31 Provincial Nominee Program 562 697 437 August 19 French-language proficiency 5,000 382 The different CRS cutoffs reflect the distinct eligibility requirements and candidate rankings associated with each round.
For example, the October 26 PNP draw required a minimum score of 761, while today’s French-language draw recorded a cutoff of 407.
Provincial nominees receive 600 additional CRS points for an eligible provincial nomination, which helps explain why PNP-specific rounds generally record substantially higher scores.
Meanwhile, the latest Canadian Experience Class draw on October 15 invited 2,500 candidates with a CRS cutoff of 519.
The last three Canadian Experience Class selections have recorded minimum scores of 519, 518 and 519, respectively.
These figures show that candidates relying on Canadian work experience have recently faced much higher CRS thresholds than those invited through French-language selections.
However, the scores are not directly interchangeable because each selection considers candidates under different eligibility criteria.
What To Expect From The Next Express Entry Draw
With two Express Entry draws already conducted this week, attention now turns to whether IRCC will hold another selection before the end of October.
The department has not confirmed the date, category or number of invitations for its next round.
Recent selections suggest that IRCC continues to use different invitation categories to meet its immigration priorities rather than relying exclusively on general Express Entry draws.
French-language candidates have received substantial invitation volumes through several recent selections, while Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program candidates have also received invitations during October.
The next draw could target any eligible category or immigration program, depending on IRCC’s selection decisions.
For now, the October 27 results represent another significant opportunity for French-speaking candidates, with 5,000 invitations issued and the CRS cutoff falling 28 points from the previous French-language round.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest Express Entry draw on October 27, 2026?
The latest Express Entry draw is number 452, held on October 27, 2026. IRCC issued 5,000 invitations to candidates under the French-language proficiency category with a minimum CRS score of 407.
What is the minimum CRS score for the latest French-language draw?
The minimum CRS score for the October 27 French-language draw is 407, representing a decrease of 28 points compared with the October 16 draw.
Can candidates with 407 CRS points receive an invitation?
Yes. Candidates with 407 CRS points could receive an invitation if they met the French-language category and Express Entry program requirements and satisfied the tie-breaking rule of July 13, 2026, at 19:22:00 UTC.
Is NCLC 7 required for French-language Express Entry draws?
Yes. Candidates must achieve at least NCLC level 7 in speaking, listening, reading and writing through an approved French-language test, alongside meeting the other applicable Express Entry eligibility requirements.
Fact-Checked: The Express Entry invitation figures and historical CRS comparisons are based on the official IRCC rounds of invitations, while French-language eligibility requirements were checked against the Government of Canada’s French-language category instructions. The October 27 draw-specific figures require final live confirmation.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
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- New CPP Payments To Be Sent Canada-Wide On October 28
Service Canada has confirmed that the next Canada Pension Plan deposit, the CPP payments, will reach bank accounts across the country on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Millions of retirees, disability benefit recipients, survivors, and dependents will receive their monthly payment on this date, continuing the 2026 CPP payment schedule that has delivered deposits every month since January.
The October 28 CPP deposit reflects the 2.0% annual increase that took effect in January 2026, while a new payment increase of approximately 2.6% to 2.7% is projected for January 2027.
Here is everything Canadians need to know about the October 28 CPP payment, including maximum and average benefit amounts, eligibility requirements, upcoming payment dates, and the projected pension increase for January 2027.
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Current Maximum and Average CPP Payment Amounts
The official CPP monthly amounts page shows both maximum and average figures for every benefit category, updated with July 2026 data for new beneficiaries.
For a new retirement pension starting at age 65, the maximum monthly payment in 2026 is $1,507.65, while the average for a new beneficiary is $858.34.
The gap between the maximum and the average reflects how CPP calculations depend on each contributor’s earnings history, years of contributions, and the age they chose to begin collecting.
Benefit Type Average (New Beneficiary, July 2026) Maximum Benefit (2026) Retirement pension (at age 65) $858.34 $1,507.65 Post-retirement benefit (at age 65) $26.25 $54.69 Disability benefit $1,236.32 $1,741.20 Post-retirement disability benefit $610.46 $610.46 Survivor’s pension (under 65) $555.70 $803.54 Survivor’s pension (65 and older) $336.91 $904.59 Children’s benefit (under 18) $307.81 $307.81 Children’s benefit (full-time student) $307.81 $307.81 Children’s benefit (part-time student) $153.91 $153.91 Death benefit (one-time payment) $2,620.72 $2,500 base; up to $5,000 with eligible top-up The death benefit carries a base one-time payment of up to $2,500, with an additional $2,500 available when the deceased never received a CPP or QPP retirement, disability, or post-retirement disability benefit and has no eligible surviving spouse or common-law partner, bringing the combined maximum to $5,000.
Maximum benefit amounts listed above apply to new benefits beginning in January 2026 and increase each subsequent month due to the ongoing CPP enhancement that has been phased in since 2019.
New CPP Payment Increase Coming In January 2027
Based on the latest official inflation figures, CPP payments could increase by approximately 2.6% to 2.7% in January 2027, compared with the confirmed 2.0% increase for 2026.
The estimate uses monthly All-items Consumer Price Index through September 2026 and the official CPP indexation formula.
September’s annual inflation rate was 3.1%, but CPP increases are calculated using the average CPI over two consecutive 12-month periods, not a single month’s inflation rate.
Illustrative increases using a 2.6% adjustment
Current monthly CPP Estimated January 2027 $600 $615.60 $800 $820.80 $1,000 $1,026.00 $1,200 $1,231.20 These are projections for existing CPP payments, not newly announced 2027 maximum benefit amounts.
The official increase remains unconfirmed. StatCan is scheduled to release October 2026 inflation figures on November 16, allowing the complete November 2025–October 2026 comparison to be calculated.
How CPP Retirement Pension Amounts Are Determined
Your monthly CPP retirement pension depends on three interrelated factors: the pensionable earnings you recorded during your working years, the total duration of your contribution history, and the age at which you chose to begin collecting.
When Service Canada calculates your pension, it automatically excludes a portion of your lowest-earning years through the general dropout provision, which removes up to eight years of your weakest contributions from the formula.
Contributors who spent time raising children under age seven may also benefit from the child-rearing dropout provision, which sets aside those low-earning periods so they do not drag down the final calculation.
The maximum retirement pension of $1,507.65 per month requires close to 39 years of contributions at or near the earnings ceiling, a benchmark that relatively few contributors achieve.
For a more personalized projection, My Service Canada Account provides a Statement of Contributions that shows your annual earnings on record and estimated pension amounts at ages 60, 65, and 70.
Choosing When to Start Your CPP
CPP retirement benefits can begin as early as age 60 or as late as age 70, with significant financial consequences attached to that decision.
Starting before age 65 reduces the monthly payment by 0.6% for each month you collect early, which translates to a 7.2% reduction per year and a permanent 36% cut if you begin at 60.
Delaying past 65 increases the monthly amount by 0.7% for each month you wait, reaching a maximum boost of 42% if you defer until age 70.
A contributor entitled to $858 at age 65 would receive roughly $549 per month at 60, or approximately $1,218 per month at 70, making the start-age decision one of the most consequential choices in Canadian retirement planning.
Workers aged 60 to 64 who continue working while receiving CPP must generally continue contributing. From age 65 to 69, CPP retirement pension recipients can choose to stop contributing.
Those who continue making valid contributions earn Post-Retirement Benefits, which increase their monthly pension payments beginning the following year.
2026 CPP Contribution Rates and Earnings Ceilings
Working Canadians outside Quebec contribute to CPP through payroll deductions shared equally between employees and employers.
For 2026, the base CPP contribution rate is 5.95% for both employees and employers on pensionable earnings between $3,500 and the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings of $74,600.
That brings the maximum annual base employee contribution to $4,230.45, with the employer matching the same amount.
A second tier of contributions known as CPP2 applies to earnings between $74,600 and the Year’s Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings of $85,000, charged at 4% for both employees and employers.
The maximum CPP2 employee contribution for 2026 is $416, with self-employed workers paying both the employee and employer portions for a combined maximum of $832.
These enhanced contributions feed into the CPP enhancement that has been phasing in since 2019, gradually increasing future pension amounts for those who contribute at or above the earnings ceilings.
Quebec workers contribute to the Quebec Pension Plan under a parallel structure with similar rates and thresholds.
CPP Disability and Survivor Benefits
The Canada Pension Plan extends well beyond retirement income, providing financial protection through disability and survivor benefit categories that also pay out on October 28.
The CPP disability benefit supports contributors under 65 who have a severe and prolonged disability that prevents them from working, with a maximum monthly payment of $1,741.20 and an average of $1,236.32 for new recipients.
When a CPP disability recipient turns 65, their benefit automatically converts to a CPP retirement pension without any additional application.
Survivor pensions provide monthly income to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased contributor, paying up to $803.54 for survivors under 65 and up to $904.59 for those 65 and older.
The children’s benefit covers eligible children under 18 and students aged 18 to 25 who attend a recognized school, paying $307.81 per month for full-time students and $153.91 per month for part-time students.
Recipients who qualify for more than one CPP benefit type receive a combined payment, though the total may be less than the sum of individual maximums due to program combination rules.
Remaining 2026 CPP Payment Dates
After the October 28 deposit, two more CPP payments remain on the 2026 federal benefits payment calendar.
- October 28, 2026 (Wednesday)
- November 26, 2026 (Thursday)
- December 22, 2026 (Tuesday)
The December payment arrives earlier than usual to account for the holiday period, landing on December 22 rather than at the very end of the month.
Service Canada has not yet published the official 2027 CPP payment dates, so any dates beyond December 2026 remain unconfirmed.
Who Is Eligible for CPP Benefits
Eligibility for the CPP retirement pension requires meeting two conditions: you must be at least 60 years old, and you must have made at least one valid contribution during your working years.
The program covers employees and self-employed individuals in every province and territory except Quebec, where workers contribute to the Quebec Pension Plan instead.
Newcomers who begin working and contributing through payroll deductions are building CPP eligibility from their first paycheque, even if they arrived recently.
Canada holds social security agreements with more than 60 countries, which can allow contributions made in another country to count toward CPP eligibility, particularly for immigrants approaching retirement age.
Credit splitting provisions also apply after a divorce or separation, allowing CPP credits earned during the period of cohabitation to be divided between former spouses or common-law partners.
You do not need to stop working to collect CPP retirement benefits. Recipients under age 70 who continue making valid CPP contributions while working can earn additional Post-Retirement Benefits.
How to Apply for CPP
CPP retirement benefits are not paid automatically, so eligible Canadians need to submit an application before payments can begin.
Service Canada allows applicants to apply up to 12 months before their chosen start date, giving enough lead time for processing and verification.
The fastest route is applying online through My Service Canada Account, where online applications are processed in approximately 28 days.
Paper applications submitted by mail or delivered to a Service Canada office can take up to 120 days to process, making the online option significantly faster.
You will need your Social Insurance Number, direct deposit banking details, and potentially a birth certificate or proof of legal status when completing your application.
What to Do If Your Payment Does Not Arrive
Direct-deposit CPP payments are scheduled for October 28, but posting times can vary depending on your financial institution.
If your CPP payment has not arrived, the Canadian government advises waiting five to ten business days before contacting the program. You can then contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 to inquire about your payment.
Before calling, verify that your banking details and mailing address are current in your My Service Canada Account, as outdated information is one of the most common causes of missed or delayed deposits.
Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, emails, or text messages claiming to be from Service Canada or the CRA and asking for personal banking information.
Neither Service Canada nor the CRA will ever request your banking credentials or passwords through email, text, or social media, and any such contact should be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
If you have not yet applied for CPP and meet the eligibility requirements, submitting your application well in advance of your chosen start date gives Service Canada adequate time to process your file and avoids gaps in income.
Reviewing your Statement of Contributions through My Service Canada Account is the most reliable way to understand your projected pension and make informed decisions about when to begin collecting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I receive CPP payments if I still work full-time at age 65?
Yes, you can collect your CPP retirement pension while continuing to work without any reduction to your payment amount.
If you are aged 60 to 64 and working while receiving CPP, contributions are generally mandatory. From age 65 to 69, you can elect to stop contributing using Form CPT30. If you continue contributing, you can earn additional Post-Retirement Benefits that increase your monthly pension.
After age 70, CPP contributions stop even if you keep working, and no further Post-Retirement Benefits accumulate.How does the CPP child-rearing dropout provision work, and do I need to apply for it?
The child-rearing dropout provision can exclude eligible periods when your earnings were low or zero because you were the primary caregiver of a child under age seven, preventing those years from reducing your pension calculation.
You must provide the relevant child-rearing information when applying for CPP so Service Canada can assess your eligibility. The information can be submitted as part of your CPP application, while existing CPP recipients can request the provision separately through My Service Canada Account or Form ISP1640.
This provision can be especially valuable for parents who took time away from the workforce, as it protects their eventual pension from being penalized for years dedicated to childcare.Will my CPP payment increase again in January 2027, and by how much?
CPP benefits in pay are indexed every January based on the year-over-year change in the Consumer Price Index, so a January 2027 adjustment is expected but the exact percentage has not been announced yet.
Based on the latest StatCan inflation data, CPP payments are currently projected to increase by approximately 2.6% to 2.7% in January 2027, although the official adjustment remains unconfirmed.
The indexation floor ensures that your CPP payment never decreases due to deflation, meaning the 2027 rate will be at least 0% even if consumer prices decline.What happens to my CPP if I move outside Canada after retirement?
Your CPP retirement pension continues to be paid even if you live outside Canada, regardless of how long you remain abroad, because CPP is a contribution-based benefit tied to your work history rather than your place of residence.
Service Canada can deposit payments into a foreign bank account, though you should update your banking and contact information through your MSCA or by contacting the International Operations office before relocating.
Tax implications may change depending on the country you move to and whether Canada holds a tax treaty with that jurisdiction, so consulting a tax professional before departure is worth considering.Is the CPP retirement pension considered taxable income?
Yes, CPP retirement pension payments are fully taxable income and must be reported on your annual tax return, regardless of whether you receive them through direct deposit or cheque.
Service Canada issues a T4A(P) slip each year showing the total CPP benefits you received, and the amount is included in your net income for federal and provincial tax purposes.
You can request that Service Canada withhold federal income tax directly from your monthly CPP payment by completing a Request for Voluntary Federal Income Tax Deductions form, which reduces the chance of owing a large balance at tax time.Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Individual CPP payment amounts vary based on personal contribution history, earnings, and circumstances. Readers should consult a qualified financial advisor or review the official Canada Pension Plan page on Canada.ca for guidance specific to their situation.
Fact-Checked: All CPP payment amounts cited in this article were verified against the official Canada Pension Plan monthly amounts page and the October to December 2026 rate card published on Canada.ca with a page date of September 29, 2026, and the October 28 payment date was confirmed against the official benefits payment calendar.
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8 New Ontario Laws And Rules Coming In November 2026
- 8 New Ontario Laws And Rules Coming In November 2026
November 2026 is hitting Ontario residents with one of the heaviest clusters of provincial and municipal changes this fall, touching everything from electricity bills and land registration fees to daylight saving time and school volunteer screening.
Several of these changes take effect on November 1, creating a single day where electricity rates shift, clocks fall back, and new school council rules kick in simultaneously.
Others carry strict deadlines that Toronto homeowners, low-income seniors, and property investors cannot afford to miss later in the month.
This is a full breakdown of every confirmed November 2026 change and deadline directly affecting ordinary Ontario residents, verified against official government sources.
Table of Contents
Ontario Land Registration Fees Increase
The Province of Ontario will raise fees for certain land registration services on November 2, 2026, under the annual Consumer Price Index adjustment that has applied since 2015.
The fee schedule published by the Ontario Land Registration Services Branch shows a 1.4% to 1.68% increase across Schedule I services, replacing the previous rates set in November 2025.
Registering an instrument or plan electronically under the Land Titles Act will cost $86.42, up from the previous total.
A parcel register copy, which is one of the most commonly requested searches during real estate transactions, will cost $37.10 in total after the adjustment.
Fees under Schedule II and Schedule III are not increasing this year.
Anyone closing on a home purchase or completing a property transaction in early November should factor this increase into their closing cost estimates.
New Winter Electricity Rates Effective November 1
The Ontario Energy Board has set new Regulated Price Plan rates that take effect on November 1, 2026, dropping electricity prices by approximately four to seven per cent compared with the previous rates.
Winter Time-of-Use hours also kick in on the same date, with on-peak pricing applying from 7 AM to 11 AM and 5 PM to 7 PM on weekdays.
TOU Period Previous Rate New Rate Change Off-Peak 9.8¢/kWh 9.1¢/kWh -7.1% Mid-Peak 15.7¢/kWh 14.6¢/kWh -7.0% On-Peak 20.3¢/kWh 18.9¢/kWh -6.9% Customers on tiered pricing will pay 11.2¢/kWh for the first 1,000 kWh per month, down from 12.0¢, and 13.2¢/kWh above that threshold, down from 14.2¢.
The winter tier threshold gives residential customers an extra 400 kWh per month at the lower price compared to the summer threshold of 600 kWh.
Ultra-low overnight pricing will drop to 3.7¢/kWh from 3.9¢, while the ULO on-peak rate falls to 37.7¢/kWh from 39.1¢.
Ontario Electricity Rebate Drops From 23.5% to 15.7%
Alongside the rate decrease, the Ontario Electricity Rebate will fall from 23.5% to 15.7% on November 1, a nearly eight-percentage-point reduction.
The OER is a pre-tax credit applied to electricity bills for residential, small business, and farm customers across the province.
For a typical household using 700 kWh monthly, the OEB estimates the rebate will reduce bills by approximately $23 per month, compared with the $36 monthly reduction under the previous 23.5% rebate.
Energy Minister Stephen Lecce stated that the government continues to keep electricity costs down, with the rebate saving an average family nearly $275 annually.
The OEB emphasized that the reduction in the rebate percentage does not necessarily mean higher overall bills, since the underlying per-kilowatt-hour rates are also falling.
Customers can compare pricing plans using the OEB bill calculator to determine which plan best fits their household consumption pattern.
Daylight Saving Time Ends With a Twist in Northwestern Ontario
Daylight saving time ends across most of Ontario at 2 AM on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back one hour to standard time.
The province follows the same schedule it has used since 2007, with DST beginning on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November.
However, communities in Kenora and northwestern Ontario west of the 90th meridian will not turn their clocks back this fall.
The Ontario government announced on October 13, 2026, that it intends to make daylight saving time permanent in these communities, aligning them with Manitoba.
Manitoba announced on September 17 that it would adopt permanent daylight saving time beginning November 1, 2026.
Northwestern Ontario shares business, labour, Indigenous communities, and family ties across the Manitoba border, making time alignment a practical financial decision.
Attorney General Doug Downey confirmed that the change came after extensive consultation with communities and Indigenous leaders throughout the region.
Towns east of the 90th meridian, including Thunder Bay, are expected to remain on eastern time and will turn their clocks back in November.
Ontario passed the Time Amendment Act in 2020, which would allow the entire province to make daylight saving time permanent, but that broader legislation has not been brought into force.
British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba have all now ended seasonal clock changes, leaving Ontario, Quebec, and most of Atlantic Canada among the regions still switching twice a year.
Municipal Winter Overnight Parking Restrictions
Municipalities across Ontario begin enforcing seasonal overnight parking bans in November, with start dates and enforcement models varying by city.
Ottawa’s winter overnight parking regulations take effect November 15 and run through April 1, prohibiting vehicles from remaining on streets between 1 AM and 7 AM during declared ban nights.
London, Ontario, begins its winter overnight parking restrictions on November 15, 2026, and continues them through March 31, 2027.
Residents in London can obtain up to 15 free overnight parking passes per licence plate, subject to weather conditions and other restrictions.
Barrie, Guelph, Kingston, and dozens of smaller municipalities across eastern and northern Ontario apply their own versions, with Guelph’s ban running from December 1 through March 31 between 2 AM and 6 AM.
Vehicles parked on the street during an active ban are subject to fines and towing at the owner’s expense.
Residents should check their municipality’s specific bylaws, as some cities issue alert-based bans tied to snowfall forecasts while others enforce blanket seasonal prohibitions regardless of weather.
Winter Electricity and Natural Gas Disconnection Protections
The Ontario Energy Board’s annual winter disconnection ban takes effect on November 15, 2026, and continues through April 30, 2027.
During this period, OEB-regulated electricity and natural gas distributors cannot disconnect residential customers for non-payment.
If a customer was disconnected for non-payment before November 15, their electricity or gas distributor must reconnect them by December 1.
Electricity distributors also cannot install load control devices, which limit how much electricity is supplied to a home, between November 15 and April 30.
The OEB winter disconnection rules do not apply to multi-unit buildings serviced by unit sub-metering providers, although some sub-metering companies have voluntarily agreed to comply.
Customers should understand that bill balances continue to accumulate during the ban period, including late payment interest on overdue amounts.
Residents struggling with energy costs should contact their distributor to arrange a payment plan or explore the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program and the Ontario Electricity Support Program.
New School Council Police Record-Check Requirements
Ontario Regulation 309/26, filed on September 11, 2026, extends mandatory police record-check requirements to parent involvement committee members and school council members for the first time.
Under the regulation, school boards must collect a police record check from school council and parent involvement committee members who have not previously had one no later than November 1, 2026.
This builds on the broader overhaul introduced by Ontario Regulation 298/25 in December 2025, which updated the province’s approach to police record checks across all school board personnel and volunteers under the Education Act.
Under the updated framework, police record checks are valid for five years, and all volunteers must renew them before that expiry.
The type of check required depends on whether the volunteer is in a position of trust or authority with respect to students.
Parents who volunteer for multiple purposes that fall under both a standard check and a Vulnerable Sector Check should obtain only the Vulnerable Sector Check.
The cost of obtaining a police record check is the responsibility of the volunteer, although volunteers are eligible to receive free criminal record checks under the Police Record Checks Reform Act.
Toronto Vacant Home Tax Declaration Portal Opens In November
Toronto’s online portal for submitting Vacant Home Tax declarations for the 2026 taxation year is expected to open in November, although the City has not yet confirmed an exact opening date.
The 2025 VHT declaration period opened on November 1, 2025, with declarations due by April 30, 2026.
Property owners should watch for the official announcement from the City of Toronto confirming the exact opening date for the 2026 declaration cycle.
Separately, a hard payment deadline is approaching for property owners who received a 2025 Vacant Home Tax assessment.
The third and final instalment for the 2025 VHT is due on Monday, November 16, 2026, following earlier instalments on September 15 and October 15.
The Vacant Home Tax rate for 2025 is 3% of the property’s Current Value Assessment. For a property assessed at $1 million, that amounts to a $30,000 tax bill.
Homeowners who fail to submit a declaration by the deadline will have their property automatically deemed vacant and will be charged the full tax regardless of actual occupancy.
False declarations carry fines of up to $10,000 in addition to the applicable tax.
Toronto Property Tax and Utility Relief Programs Deadline
The deadline to apply for the City of Toronto’s 2026 property tax and utility relief programs is Monday, November 2, 2026.
Toronto offers multiple programs designed to reduce the financial burden on vulnerable residents, including the Property Tax Increase Cancellation Program, the Property Tax Increase Deferral Program, the Water Rebate Program, and the Solid Waste Rebate Program.
Eligibility requirements are based on factors such as age, income, and disability status, and the programs are specifically aimed at low-income seniors and low-income individuals living with disabilities.
The Property Tax Increase Cancellation Program cancels eligible annual property tax increases for qualifying homeowners, with the relief amount depending on their property tax assessment and applicable program requirements.
Applications can be submitted online through the City of Toronto portal or by mailing a paper form before the November 2 deadline.
November 2026 Ontario Changes at a Glance
Date Change Who Is Affected November 1 New winter electricity rates and OER drops to 15.7% All residential customers November 1 Daylight saving time ends (clocks fall back 1 hour) Most Ontario residents November 1 NW Ontario stays on permanent daylight time Kenora and communities west of 90th meridian November 1 School council police record-check deadline Parent council and PIC members November 2 Land registration fee increases Property buyers and real estate lawyers November 2 Toronto tax and utility relief application deadline Low-income seniors and disabled homeowners November 2 Bail Compliance Grant application deadline Eligible police services and municipalities Early November Toronto VHT 2026 declaration portal opens All Toronto residential property owners November 15+ Municipal winter parking bans begin Drivers in London, Ottawa, Barrie, and others November 15 Winter disconnection ban starts All residential utility customers November 16 Final 2025 VHT payment instalment due Toronto homeowners with VHT assessments November 20 Primary Care Teams funding proposal deadline Health-care organizations November 27 Source Water Protection funding deadline Eligible communities November 30 FSRA older pension waiver forms expire Pension administrators and affected spouses November 2026 demands more proactive planning from Ontario residents than most months.
Homeowners in Toronto should prepare for the VHT portal opening and ensure their final instalment payment clears before November 16.
Low-income seniors and disabled homeowners in Toronto must submit their property tax relief applications before November 2 or forfeit their 2026 eligibility.
School council parents who have not completed their police record check should contact their school office immediately to begin the process before the November 1 deadline.
Anyone on a Regulated Price Plan should review their electricity pricing option before November 1, since winter consumption patterns and the lower rebate will shift the math on which plan costs less.
Residents in Kenora and northwestern Ontario should confirm with their employers and service providers that their community will not be observing the November 1 clock change.
Drivers in municipalities with seasonal overnight parking bans should move their vehicles off the street before the applicable start date to avoid tickets and towing.
Utility customers behind on their bills should contact their distributor to set up a payment arrangement now, before the disconnection ban begins on November 15, since balances will continue to grow with late-payment interest even while disconnection is suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will my electricity bill actually go down in November 2026, or does the lower rebate cancel out the rate decrease?
The per-kilowatt-hour rates are dropping by roughly four to seven per cent on November 1, but the Ontario Electricity Rebate is simultaneously shrinking from 23.5% to 15.7%.
The OEB expects a typical household using 700 kWh monthly to save about $23 per month from the rebate, compared with $36 under the previous structure.
Whether your total bill rises or falls depends on your consumption, your pricing plan, and how your winter usage compares to the summer months when a lower tier threshold applied.
Households that heat with electricity or run heavy appliances during peak hours should use the OEB’s online bill calculator to model the actual impact before locking in a pricing plan.What happens if I miss the Toronto Vacant Home Tax payment deadline on November 16?
Overdue VHT amounts are subject to a penalty of 1.25% on the first day of default and on the first day of each month thereafter, as long as the balance remains unpaid.
The City of Toronto can add unpaid VHT amounts to the property’s tax roll, meaning the outstanding balance accumulates alongside regular property taxes.
Property owners who believe their 2025 Vacant Home Tax assessment is incorrect can submit a Notice of Complaint until December 31, 2026.
The November 16 deadline is the final payment instalment, not the deadline to dispute the assessment.Do parents on school councils now need a police record check even if they are not volunteering inside classrooms?
Yes, Ontario Regulation 309/26 specifically extends the police record-check requirement to school council members and parent involvement committee members, regardless of whether they have direct classroom contact with students.
The November 1, 2026 deadline applies to individuals who have not previously had a police record check collected by their school board.
Volunteers are eligible for free criminal record checks under the Police Record Checks Reform Act, although Vulnerable Sector Checks typically carry a fee set by the local police service.Can my utility company cut off my heat or electricity after November 15 if I owe money?
No, the OEB’s winter disconnection ban prohibits electricity and natural gas distributors from disconnecting residential customers for non-payment between November 15, 2026, and April 30, 2027.
If your service was disconnected before November 15, your distributor must reconnect you by December 1.
The ban does not erase your debt, though, and late-payment charges will continue to accumulate throughout the protection period.
Residents in multi-unit buildings served by sub-metering companies should check whether their provider voluntarily follows the ban, since the OEB rule does not legally cover sub-metered units.Will all of Ontario eventually stop changing clocks, or is this just for northwestern communities?
The November 1, 2026, change applies only to Kenora and northwestern Ontario communities west of the 90th meridian that have historically aligned with Manitoba’s time zone.
The rest of Ontario will continue to change clocks twice a year until the Time Amendment Act of 2020 is brought into force province-wide.
The Ontario government has emphasized the importance of coordinating any provincewide time change with neighbouring jurisdictions such as Quebec and New York.
However, the provincewide provisions of the Time Amendment Act, 2020, have not yet been brought into force, and neither Quebec nor New York has adopted permanent daylight saving time.Fact-Checked: All dates, rates, fee amounts, and regulatory requirements cited in this article were verified against official Ontario government sources, including the Ontario Land Registration Services Branch bulletin effective November 2, 2026, the Ontario Energy Board rate announcements, Ontario Regulation 309/26 on e-Laws, the City of Toronto Vacant Home Tax program page, and the Ontario IPCT call for proposals, as published in October 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers should consult a qualified professional or review the official Ontario government programs and services page for guidance specific to their circumstances.
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- Top 10 Universities In Canada For 2027 Revealed In New Rankings
A new list of top universities in Canada for 2027 has been released by Macleans and the edition marks the most sweeping overhaul the publication has introduced in more than two decades.
Released on October 15, 2026, the rankings evaluate 56 Canadian universities across 15 performance indicators, with six new institutions added to the list this year.
McGill University in Quebec claimed the top position among large universities, Simon Fraser University in British Columbia led the mid-size category, and Mount Allison University in New Brunswick topped the small-university group.
The results appear in the November issue of Maclean’s, available on newsstands since October 20, alongside detailed reporting on the issues shaping post-secondary education in Canada.
Table of Contents
Maclean’s Replaces Decades-Old Category System
For the first time since the rankings began in 1991, Maclean’s has retired the Medical Doctoral, Comprehensive, and Primarily Undergraduate categories that defined the program for more than 30 years.
In their place, universities are now grouped by full-time-equivalent enrolment into three straightforward size-based categories.
- Large universities enrol more than 30,000 full-time-equivalent students.
- Mid-size universities have between 10,000 and 30,000 full-time-equivalent students.
- Small universities serve fewer than 10,000 full-time-equivalent students.
Claire Gagné, director of special projects for Maclean’s, said the traditional categories were not always easy for students and families to understand, prompting a comprehensive review of how universities are evaluated, including ranking systems around the world.
6 institutions join the rankings this year: Mount Royal University, Thompson Rivers University, MacEwan University, Concordia University of Edmonton, University of the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island University.
How Universities Were Evaluated
Maclean’s assesses universities across four broad areas using 15 performance indicators, including four that are new for 2027.
- Student Experience and Success (28%) captures student awards (8%), retention rate (5%), graduation rate (5%), and student-faculty ratio (10%).
- Faculty Quality (25%) includes faculty awards (8%), social sciences and humanities grants (6%), medical-science grants (6%), research volume (2.5%), and research impact (2.5%).
- Student Resources and Support (32%) measures operating budget per student (5%), library expenses (5%), library acquisitions (4%), student services spending (9%), and scholarships and bursaries (9%).
- Reputation (15%) is derived from a survey of university faculty, senior administrators, and employers conducted in partnership with Angus Reid Group.
The 4 new indicators for 2027 are retention rate, graduation rate, research volume, and research impact. Retention measures students returning for their second year, while graduation measures completion within six years.
Maclean’s removed the total research dollars indicator used in previous editions.
Data sources include Statistics Canada (for financial and enrolment figures), the three major federal granting agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR), and Higher Education Strategy Associates (using the OpenAlex database for the 2020–2023 publication window).
Canada’s Top 10 Large Universities For 2027
Fifteen universities fall into the large category, and McGill University’s claim to the top spot is powered by consistently strong results across faculty awards, student awards, and research impact.
McGill identified former professor Anne Carson as its twelfth affiliated Nobel laureate following her October 2026 award, and the university has developed more Rhodes Scholars and Nobel laureates than any other Canadian institution.
The University of Toronto, Canada’s largest university with more than 102,431 students across three campuses, placed second, drawing on commanding research volume (ranked first among large universities) and deep faculty strength.
The University of British Columbia rounded out the top three, while the University of Waterloo and Queen’s University completed the top five.
The University of Alberta and McMaster University share the sixth position, reflecting a tie across the weighted indicators.
Top 10 universities in this category
Rank University Province 1 McGill University Quebec 2 University of Toronto Ontario 3 University of British Columbia British Columbia 4 University of Waterloo Ontario 5 Queen’s University Ontario 6* University of Alberta Alberta 6* McMaster University Ontario 8 University of Ottawa Ontario 9 University of Calgary Alberta 10 Western University Ontario * Indicates a tie. Quebec placed two additional universities in the large category: Université Laval at 11th and Université de Montréal at 12th, while York University (13th), Toronto Metropolitan University (14th), and Concordia University (15th) closed out the group.
Queen’s University ranked second among large institutions in both student retention and graduation rates, trailing only McGill, and earned a top-five finish in medical science grants.
The University of Ottawa led the large-university category in scholarships and bursaries and placed third in both faculty awards and medical-science grants, reinforcing the strength of bilingual institutions in federal grant competitions.
Top 10 Mid-Size Universities In Canada For 2027
Nineteen universities make up the mid-size category, and Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, captured the top position with first-place finishes in student awards, medical-science grants, and operating budget among mid-size institutions.
The University of Victoria placed second, while Dalhousie University, the largest university in Atlantic Canada and home to 56 Canada Research Chairs, took third with first-place finishes among mid-size universities in faculty awards, research volume, scholarships and bursaries, and reputation.
Carleton University, the first university in Canada to offer its journalism and public administration programs, ranked fourth, buoyed by the second-highest retention rate in the mid-size group at 90.1%.
The University of Guelph rounded out the top five, posting the highest retention rate among mid-size universities and ranking second in both research volume and research impact within the category.
Top 10 universities in this category
Rank University Province 1 Simon Fraser University British Columbia 2 University of Victoria British Columbia 3 Dalhousie University Nova Scotia 4 Carleton University Ontario 5 University of Guelph Ontario 6 University of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan 7 University of Manitoba Manitoba 8 Université de Sherbrooke Quebec 9 Wilfrid Laurier University Ontario 10 UQAM Quebec The University of Saskatchewan ranked sixth, a position its administration noted provides a strong new baseline under the revised methodology.
Two newly added institutions, Thompson Rivers University (17th) and MacEwan University (19th), entered the mid-size group for the first time, alongside Mount Royal University at 18th.
Canada’s 10 Best Small Universities For 2027
Twenty-two universities compete in the small category, and Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, secured the number-one position once again, extending a record of excellence that spans multiple editions of the rankings.
With a student population just over 2,400, Mount Allison earned first-place finishes in faculty awards and library expenses, second in student awards and medical-science grants, and third in scholarships and bursaries and the reputational survey.
The University of Northern British Columbia placed second in the small-university category.
St. Francis Xavier University and Acadia University, both in Nova Scotia, took the third and fourth positions, underscoring the continued strength of Atlantic Canada’s smaller liberal arts institutions.
Top 10 universities in this category
Rank University Province 1 Mount Allison University New Brunswick 2 Univ. of Northern British Columbia British Columbia 3 St. Francis Xavier University Nova Scotia 4 Acadia University Nova Scotia 5 University of New Brunswick New Brunswick 6 Bishop’s University Quebec 7 Saint Mary’s University Nova Scotia 8 Lakehead University Ontario 9 University of Lethbridge Alberta 10 University of Prince Edward Island P.E.I. Three of the six newly ranked institutions entered the small category: Concordia University of Edmonton, University of the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island University.
Several of these newcomers posted strong individual-indicator results immediately, with Concordia University of Edmonton leading all small universities in student services spending at 12.7% of its operating budget.
Key Takeaways From the 2027 Rankings
The shift to size-based categories means direct comparisons with last year’s edition require caution, as universities that previously competed in different groups now sit side by side.
Ontario dominates the large category, placing eight of its universities in the 15-position list, while British Columbia holds the top two mid-size positions with Simon Fraser at the top and the University of Victoria in second.
Atlantic Canada punches well above its weight in the small category, with Mount Allison, St. Francis Xavier, Acadia, the University of New Brunswick, and Saint Mary’s all placing in the top seven.
The four new methodology indicators — retention rate, graduation rate, research volume, and research impact — collectively account for 15% of a university’s final score, giving greater weight to measurable student outcomes than earlier editions.
Student resources and support carry the heaviest weight at 32%, which favours universities that commit larger shares of their budgets to scholarships, student services, and library infrastructure.
The reputational survey, conducted with Angus Reid, accounts for 15% of the final score, meaning peer perception still influences placement but no longer defines it.
The full 2027 rankings, including detailed indicator-level results for each university, are available on the Maclean’s university rankings page.
Students weighing their options should look beyond the overall rank and examine how individual universities perform on the indicators that matter most to them, whether that is student-faculty ratio, scholarship funding, research opportunities, or graduate outcomes.
International students should also factor in the province’s immigration pathways and Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility when choosing where to study, since the decision carries implications far beyond the classroom.
Immigration News Canada will continue to track developments in Canadian post-secondary education and their connection to federal and provincial immigration policy through the 2027 academic cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why did Maclean’s replace the Medical Doctoral, Comprehensive, and Primarily Undergraduate categories?
Maclean’s concluded that the traditional categories were not intuitive for students and families and reviewed ranking systems around the world when developing the new framework.
The new size-based categories (Large, Mid-Size, Small) group institutions by full-time-equivalent enrolment, making it simpler for applicants to compare universities of roughly similar scale.
Because the methodology and groupings changed simultaneously, the 2027 results establish a new baseline, and year-over-year comparisons with the 2026 edition should be made cautiously.Can international students use these rankings to improve their chances of permanent residence in Canada?
Attending a higher-ranked university does not directly affect Comprehensive Ranking System scores under Express Entry or guarantee a provincial nomination.
However, universities with strong retention and graduation rates, robust employer networks, and established co-op programs tend to produce graduates who accumulate the Canadian work experience and language proficiency that immigration programs prioritize.
The province where a student studies also determines which Provincial Nominee Program streams they may access after graduation, so matching institutional strength with provincial immigration pathways is a practical consideration.How do the 2027 rankings account for French-language universities?
French-language institutions compete on the same 15 indicators as their English-language counterparts within each size category.
Université Laval and Université de Montréal placed 11th and 12th in the large-university category, while UQAM appeared in the mid-size group and Université de Sherbrooke placed eighth in the same group.
Université de Moncton is the only French-language entry in the small category.
The reputational survey draws responses from faculty, administrators, and employers nationwide, which can disadvantage institutions whose recognition is concentrated within a single linguistic community.What is research impact, and why does it matter as a new indicator?
Research impact measures the proportion of a university’s published research output that ranks among the top 10% most-cited publications in comparable fields, using data from the OpenAlex database for the 2020–2023 publication window.
Unlike total research dollars, which favoured universities with large faculties and heavy government funding, research impact rewards institutions that produce influential work relative to their size.
This shift benefits research-intensive mid-size and small universities that publish fewer papers but achieve higher citation rates per study.Does ranking position correlate with tuition costs for domestic and international students?
Tuition varies enormously between provinces, programs, and residency status, and ranking position does not predict affordability.
McGill’s basic tuition for Quebec residents in 2026–27 is $103.92 per credit, or $3,117.60 for a 30-credit year before additional fees. Tuition for other Canadian students varies by admission cohort and program.
International tuition at Canadian universities commonly ranges from $20,000 to more than $60,000, depending on the institution and program.
The rankings do include a scholarships and bursaries indicator (weighted at 9%), which reflects each institution’s commitment to offsetting costs, making it a useful data point for students weighing financial support alongside academic quality.Fact-Checked: The category rankings and methodology were checked against Maclean’s 2027 University Rankings and Maclean’s 2027 Methodology, with supporting university and government sources used for the education and immigration context.
Disclaimer: University rankings reflect one set of quantitative and survey-based indicators and should not be the sole factor in choosing a post-secondary institution. Students are encouraged to consult official program pages, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and qualified professionals when making education and immigration decisions.
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- 6 Canada Immigration Changes Conservatives Want In The New Plan
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre turned Question Period on October 22, 2026, into a sustained offensive on the Liberal government’s immigration record, accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of losing control of the system.
Poilievre demanded a fundamental overhaul of how Canada sets its permanent resident targets, centring his attack on a Statistics Canada population revision that added roughly 300,000 people to the country’s estimated population.
The opposition leader’s core challenge was direct: how can Ottawa set new immigration targets when it cannot accurately count who is already in the country?
Earlier that morning, Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner and colleague Brad Redekopp laid out detailed demands at a Parliamentary Press Gallery conference.
Their list included dramatically lower immigration levels, real exit tracking, provincial involvement in target-setting, and a crackdown on fraud.
Redekopp specifically targeted the Express Entry system’s upcoming November 3 high-wage job offer changes, warning the new rules could enable wage suppression and employer fraud.
Table of Contents
Poilievre Challenges Government Over Population Numbers
The opposition leader opened his round of questions by going straight at the Statistics Canada revision that had upended the government’s population narrative.
In June, the government had claimed that the population was shrinking, but Statistics Canada’s updated figures told a sharply different story.
Approximately 300,000 more people were living in Canada than the government had reported, according to the revised estimates.
Poilievre’s question to the House was blunt: how can the Prime Minister tell foreign media that Canada needs more immigration when the government cannot track who is already here?
The Statistics Canada revision, released on September 23, 2026, estimated Canada’s population at 41,798,407 on July 1, 2026.
That figure represented an increase of 189,425 over the preceding year, contradicting the earlier interim estimates that had shown a population decline.
Updated estimates of the temporary resident population drove the revision, with the count turning out to be roughly 240,000 larger than Ottawa had claimed.
Poilievre was careful to draw a line between immigrants and the policy framework that governs their entry into Canada.
Immigrants themselves are not to blame, he told the House, calling them hard-working, law-abiding people who have been failed by a Liberal government that destroyed the system.
To back his case, Poilievre cited a string of figures: the immigration backlog up 2,500% since the government took office, temporary foreign worker permits up 135%, and the temporary resident population up 260%.
Government Deflects, Points To Past Conservative Voting Record
With the Prime Minister absent, responses came primarily from Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and a minister substituting for the immigration portfolio.
The Minister of Veterans Affairs offered only a brief reply, saying the government has been working on immigration and would have more to share soon.
Champagne took a more aggressive approach, pivoting away from immigration and toward the Conservative opposition’s voting record in the House.
The opposition leader has been in the House for over 20 years, Champagne noted, and has repeatedly voted against measures that would have helped Canadians.
The Conservatives’ vote against the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit drew particular attention, with Champagne calling it a program that is putting food on the table for 12 million Canadians.
On the immigration question directly, the government’s line was that the Prime Minister has taken back control of the system and ensured sustainable levels.
When Poilievre pivoted to provincial control, arguing that provinces deliver health care, jobs, and housing, a government minister countered that Ottawa already works with provinces on the temporary foreign worker program to ensure flexibility where labour shortages exist.
The government also accused the Conservative caucus of demonizing both immigration and immigrants, a charge Poilievre rejected outright.
If anyone should be apologizing to immigrants, Poilievre responded, it is the Liberal government for destroying the system and letting corporate interests use vulnerable newcomers to drive wages down and rents up.
6 Canada Immigration Changes Outlined By Conservatives
In a press conference held earlier that day and published on her Substack, Rempel Garner detailed the Conservative Party’s formal position ahead of the expected tabling of the next Immigration Levels Plan.
The current 2026–2028 plan sets a target of 380,000 permanent resident admissions annually across all three years, with a planning range of 350,000 to 420,000.
The Conservatives did not release a specific alternative PR target, but their position was unambiguous: levels must go “way down, not up,” and any Liberal attempt to raise admissions will face vigorous opposition.
First, bring the numbers down. Unemployed and underemployed Canadians must get first priority for jobs, housing starts must catch up with demand, and hospitals and family doctors cannot continue to absorb the strain.
Immigration, in the Conservative framing, must return to helping newcomers integrate rather than serving as a corporate tool to suppress wages.
Second, restore integrity to the system. People in Canada with no legal right to remain should face swift removal, with stronger security and identity checks on every applicant.
The demand also included an end to lenient criminal sentences designed to avoid deportation and a crackdown on document fraud, study permit scams, and job-offer sales.
Third, set levels together with provinces and territories based on what their housing, hospitals, schools, and social services can actually handle rather than from an Ottawa boardroom.
The Immigration Minister, Rempel Garner noted, has already admitted that provinces were not consulted on health care capacity when immigration levels were set.
Poilievre previewed this argument two days earlier in an October 20 statement following Alberta’s referendum, saying provinces should control immigration selection and numbers because they provide the services and build the housing.
Fourth, prove the government knows who is in the country. The Auditor General’s March 2026 finding underscored the gap in the government’s tracking capacity.
Of roughly 39,500 international students whose permits expired in 2024, only about 16,000 could be confirmed as having actually departed Canada.
The Conservatives are demanding real exit tracking that matches every expired permit against a confirmed departure, along with public numbers that are not designed to flatter the government’s narrative.
Fifth, any plan to open Canada’s borders further through EU trade agreements must be disclosed transparently in the levels plan.
The Conservatives signalled they will oppose any attempt to import what they described as the EU’s open borders policies into Canadian immigration.
Sixth, invest in Canadians already here. The best workers, Rempel Garner argued, are already in Canada’s high schools, trades programs, colleges, and unemployment lines, waiting to be trained and hired.
Redekopp Targets Express Entry Changes Set For November 3
Brad Redekopp used his portion of the press conference to zero in on the Express Entry changes IRCC announced on October 16, 2026, which take effect November 3.
Under the new rules, Express Entry will award additional CRS points for Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.
An occupation qualifies as high-wage when its median wage reaches at least 1.3 times the national median across all Canadian occupations.
From November 3, qualifying job offers will no longer require an LMIA for Express Entry program eligibility or CRS points.
High-wage occupation requirements apply to CRS job-offer points, while qualifying FSW and FST offers may also be in other eligible occupations.
This LMIA removal covers Express Entry only and does not eliminate the requirement for employer-sponsored work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Redekopp’s critique targeted three problems with the new framework, each centred on what he sees as a gap between the policy’s design and its real-world consequences.
The wage, in his analysis, only matters when IRCC classifies an occupation, not when the employer actually writes the paycheque for the individual worker.
Nothing in the rules stops an employer from recruiting a foreign worker at well below the occupation’s median salary, since the high-wage test applies to the job category rather than the offer itself.
Removing the LMIA requirement also eliminates the need to prove that no Canadian is available for the position, which Redekopp warned will make it easier for unscrupulous employers to sell fraudulent job offers for up to $50,000 or more.
A third concern was the absence of any requirement for the worker to actually stay in the offered position after receiving permanent residence.
The job offer, under this arrangement, functions as a gateway to PR status rather than a genuine long-term employment commitment.
These criticisms represent the Conservative opposition’s position on the upcoming policy changes, not enacted rules or confirmed outcomes.
What This Means For Prospective Permanent Residents
Nothing has changed in Canada’s immigration rules or admissions targets as a result of these Conservative demands, and as the official opposition, the Conservatives cannot unilaterally alter the Immigration Levels Plan.
The political pressure still matters for anyone planning a permanent residence application, particularly with the next levels plan approaching.
Under Section 94(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the annual immigration report must be tabled in each House by November 1, or within its next 30 sitting days if that House is not sitting on that date.
The next Immigration Levels Plan covering 2027–2029 is expected under this statutory deadline, and if the Liberals raise levels as signalled, a major political fight is guaranteed.
For Express Entry candidates, the November 3 changes introducing high-wage occupation points and removing the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers are going ahead as announced regardless of opposition criticism.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who hold or are pursuing a qualifying job offer should ensure their profiles are updated before November 3.
The October 22 confrontation underscores that immigration will remain one of the most contested political battlegrounds heading into the next budget cycle and the upcoming levels plan.
Poilievre’s repeated use of Question Period to press on immigration, combined with Rempel Garner’s policy blueprint and Redekopp’s Express Entry critique, signals a coordinated Conservative strategy.
The Liberals maintain they have taken back control of the immigration system and that their levels plan is sustainable for Canada’s economy.
Whether the 2027–2029 plan will raise, hold, or cut permanent resident targets remains the central open question, along with whether any Conservative demands around provincial involvement, exit tracking, or fraud enforcement will find their way into government policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Have the Conservatives proposed a specific PR admissions number to replace the current 380,000 target?
Rempel Garner and Poilievre have called for levels to go “way down” but have not committed to a specific figure or published an alternative levels plan. Their position centres on capacity-based targets set in partnership with provinces rather than a single national number decided in Ottawa. For context, annual PR admissions during the 2006–2015 period ranged from approximately 237,000 to 281,000, a span that serves as implicit background for the Conservative stance. Until the Conservatives release a formal alternative or win government, their demand remains directional rather than numerical.
Does the Statistics Canada population revision mean 300,000 people entered Canada without being detected?
The revision reflects updated estimates of how many non-permanent residents were already present in Canada, not an influx of undetected arrivals at the border. Statistics Canada revised its interim figures upward by approximately 300,000 in an annual revision incorporating new adjustments to non-permanent resident estimates. The update was larger than usual and incorporated CBSA entry and exit data alongside improved accounting for permit extensions and maintained status. What had appeared to be a population decline became growth of approximately 189,425 over the year ending July 1, 2026, and Poilievre characterized this gap as the government losing track of people.
Will the Express Entry changes on November 3 allow employers to pay below-market wages as Redekopp claims?
The high-wage classification is set at the occupational level, meaning a role qualifies when its median national wage reaches at least 1.3 times the overall Canadian median. That classification determines eligibility for additional CRS points, but nothing in the rules mandates a minimum salary for the individual job offer to the worker. IRCC still requires offers to be genuine and to meet applicable program requirements, though whether those enforcement mechanisms can prevent wage suppression is a matter of ongoing policy debate. The LMIA removal applies to Express Entry points and program eligibility for qualifying offers only, and employer-sponsored work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program still require one.
Can the Conservatives actually block an increase in PR levels if the Liberals move forward?
The Immigration Levels Plan is tabled as part of the government’s annual immigration report and does not require a parliamentary vote to take effect. The Conservatives can oppose it vocally in Question Period and committee and can use opposition days to force non-binding votes, but they cannot unilaterally block a levels increase while in opposition. Their real leverage comes from political pressure and the possibility that public sentiment on immigration may shift the government’s calculations.
When will the next Immigration Levels Plan be released, and what should applicants expect?
Under Section 94(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the annual report must be tabled in each House by November 1, or within that House’s next 30 sitting days if it is not sitting on that date. The 2027–2029 plan will set the first official 2029 targets for both permanent resident admissions and temporary resident arrivals. Carney and Diab have indicated levels could rise, while the Conservatives are pushing hard in the opposite direction, making the plan’s release a politically charged moment. Existing profiles and applications remain subject to applicable program rules, while admissions targets guide overall intake and processing.
Fact-Checked: All parliamentary quotes cited in this article were checked against the supplied House of Commons closed captioning transcript from October 22, 2026. Conservative policy demands were verified against the original press conference transcript published by Michelle Rempel Garner on October 22, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration policies and levels targets are subject to change, and readers should consult a qualified immigration professional or review official information on the IRCC website for guidance specific to their situation.
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- New GIS Payments Coming Next Week, With An Increase
Low-income Canadian seniors will receive higher Guaranteed Income Supplement deposits – GIS payments next week after the Government of Canada confirmed a 1.4% quarterly increase for the October to December 2026 period.
The first payment at the new rates is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and it represents the strongest single-quarter GIS adjustment of the entire calendar year.
A single senior collecting the maximum GIS will receive an additional $15.73 per month compared to the July to September quarter, pushing the new monthly maximum to $1,138.90.
This guide covers every updated GIS payment amount by household category, the new income thresholds, the Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor increases, the Q4 payment schedule, and how recipients can verify their deposit.
Table of Contents
New Maximum GIS Payment Amounts For October To December 2026
The official rate card confirms the following maximum monthly GIS amounts for the October to December 2026 quarter, shown alongside the previous quarter for comparison.
Recipient Category Jul-Sep 2026 Oct-Dec 2026 Monthly Increase Single, widowed, or divorced $1,123.17 $1,138.90 $15.73 Spouse/partner receives full pension $676.09 $685.56 $9.47 Spouse/partner receives Allowance $676.09 $685.56 $9.47 Spouse/partner does not receive pension or Allowance $1,123.17 $1,138.90 $15.73 For a single recipient collecting the maximum, the October increase translates to an additional $47.19 over the three Q4 payments compared to what they would have received under the previous quarterly rate.
GIS is not a flat-rate benefit, and the exact monthly payment depends on the recipient’s marital status and total annual income, which Service Canada recalculates each July using the previous year’s tax return data.
Recipients who have a partial pension should not rely on the standard maximum-payment tables and are advised to contact Service Canada directly for their personalized GIS calculation.
Updated GIS Income Thresholds For October 2026
The income cutoffs that determine GIS eligibility also rose with the October quarterly adjustment, allowing slightly more room before payments begin to decrease.
Recipient Category Previous Cutoff (Jul-Sep) New Cutoff (Oct-Dec) Top-Up Cutoff Single, widowed, or divorced $22,800 $23,112 $10,496 Spouse/partner receives full pension $30,096 $30,528 $8,800 Spouse/partner receives Allowance $42,144 $42,768 $8,800 Spouse/partner does not receive pension $54,624 $55,392 $20,992 The income thresholds exclude the Old Age Security pension itself from the calculation. Other pension income, including Canada Pension Plan payments, generally counts toward the GIS income test.
GIS payments decrease gradually as a recipient’s income rises above zero, with the maximum going to those with the least other income, and the benefit reaching zero at the cutoff figures listed above.
The top-up cutoff column shows the annual income threshold for receiving the additional GIS top-up. These top-ups are included in the published maximum payment amounts and are intended for recipients with the lowest incomes.
The GIS Earnings Exemption
Seniors who continue to earn employment or self-employment income while receiving GIS benefit from a built-in earnings exemption that shields a portion of those earnings from reducing their payment.
The first $5,000 of annual employment or self-employment income is fully exempt and will not reduce the GIS payment by a single dollar.
An additional 50% exemption applies to the next $10,000 of employment income, meaning earnings between $5,000 and $15,000 are only partially counted against the GIS calculation.
This exemption is designed to ensure that low-income seniors are not penalized for supplementing their retirement income with part-time or seasonal work.
Income from sources other than employment, such as investment returns, private pensions, or RRSP withdrawals, does not qualify for the earnings exemption and is counted in full against the GIS income test.
Allowance And Allowance For The Survivor Also Increase
The Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor are monthly Service Canada payments designed for people aged 60 to 64 in specific low-income situations who do not yet qualify for retirement benefits.
Benefit Jul-Sep 2026 Oct-Dec 2026 Monthly Increase Allowance $1,428.06 $1,448.06 $20.00 Allowance for the Survivor $1,702.34 $1,726.18 $23.84 The Allowance is available for individuals aged 60 to 64 whose spouse or common-law partner is a GIS recipient, provided their combined annual income falls below $42,768.
The Allowance for the Survivor supports widowed individuals in the same age range whose annual income falls below $31,152.
Both programs receive the same 1.4% quarterly increase, and payments arrive on the same date as GIS every month, with the next deposit confirmed for October 28.
Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor payments are not considered taxable income, consistent with the tax-free treatment that applies to the Guaranteed Income Supplement itself.
Applicants generally need to apply for the Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor through Service Canada. However, someone already receiving the Allowance whose spouse or common-law partner dies is automatically converted to the Allowance for the Survivor.
All The Q4 2026 GIS Payment Dates
Three deposits will carry the new October to December 2026 GIS rates, all confirmed on the federal benefits payment calendar.
Payment Date Details Wednesday, October 28, 2026 First payment at the new 1.4% quarterly rate Thursday, November 26, 2026 Second payment at October to December rates Tuesday, December 22, 2026 Third payment, issued early for the holiday period GIS is deposited as a combined payment alongside the pension, so both arrive on the same date each month.
The December 22 payment date arrives earlier than usual because Service Canada adjusts the schedule to account for Christmas and Boxing Day closures.
How GIS Rates Moved Through 2026
Each quarter of 2026 brought a progressively larger GIS adjustment, with the second half of the year driving the vast majority of the annual gain.
Quarter Increase Cumulative From Jan 2026 January to March 2026 0.3% 0.3% April to June 2026 0.1% 0.4% July to September 2026 1.2% 1.6% October to December 2026 1.4% 3.0% The July adjustment had been the largest quarterly GIS increase of 2026 until the October rate card surpassed it.
The September 25 deposit was the final payment at the July to September rates, and the October 28 deposit marks the start of a measurably higher quarterly cycle.
The Deflation Safeguard Protecting Your October GIS Rate
Published GIS rates do not decrease solely because the Consumer Price Index falls, a protection built into the Old Age Security Act that applies to all benefits under the program.
This one-way floor means that once the October to December 2026 GIS rates are set, the maximum entitlement will not drop in January 2027 even if inflation cools through the autumn months.
However, an individual’s actual monthly GIS payment can still change between quarters due to shifts in income, marital status, or residency, because these factors feed directly into the benefit calculation.
A senior who experiences a drop in other income during 2026 may see a higher GIS payment after the July 2027 recalculation, while a senior whose income rises could see a reduction or full phase-out.
Who Qualifies For GIS In 2026
The Guaranteed Income Supplement is available to Canadian residents aged 65 and older who receive the Old Age Security pension and whose annual income falls below the applicable threshold.
Applicants must live in Canada, and GIS payments stop if a recipient leaves the country for six consecutive months or longer.
Income that counts against the GIS test includes private pensions, RRSP withdrawals, investment income, rental income, and Canada Pension Plan payments.
Income that does not count includes GIS payments themselves, Allowance payments, Allowance for the Survivor payments, and the first $5,000 of employment or self-employment earnings.
Individuals under a sponsorship agreement are generally ineligible for GIS, the Allowance, or the Allowance for the Survivor during the sponsorship period.
However, exceptions may apply if the sponsor dies, is imprisoned for more than six months, is convicted of an offence against the sponsored person, or declares personal bankruptcy.
Seniors who need to apply for GIS can submit an online application through My Service Canada Account.
Those already receiving OAS can alternatively submit paper form ISP-3025 by mail, while applicants applying for both OAS and GIS can use form ISP-3550. For assistance, contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.
How To Verify Your October GIS Payment
Direct-deposit recipients should receive their GIS payment on Wednesday, October 28, although the exact posting time can vary by financial institution.
The most reliable way to confirm your specific GIS amount is to log into My Service Canada Account and review the payment details under your benefit dashboard.
Setting up direct deposit is the fastest way to receive the October payment without postal delays, and updates to banking information should be submitted at least 30 days before the next payment date.
Seniors who believe their GIS amount is incorrect can request a reconsideration by contacting Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 or by visiting a Service Canada office in person.
What Comes After The October Increase
The October to December GIS rates will hold steady through the November 26 and December 22 payments, and the next quarterly review will determine whether rates increase again in January 2027.
Statistics Canada will publish the CPI readings that feed into the January 2027 calculation in late 2026, and Employment and Social Development Canada will confirm the new figures before the January deposit.
The Canada Pension Plan operates on a different annual indexation cycle and received a 2.0% adjustment in January 2026 that applies to all twelve monthly deposits throughout the year.
Seniors interested in the separate pension increase taking effect on October 28 can review the October pension payment guide for updated maximum amounts and recovery tax thresholds.
The October 28 deposit represents the culmination of four consecutive quarterly reviews that have lifted GIS payments to their highest level of the 2026 calendar year.
Single low-income seniors will receive up to $1,138.90 per month, the Allowance reaches $1,448.06, and the Allowance for the Survivor rises to $1,726.18, all reflecting a 3.0% increase over October 2025 rates.
Every dollar of the increase is tax-free, putting more purchasing power directly into the hands of the seniors who need it most.
The increase is applied automatically by Service Canada, requires no action from recipients, and is protected from reversal by the deflation safeguard in the Old Age Security Act.
With three payments remaining in 2026, the October to December quarter delivers the most meaningful boost to GIS income that eligible Canadian seniors have seen this year.
Recipients can verify their exact payment through My Service Canada Account and can reach Service Canada by phone at 1-800-277-9914 or TTY at 1-800-255-4786 with any questions about their October deposit.
Fact-Checked: All GIS payment amounts, Allowance figures, income thresholds, and top-up cutoffs cited in this article were verified against the official quarterly rate card for October to December 2026 published by Employment and Social Development Canada with a page date of September 29, 2026, and the Government of Canada benefits payment calendar.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified financial advisor or review the official GIS benefit amounts page for details specific to their individual situation.
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- Canada’s New Express Entry Changes Expose 5 Major Risks
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is about to roll out the biggest Express Entry overhaul since 2015, and several parts of it do not hold up under scrutiny.
On October 16, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed that new CRS scoring rules will take effect on November 3, 2026, introducing a Labour Market Integration factor worth up to 150 CRS points, including existing points for the duration of Canadian work experience and additional points for qualifying high-wage occupations.
The reform also eliminates the LMIA requirement for qualifying Express Entry job offers, pauses invitation rounds for up to two weeks during a system-wide CRS recalculation, and redefines which occupations carry the most weight in Canada’s skilled immigration selection.
IRCC published its final consultation report on October 15, drawing from approximately 17,500 survey respondents, and the results showed deeply divided opinion on key proposals.
Yet the department moved ahead anyway, and the speed of implementation, just 18 days between announcement and activation, has left critical questions unanswered.
We examined the announced rules against the consultation findings, IRCC’s own operational instructions and the realities facing candidates on the ground and identified 5 concerns that the department appears to have either overlooked or chosen not to address before going live.
Table of Contents
Job Offer Verification Raises Fraud Concerns
The most glaring gap in the November 3 framework is the relationship between when a job offer boosts a candidate’s CRS score and when IRCC actually verifies that the offer is real.
Beginning November 3, qualifying job offers in designated high-wage occupations can provide 50, 70, or 100 CRS points without requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
IRCC says officers will examine whether an offer is genuine at the permanent residence application stage, meaning after the candidate has already received an invitation based partly on those offer points.
The concern is that a fabricated or exaggerated job offer could push a candidate above the invitation threshold, potentially displacing someone with a legitimate profile, before the offer undergoes the full genuineness assessment conducted at the permanent residence application stage.
By the time an officer catches a questionable offer, the damage to the draw’s integrity is already done.
IRCC’s updated job-offer instructions describe what officers will assess, but the public instructions say nothing about what preliminary screening occurs before offer points are applied to a candidate’s CRS score.
The department argues that limiting offer points to high-wage occupations reduces fraud risk because these positions require specialized qualifications.
That is a reasonable safeguard, but it does not answer the core question: why should any CRS points be awarded based on a claim that has not yet been verified?
Removing LMIA Checks Raises Further Risk Of Fraud
A separate and potentially bigger concern is whether restoring substantial job-offer CRS points without requiring an LMIA will create fresh incentives to buy, sell or arrange non-genuine offers.
Under the November 3 framework, a qualifying job offer can carry up to 100 points without the employer obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
That removes an independent labour-market assessment previously required for offers that were not LMIA-exempt.
Employers, recruiters or intermediaries could seek to exploit that incentive by arranging offers primarily to improve a candidate’s Express Entry ranking rather than to fill genuine vacancies.
An offer might appear credible on paper while the position, hiring intention or working arrangement does not reflect a genuine employment need.
This is a foreseeable risk, not evidence that such activity has already surged under rules that have yet to take effect.
The history makes the concern especially important. IRCC removed arranged-employment CRS points in March 2025 after identifying the buying and selling of LMIAs as an immigration-fraud concern.
Bringing back job-offer points while removing the LMIA requirement for qualifying offers raises a direct question: what prevents a similar market from emerging around the job offers themselves?
An LMIA was never a guarantee against fraud, and IRCC says officers will still assess the genuineness of offers when processing permanent residence applications.
The unresolved issue is whether those checks, together with any screening before invitations, will be sufficient to deter non-genuine offers before they influence CRS rankings.
New Wage-Based CRS Points Raise Fairness Concerns
The second concern goes to the philosophical core of the reform: should an occupation’s national wage be the primary measure of an immigrant’s value to the Canadian economy?
IRCC’s own consultation showed that more respondents opposed this idea than supported it.
Among the approximately 17,500 survey participants, 45.8% opposed awarding additional CRS points for Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation, while 42.3% supported the proposal.
IRCC went ahead with the high-wage points anyway, confirming them through the October 16 official news release, which means the department implemented a scoring mechanism that its own public consultation showed was opposed by a plurality of respondents.
The fundamental issue is how IRCC defines “high-wage.”
The classification is based on an occupation’s national median wage, not an individual candidate’s actual salary and not whether an employer is struggling to fill specific positions.
A personal support worker or early childhood educator in a region facing severe shortages receives zero additional high-wage CRS points, while a candidate in a profession whose national median happens to cross the 1.3-times threshold gets a significant scoring advantage even if that profession faces no shortage at all.
IRCC’s consultation report explicitly records that respondents raised concerns about wage-based scoring disadvantaging certain sectors and younger workers and candidates in occupations experiencing genuine shortages.
The question IRCC has not adequately answered is this: should a high national wage automatically carry more immigration selection weight than demonstrated labour shortages?
Similar Candidates Could Face Dramatically Different CRS Scores
The real-world impact of the wage-based framework becomes stark when you compare two candidates who would have been treated identically before November 3.
Consider two hypothetical candidates, both 32 years old, both holding a Canadian master’s degree, both with CLB 9 across all language abilities and both carrying three years of skilled Canadian work experience.
Before the reform, their CRS scores would be the same.
After November 3, their scores could diverge by up to 100 points based solely on which NOC code each candidate holds.
Factor Candidate A (NOC 21231) Candidate B (non-listed NOC) Occupation Software engineer Marketing coordinator Wage tier 1.5× (listed) Below 1.3× (not listed) New work-experience supplement 40 additional CRS points 0 additional CRS points With a qualifying job offer 70 job-offer points, subject to the higher-of-two-routes rule 0 job-offer points That is a 40-point gap in supplementary work-experience points alone.
A qualifying offer in Candidate A’s occupation is worth 70 points, but IRCC awards whichever Labour Market Integration route produces the higher total.
For these candidates, the existing three-year Canadian work-experience points plus the high-wage supplement would generally exceed the job-offer route.
At the top end, a candidate in a 2×-tier occupation could earn 70 additional work-experience points or 100 job-offer points, while a candidate with an otherwise identical profile in a non-qualifying occupation receives nothing.
A 40- to 100-point occupational differential in that environment is not a gentle nudge; it is a wholesale reshuffling of who receives invitations and who does not.
IRCC has not publicly explained why it believes this degree of disparity between otherwise comparable candidates produces a fairer selection outcome.
National Wage Benchmarks May Overlook Regional Labour Markets
Canada is not one labour market, and IRCC’s decision to classify occupations using a single national wage benchmark ignores that reality.
The department uses three years of Job Bank wage statistics, Labour Force Survey data and Census figures to determine which occupations qualify as high-wage.
That classification is based on the national median for each NOC code not what workers actually earn in Toronto versus Moncton, not whether a specific region is desperate for that occupation, and not what provincial economic development priorities look like on the ground.
An occupation that falls just below the 1.3× national threshold might command wages well above that benchmark in Alberta or British Columbia, where the cost of living and labour-market dynamics differ substantially from the national picture.
Conversely, an occupation that clears the national threshold could be relatively well-supplied in certain provinces while chronically short-staffed in others.
Canada’s immigration levels plan and the Provincial Nominee Program exist precisely because federal immigration policy has historically recognized that different regions face different labour-market conditions.
The new CRS factor ignores that principle entirely by applying a single national yardstick to a country with wildly different regional economies.
Provincial nominee streams like Ontario’s OINP may become even more critical for candidates in occupations that are essential to specific provincial economies but absent from the national high-wage list.
Candidates should check the full list of high-wage occupations effective November 3 to determine whether their specific NOC appears at any tier, and explore provincial pathways if it does not.
What Candidates And Employers Should Do Before November 3
Regardless of where these policy concerns land, the rules take effect in days, and candidates need to act.
IRCC has explicitly advised candidates who may qualify for job-offer points to review and update their Express Entry profiles before November 3, 2026.
Canadian work-experience scores will be recalculated automatically, but job-offer points depend on IRCC having the necessary offer information already recorded in the profile.
Candidates should verify their five-digit NOC code against the official high-wage occupation list and ensure their work-history and job-offer sections are accurate and complete.
Invitation rounds will be paused during the CRS recalculation, which could last up to two weeks after November 3.
The most recent Express Entry draws in October included a 2,500-invitation CEC round and a 5,000-invitation French-language round, but those pre-recalculation cutoffs will mean little once the new scoring is applied.
Employers with positions in high-wage occupations should prepare documentation demonstrating the legitimacy and genuine nature of each offer, because removing the LMIA step does not remove the officer-led genuineness assessment.
Where Express Entry Goes From Here
The November 3 changes are the first concrete step in what IRCC has signalled will be a broader Express Entry overhaul, potentially merging the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program into a single Federal High Skilled stream.
The 2026 ministerial category announcement already expanded the list of targeted draw categories, and category-based selection will likely continue to shape who receives invitations alongside the new CRS factor.
But none of that changes the fact that IRCC is implementing a reform its own consultation showed was opposed by a plurality of respondents, with a verification sequence that checks offers after they have already influenced rankings, a non-stacking rule that penalizes the most integrated candidates, and a national wage benchmark that flattens an entire country’s regional labour-market diversity into a single number.
Whether the high-wage framework ultimately delivers the economic outcomes IRCC is projecting will depend on how the department responds to these 5 concerns — not in a future consultation paper, but in the operational reality that begins November 3.
The NOC code a candidate holds and its placement on IRCC’s list will now carry more CRS weight than at any point since Express Entry launched in 2015.
Candidates should treat that as a fundamental shift in how profiles are ranked, not simply a points bonus layered on top of the existing system.
Immigration News Canada will continue tracking draw results, CRS cutoff movements and pool-distribution shifts after the November 3 recalculation is complete and will report on whether these concerns materialize in the data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Express Entry candidates receive both job offer points and high-wage work experience points under the November 3 changes?
No, IRCC awards whichever of the two routes produces the higher score under the new Labour Market Integration factor. A candidate whose work-experience route yields 110 points and whose qualifying job offer yields 100 receives 110, not 210. This design treats the two pathways as alternatives, which means candidates who have built both strong Canadian work experience and hold a genuine employer commitment only receive credit for one of those achievements.
Does a high individual salary qualify a candidate for the new high-wage CRS points?
No, IRCC classifies occupations using the national median wage of each five-digit NOC code over a three-year period. The occupation itself must appear on IRCC’s published high-wage list at the 1.3×, 1.5× or 2× threshold. A candidate earning well above the national median in an occupation that falls below the 1.3× benchmark receives zero supplementary points under this factor, regardless of their personal salary.How will IRCC verify job offers now that the LMIA requirement has been removed?
Officers will examine whether an offer is genuine at the permanent residence application stage, after the candidate has already received an invitation to apply. IRCC assesses whether the employer is actively operating, can fulfil the offer and actually needs the worker. However, the publicly available instructions do not describe what preliminary screening occurs before offer points are applied to a candidate’s CRS score, leaving an unanswered question about verification before invitations are issued.Will Express Entry draws stop after November 3, and for how long?
IRCC will pause invitation rounds while it recalculates CRS scores for all candidates under the new rules. The department says the recalculation could take up to two weeks. Draws resume once the system is ready. Existing submitted applications are not affected, and candidates will see their updated CRS scores in their IRCC accounts after the recalculation is complete.
What should candidates in non-high-wage occupations do after November 3?
Candidates whose NOC does not appear on IRCC’s high-wage list will not receive supplementary CRS points, but they still earn standard duration-based experience points and remain eligible for category-based draws and provincial nominee streams. Provincial pathways like Ontario’s OINP may become more important for occupations that are critical to specific regional economies but missing from the national list. Improving language scores, obtaining additional credentials and pursuing provincial nominations remain the most effective ways to increase overall CRS competitiveness.
Fact-Checked: All policy changes, CRS point tiers, non-stacking rules, LMIA exemption details and consultation statistics cited in this article were verified against IRCC’s October 16, 2026 news release and the 2026 Express Entry consultation final report published on Canada.ca.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Eligibility, occupation classifications and invitation outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Candidates should review the official CRS criteria or consult a qualified immigration professional before making decisions based on these changes.
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- New CRA Tax Filing Service Coming With October 31 Deadline
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is preparing to launch a free pre-filled tax return service in March 2027 that could reduce the time spent entering information during tax season for approximately one million Canadians with lower incomes and straightforward filing situations.
The agency will use income data, tax slips, and personal information it already holds on file to build a completed return inside your CRA My Account, which you then review, adjust if necessary, and submit.
Before any of that happens, however, there is one date Canadians need to act on: October 31, 2026. That date is not the standard April 30 filing deadline or an instalment due date for quarterly taxpayers.
It is the agency’s stated cutoff for having your 2025 tax return filed, your CRA account active, and your correspondence preference set to electronic mail, all of which factor into whether you will be considered for an invitation to the new service.
By 2029, the revenue agency plans to invite 5.5 million individuals to use the program to file their 2028 returns. The service is scheduled to begin in March 2027.
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What the CRA’s Pre-Filled Tax Return Service Actually Does
The CRA currently offers several programs that simplify filing for people with limited income, including the existing SimpleFile service available by phone, paper, and digital formats.
The new pre-filled return takes this a step further.
Rather than answering questions or entering numbers yourself, the CRA assembles a draft return for you using information it already possesses from T4 employment slips, T4A pension slips, T5 interest statements, government benefit records, and other third-party data sources.
That draft appears inside your CRA My Account, where you can verify every line, correct anything the CRA missed or got wrong, add additional income or deductions, and submit the completed return electronically.
The critical distinction is that the taxpayer retains full control throughout the process. This is not automatic filing where the CRA submits a return on your behalf without your involvement.
The 2025 federal budget announced a separate automatic filing track targeting approximately 3,000 non-filers in its first year, scaling to 50,000 by the 2027 tax year, according to a Parliamentary Budget Officer report published in June 2026.
The pre-filled return is the broader, larger initiative aimed at Canadians who already have a filing history and simple tax circumstances.
How This Differs From SimpleFile and Other Free Filing Options
Canada already offers multiple free filing routes, and each serves a different group.
Understanding where the pre-filled return fits requires a clear comparison with existing programs.
Feature SimpleFile by Phone SimpleFile Digital Pre-Filled Return (2027) How you access it Automated phone system Online through the CRA’s SimpleFile Digital web form Online in CRA My Account Who starts the return? You confirm pre-selected answers You answer short questions The agency builds a draft return for you Can you add or edit information? Limited Limited Yes, full review and editing Invitation required Yes No (eligibility check available) Yes Approximate eligible population ~3 million combined across all SimpleFile services Included in the combined ~3 million figure ~1 million at launch, 5.5 million by 2029 Approximately 3 million Canadians were eligible for SimpleFile services in 2026, according to CTV News, with that figure covering phone, digital, and paper filing options collectively.
The pre-filled return represents a shift from asking you questions to presenting a completed draft, which makes the filing process faster and reduces the chance of omitting income the CRA already knows about.
Why October 31, 2026, Is the Date That Matters
The revenue agency officially identifies 4 conditions that may lead to an invitation.
According to the Canada Revenue Agency, you may be invited if you have filed a tax return for 2025 by October 31, 2026, have a lower income and a simple non-taxable situation, hold an active CRA account, and have your correspondence preference set to electronic mail.
October 31, 2026 is not the standard tax deadline. The regular filing deadline for most Canadians was April 30, 2026, for the 2025 tax year.
The October 31 date functions as the cutoff for having your 2025 return on file and your account properly configured so the agency can evaluate whether you qualify for a pre-filled return invitation when the service goes live in March 2027.
Canadians who missed the April 30 deadline can still file a late 2025 return before October 31 and potentially be considered, though late filing penalties and interest on any balance owing will apply.
Who Is Eligible for the Pre-Filled Tax Return
The CRA has stated that invitations will go to individuals with lower incomes and simple, non-taxable tax situations.
As of mid-October 2026, the CRA has not published specific income thresholds or a definitive list of qualifying income sources for the pre-filled return.
Based on how the revenue agency defines eligibility for its existing SimpleFile services, which use similar criteria, the agency typically targets people whose income is limited to specific sources such as
- employment income reported on T4 slips,
- pension and retirement income from T4A and T4A(OAS) slips,
- Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan benefits,
- Employment Insurance benefits,
- interest income from Canadian sources,
- federal income supplements including the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and
- social assistance or workers’ compensation benefits.
People with self-employment income, rental income, capital gains, business income, foreign income, or complex deductions are unlikely to be part of the initial launch group.
Individuals who owe tax on their return are also less likely to qualify because the CRA describes the target group as having a non-taxable situation.
CRA My Account and the Electronic Correspondence Requirement
Two of the four eligibility conditions relate directly to your CRA digital account.
First, you need an active CRA My Account. If you do not have one, you can register through the CRA’s sign-in services page using a sign-in partner such as your bank or by creating a CRA user ID and password.
Registration through a CRA user ID or sign-in partner generally requires a Social Insurance Number and an assessed tax return from the current or previous tax year.
However, residents of British Columbia and Alberta can register through their provincial sign-in partners even without a recent tax return.
Second, your correspondence preference inside CRA My Account must be set to electronic mail by October 31, 2026.
This is the setting that determines whether the CRA sends you notices of assessment, benefit statements, and other correspondence electronically through your CRA account rather than by physical mail.
Without this setting enabled, the CRA cannot deliver the pre-filled return invitation to you digitally, which is the only delivery channel for this service.
How Invitations and the Filing Process Will Work in 2027
Starting in March 2027, eligible individuals will see an invitation inside their CRA My Account.
The CRA has confirmed that the invitation will allow you to use a pre-filled return to file your 2026 tax return. The process is expected to work in three stages.
The CRA populates your return using income information and personal data it already holds, including T4, T4A, T5, and other slips submitted by employers, banks, and government agencies.
You then log in to your CRA My Account, review the pre-filled return line by line, and make any corrections or additions.
Once you are satisfied the return is accurate, you accept and submit it electronically through your CRA account.
The standard April 30, 2027 filing deadline for the 2026 tax year still applies regardless of whether you use the pre-filled return or another filing method.
What Happens If You Are Not Invited
Not receiving a pre-filled return invitation does not change your tax obligations or your access to benefits.
Every other filing option remains available, including certified tax software, professional tax preparers, free tax clinics operated through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, and SimpleFile for those who qualify.
Filing your 2025 return before October 31 is still worthwhile even if you are not selected for the pre-filled service, because the CRA uses tax return information to determine eligibility and calculate payments for many federal and provincial benefits.
Filing late can cause temporary payment interruptions, with eligible missed benefit payments generally issued after the return is assessed.
The CRA recalculates major income-tested benefits, including the Canada Child Benefit and Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, every July using the previous year’s tax return information, and unfiled returns can cause payments to stop.
What Happens After October 31, 2026
The CRA has not published a detailed timeline for when invitations will be sent beyond confirming a March 2027 start date.
Based on the agency’s description, the evaluation of who qualifies will likely happen between November 2026 and early 2027, using the 2025 tax return data, CRA account status, and correspondence settings that were in place by the October 31 cutoff.
Canadians who meet all four conditions will not automatically receive an invitation.
The CRA will select approximately one million individuals from the pool of eligible taxpayers based on criteria it has not fully disclosed, which may include additional factors such as filing history and the complexity of prior returns.
The October 2026 federal changes include several other regulatory and benefit adjustments alongside this CRA deadline.
Confirmed Requirements vs. Anticipated Details
The CRA’s official communications confirm several elements of the pre-filled return program, while other operational details remain subject to finalization as the March 2027 launch approaches.
Confirmed by the CRA Not Yet Officially Detailed March 2027 launch date Specific income thresholds for eligibility Approximately 1 million invitations in the first year Exact timeline for issuing invitations within March 2027 Expansion to 5.5 million by 2029 Which income sources will be included in the pre-filled draft Four eligibility conditions including the October 31 cutoff Selection criteria beyond the four stated conditions Service is free and delivered through CRA My Account Whether future years will extend to higher-income or more complex filers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is October 31, 2026 a mandatory tax filing deadline?
No, October 31 is not the regular tax filing or payment deadline for individual Canadians. The standard deadline for most Canadians to file their 2025 return was April 30, 2026. October 31 is the CRA’s stated cutoff date for having your 2025 return filed and your CRA account configured if you want to be considered for a pre-filled tax return invitation in March 2027. Missing this date does not trigger any additional penalty beyond those already associated with late filing when you owe tax.
Can I use the pre-filled return if I have self-employment income or rental properties?
Almost certainly not in the first year. The CRA has specified that the service is designed for individuals with lower incomes and simple, non-taxable situations. Self-employment income, rental income, capital gains, and business deductions add complexity that the CRA’s initial pre-filled draft would not be equipped to capture accurately. The expansion to 5.5 million individuals by 2029 may eventually include slightly more complex situations, but the CRA has not committed to any specific broadening of eligible income types.
Will I still need to file my 2026 tax return by April 30, 2027 if I use the pre-filled return?
Yes, the pre-filled return changes how your return is prepared but does not change the filing deadline. You will still need to review, accept, and submit the pre-filled return through CRA My Account by April 30, 2027 (or June 15, 2027 for self-employed filers, though those individuals are unlikely to qualify for the pre-filled service in its initial phase). Receiving a pre-filled return does not mean the CRA has already filed on your behalf.
Does filing my 2025 return by October 31 guarantee I will receive an invitation?
No, filing by October 31 satisfies one of four stated conditions, but it does not guarantee an invitation. The CRA will invite approximately one million people from a larger pool of individuals who meet all four conditions, and additional internal selection criteria may apply. The agency’s language is deliberately conditional, stating that you “may be invited” rather than “will be invited.” Completing all four steps by October 31 is the minimum requirement to be in the eligibility pool, not a promise of inclusion.
How does the pre-filled return affect my CRA benefit payments such as the CCB or the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit?
The pre-filled return itself does not change how much you receive in Canada Child Benefit, Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, or any other CRA-administered benefit. Benefit amounts are calculated based on your reported income and family situation, regardless of whether you filed using the pre-filled return, tax software, a paper return, or a professional preparer. What the service does change is the likelihood that eligible Canadians actually file, which is the single most important factor in receiving benefits. Annual tax filing is essential for maintaining eligibility for many CRA-administered benefits, and failing to file can delay or interrupt payments.
Fact-Checked: All eligibility conditions, program timelines, and service descriptions cited in this article were verified against the CRA’s official pre-filled tax return page published on Canada.ca with a page date of September 17, 2026, and the CRA’s How to file a tax return page. Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates on program costs and non-filer benefit amounts were confirmed against the PBO’s official report on delivering automatic federal benefits published June 18, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or financial advice. For personalized guidance on your tax filing situation, consult a qualified tax professional or review the CRA’s individual tax filing resources on Canada.ca.
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- A Complete Guide to Car Insurance in Toronto for New Immigrants
A newcomer buying a first car in Toronto has two uses for records from abroad. The licensing office checks them to decide how the person gets an Ontario licence. The insurer uses them to help set a price. Those decisions are separate, even for someone who has driven for years.
Getting the papers ready before buying gives the driver time to ask questions and compare policies. It also helps avoid a missing document when the car is ready to collect. Help is available with unfamiliar forms.
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Arrange the Ontario licence documents
A new Ontario resident can use a valid foreign licence for 60 days. After that, they need an Ontario licence. The driver should check whether they can exchange their old licence. The answer depends on where it was issued, its class and the records of their driving history. Years of driving don’t guarantee a full Ontario licence right away.
Rules changed on July 1, 2026 for places without an exchange agreement. Drivers from those places can receive up to 12 months of verified foreign driving credit. They must pass the G2 road test. They must then wait at least 12 months before taking the G road test. Driving abroad can’t shorten that wait. Old advice about going straight to the full G test may no longer apply.
The driver must bring proof of identity that DriveTest accepts and the original valid licence. DriveTest may ask for other records to support the application. Documents must be in English or French or have an accepted translation. Before paying for a translation, the driver should check what the office accepts.
An accepted licensing authority or diplomatic office must issue the driving-history records. A letter from an insurer won’t prove that history for licensing. DriveTest keeps the original records it asks for, so the driver should make copies first.
Keep driving and insurance records separate
The licensing office counts driving credit to decide how someone gets an Ontario licence. The insurer looks at history to help set a price. A record accepted by one doesn’t settle what the other will do with it.
The Ministry of Transportation checks some foreign driving history through licence-exchange agreements. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario considers that history valid for pricing personal auto policies. The regulator expects insurers to count it as soon as they can before January 1, 2027. That guidance isn’t a new law promising to accept every foreign record. The driver should ask what history the company counted and what else it needs.
If the company asks for a letter about past insurance, it should say who must write it and which coverage dates and claims it must show. It should also say whether the letter needs a translation. Getting the right letter can take time after leaving the previous country.
A driver can bring a driving extract to Canada to help show their past driving history.
That gives them a record to share, instead of asking the company to rely on their description of years spent driving.
When comparing car insurance for Toronto drivers, a newcomer should ask how each company used those records.
Each company should get the same details so that a lower quote doesn’t reflect missing history or different coverage. Keeping copies together makes the right record easier to send when someone asks for it. Before agreeing to the policy, the driver should know which licence class and history the company used, along with the coverage being priced.
Choose the Ontario coverage
Required protection
Ontario requires third-party liability insurance with a limit of at least $200,000. This helps cover the driver’s legal responsibility for injuries or damage to others. Drivers can buy a higher limit. The minimum isn’t a recommended amount for every household.
Uninsured automobile coverage is required too. The policy must also include medical, rehabilitation and attendant-care accident benefits. Those benefits remained required after the July 1, 2026 changes. They help pay for eligible needs after an injury. They don’t pay to fix the car.
Optional vehicle and accident benefits
Collision coverage generally covers damage from a collision. Comprehensive generally covers theft and certain other insured damage. Ontario doesn’t require drivers to buy either one. A loan or lease may require them, though. The buyer needs to check that agreement as well as the quote.
Direct compensation property damage normally comes with the policy. A driver can opt out. Before doing so, they should ask the company what it would stop covering. A lower bill doesn’t tell them what they would give up.
Income replacement and several other accident benefits became optional in July 2026. Someone buying a first policy should check which benefits it includes. A driver who already has a policy should check the renewal too. The chosen benefits continue unless the customer agrees in writing to change them.
Give accurate vehicle and driver details
The form must give the real address, exact car details, yearly kilometres and use. It should name the regular drivers and the person who uses the car most.
The driver shouldn’t use someone else’s address to get a quote. They shouldn’t name an occasional driver as the main driver either. Those errors can cause problems with coverage.
A trip to work differs from a paid delivery. The driver must tell the company about deliveries, rideshare or other business driving before they happen.
The driver can ask for a quote on the car before buying it. Each company needs the same foreign-history records. The quotes should use the same liability limits, deductibles, car coverage and accident benefits. There isn’t one price for newcomers that predicts what everyone will pay.
Confirm coverage before driving
A licence allows someone to drive. It doesn’t prove that the car is insured. The driver needs both, even during the first 60 days when a valid foreign licence can still be used.
Before collecting or registering the car, the driver should confirm the date and time the policy starts.
They also need proof of insurance. Ontario drivers must carry their licence, vehicle registration and insurance evidence.
A quote alone doesn’t start the coverage. The insurer must explain the policy and confirm what the driver has bought.
Settlement services can help with unfamiliar forms. Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto helps with driver’s licence applications and settlement documents. That help can make the forms easier to understand while the newcomer gets the licence, registration and insurance ready.
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- Canada’s New Arrivals Plunge 63%, But Work Permit Holders Rise
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada published a comprehensive update to its key immigration statistics on October 20, 2026, covering application processing, temporary and permanent resident volumes, and asylum claim trends.
The release paints a striking picture of a system undergoing deliberate contraction in temporary migration and targeted acceleration in permanent settlement.
Total student and worker arrivals between January and August 2026 fell by 326,900 compared to the same period in 2024, a decline of 63%.
Meanwhile, 216,600 people received permanent resident status under the Immigration Levels Plan, and two separate one-time initiatives have already processed tens of thousands of additional applicants.
Asylum claims dropped 68% compared to the same period in 2024, and citizenship processing continued at pace with nearly 218,000 new Canadians sworn in through August.
Here is a full breakdown of every category IRCC reported.
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Temporary Resident Arrivals Collapse Across All Categories
IRCC’s student and temporary worker statistics, updated through August 31, 2026, confirm a sharp decline in new arrivals compared with the same period in 2024.
Between January and August 2026, Canada recorded 63% fewer combined student and worker arrivals than during the same months in 2024.
That translates to 326,900 fewer new student and worker arrivals recorded under IRCC’s immigration statistics during the eight-month period.
International Student Arrivals
The 2026 student arrivals target under the Immigration Levels Plan is 155,000.
Through the end of August, 65,240 students had arrived, leaving a difference of 89,760 between recorded arrivals and the annual target, with four months remaining.
New student arrivals declined 71% compared to January through August 2024, with the drop totaling 156,440 fewer arrivals.
August 2026 recorded 37,090 new student arrivals, the expected seasonal spike ahead of the fall semester.
The total number of study permit holders in Canada stood at 602,115 at the end of August, down from a peak of 1,032,950 in June 2024.
That represents a 42% reduction in the active international student population over roughly two years.
Comparing the same month across years removes the seasonal variation that inflates mid-year peaks and depresses off-season lows.
Period Study Permit Holders August 2024 1,019,545 August 2025 799,665 August 2026 602,115 The August-to-August figures confirm a decline of approximately 41% over two years, demonstrating that the shrinking student population is structural rather than a seasonal artifact.
IRCC has introduced measures including the annual study permit cap in 2024, mandatory acceptance letter verification, higher financial requirements, and an exemption from provincial or territorial attestation letter requirements for eligible master’s and doctoral students at public institutions.
Temporary Worker Arrivals
The 2026 worker arrivals target is 230,000. Through August, 130,095 workers had arrived, placing IRCC at 57% of the annual goal.
Worker arrivals fell 57% compared to the same eight-month stretch in 2024, a reduction of 170,455 people. August 2026 alone recorded 16,850 new worker arrivals.
The population of people holding only a work permit reached 1,550,215 by the end of August, comprising 251,865 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and 1,298,350 under the International Mobility Program.
IRCC has implemented a 10% limit on low-wage hiring through the TFWP, stopped processing low-wage applications in census metropolitan areas with 6% unemployment or higher, tightened spousal work permit eligibility, and reformed the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
Existing Work Permit Population Continues To Rise
One of the most striking findings in the October 20 release is the gap between declining new worker arrivals and the size of the existing work permit holder population.
New worker arrivals dropped 57% between January and August 2026 compared with the same months in 2024.
Yet the number of people holding only a work permit rose from approximately 1,432,100 in August 2024 to 1,550,215 in August 2026, an increase of roughly 8.2%.
Arrivals and the existing permit holder population measure fundamentally different things.
Arrival figures count people issued new permits in a given month, while the population total reflects everyone currently holding a valid work permit in Canada regardless of when they arrived.
Period Work-Permit-Only Holders August 2026 1,550,215 August 2025 1,489,370 August 2024 1,432,100 The gap can reflect several factors, including workers remaining in Canada on existing permits, extensions granted to workers already in the country, and the time lag between policy changes and their effects on the existing permit-holder population.
IRCC has acknowledged that the full effects of its new measures will take time to appear in population data because inventories of existing applications continue to be processed under the rules in place when they were submitted.
Asylum Claims Drop 68% Compared To 2024
Canada’s asylum claim volumes have fallen sharply across all submission channels through the end of August 2026.
Between January and August 2026, 68% fewer people submitted an asylum claim compared to the same period in 2024.
Total claims at ports of entry fell from 44,000 in January through August 2024 to just 9,640 during the same window in 2026.
Airport claims declined from 33,445 to 4,735, and land border claims fell from 10,540 to 4,895.
Asylum claims from temporary resident visa holders dropped 73% in August 2026, with 1,990 claims compared to 7,405 in August 2024.
The decline was broad-based across provinces, but the two historically highest-volume jurisdictions illustrate the scale of the shift.
Ontario recorded 2,190 claims in August 2026, down from 7,140 in August 2024, a drop of roughly 69%.
Quebec recorded 1,455 claims in August 2026, down from 3,690 in August 2024, a drop of roughly 61%.
Together, Ontario and Quebec still accounted for the majority of all claims submitted in August 2026, consistent with their historical concentration of asylum volumes.
IRCC credits several policy interventions for the decline, including the partial visa requirement for Mexican nationals, the Additional Protocol to the Safe Third Country Agreement, heightened scrutiny of temporary resident visa applications, and the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12) which took effect March 26, 2026.
The daily average of asylum claims from people crossing between ports of entry has fallen from 165 in March 2023 to 13.
Temporary Residence Application Processing
Between January 1 and August 31, 2026, IRCC finalized 2,076,745 total temporary residence applications, with 365,425 applications still pending at the end of the reporting period.
Category Finalized (Jan–Aug 2026) Not Yet Finalized Study Permits 150,620 28,440 Work Permits 190,995 25,995 Visitor Visas 1,735,130 310,990 IRCC has launched two-week processing for PhD-level study permit applicants under the International Talent Attraction Strategy.
Work permit processing is expedited for employers and skilled workers through the Global Skills Strategy, with 14-day processing available for up to 5,000 licensed doctors nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program.
Permanent Residence Admissions Under the Levels Plan
Canada’s 2026 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents, with separate allocations for economic, family, protection, and humanitarian categories.
Through August 31, 216,600 people had received permanent resident status under the plan, putting IRCC at 57% of the annual target.
PR Category 2026 Target Jan–Aug Admissions % of Target Economic 239,800 127,100 53% Family 84,000 59,100 70% Refugees & Protected 49,300 25,500 52% H&C and Other 6,900 4,900 71% Total (Levels Plan) 380,000 216,600 57% The family class has reached 70% of its target, while the H&C and Other category is at 71%, and the economic class sits at 53% with 112,700 admissions remaining to reach its annual target.
The first eight months produced an average of approximately 27,075 admissions per month under the levels plan.
Reaching 380,000 by December 31 would require approximately 40,850 admissions per month across September through December, roughly 51% higher than the January-to-August pace.
That does not necessarily mean Canada will fall short, because admission volumes can vary across months and the final four months could differ from the pace recorded between January and August.
However, it establishes a clear benchmark against which applicants and observers can evaluate the remaining four months.
A notable shift in the composition of new permanent residents has emerged in 2026.
Former temporary residents accounted for 58% of all new permanent residents between January and August, up from 48% in 2025 and 44% in 2024, according to IRCC’s permanent residence statistics.
This trend connects directly to the temporary worker population data discussed above.
Canada is admitting fewer new temporary residents while granting a growing share of permanent residence to people who entered the country years ago under previous intake rules.
Most of these transitions occur through economic programs such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program, which are designed to select candidates with Canadian work experience, education, and language proficiency.
The rising TR-to-PR share also highlights another important factor affecting Canada’s temporary resident population, as some existing permit holders become permanent residents rather than departing Canada.
These transitions reduce the temporary resident population, even as the overall number of work-permit-only holders remains above its August 2024 level.
Express Entry and Economic Processing
Between September 2025 and August 2026, about 76% of applicants in the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Canadian Experience Class received a decision within the six-month service standard.
Roughly half received a decision in five months or less, confirming that Express Entry processing remains faster than most other permanent residence categories.
The Start-up Visa Program is no longer accepting new applications except from candidates who secured a valid commitment from a designated organization in 2025.
The Self-Employed Persons Program is paused indefinitely, with existing applications continuing to be processed under limited levels plan capacity.
Spousal and Family Processing
Between September 2025 and August 2026, IRCC processed applications for spouses, partners, and children submitted within and outside Canada who intended to live outside Quebec in approximately 15 months.
Of the 167,170 family class applications still pending at the end of August, 58% are actively in processing and 42% are waiting for space under yearly targets.
Demand for the parents and grandparents program continues to exceed available spaces, which directly impacts wait times.
Protection Category
Of the 291,615 protection applications not yet finalized through August, 57% are in processing and 43% are waiting for space.
This category covers protected persons in Canada, government-assisted refugees, privately sponsored refugees, and humanitarian and compassionate cases.
Citizenship Processing Continues at Pace
IRCC granted citizenship to 217,960 people between January and August 2026, with 327,125 citizenship grant applications still pending at the end of the reporting period.
On the proof of citizenship side, 38,355 certificates were issued while 135,965 applications remain in the queue.
Combined, IRCC is managing 463,090 pending citizenship applications across grants and proofs.
At the January-to-August processing pace of approximately 32,040 combined finalizations per month, clearing the current inventory without new filings would take roughly 14 months.
In practice, new applications continue to arrive, which means the pending count will fluctuate rather than decline in a straight line.
IRCC has introduced online application processes for citizenship grants, proofs, and searches of citizenship records, along with an online citizenship application tracker and expanded availability of electronic citizenship certificates.
The October 20 release confirms that Canada’s immigration recalibration is producing measurable results on the temporary residence side.
Student arrivals are running well below the annual target, and the active study permit holder population has been cut by more than 40% from its 2024 peak.
Permanent residence admissions face tighter arithmetic, with the levels plan at 57% of target and only four months left to process the remaining 163,400 spaces.
Both one-time initiatives have made significant progress toward their 2026 targets, particularly the protected persons pathway, which recorded its highest monthly admissions in August.
Asylum claims continue their steep decline, and citizenship processing is holding steady despite a large pending inventory.
Three developments from this release are connected and worth watching together over the final four months of 2026.
New temporary resident arrivals have fallen sharply, but the population of existing work-permit-only holders remains above its August 2024 level. The effects of earlier admissions, extensions, departures, and transitions to permanent residence unfold over different periods.
At the same time, Canada is granting a larger share of permanent residences to former temporary residents, which moves people out of the temporary pool and into permanent settlement.
How quickly those transitions reduce the temporary resident population toward the government’s target of less than 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027 will depend on whether arrival restrictions, departures, and TR-to-PR conversions continue at their current pace.
With the next Immigration Levels Plan for 2027 to 2029 expected by November, the August data will serve as a critical baseline for calibrating future targets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will Canada reach its 2026 permanent residence target of 380,000?
Through August, IRCC admitted 216,600 permanent residents under the levels plan, covering 57% of the target with four months remaining. Reaching 380,000 requires processing roughly 40,850 admissions per month from September through December, which exceeds the monthly average of approximately 27,075 recorded from January to August. The two one-time initiatives have added a further 46,400 admissions outside the plan, but those are not counted toward the 380,000 figure.
How many international students are currently in Canada in 2026?
There were 602,115 study permit holders in Canada on August 31, 2026, down from a peak of 1,032,950 in June 2024. That represents a 42% decline in the active student population over approximately two years, driven by the annual study permit cap introduced in 2024 and tighter financial proof requirements. The 2026 target allows 155,000 new student arrivals, of which 65,240 had arrived through August.
Why are spousal sponsorship applicants waiting longer than Express Entry applicants?
Between September 2025 and August 2026, approximately 76% of Federal Skilled Worker Program and Canadian Experience Class applicants received decisions within the six-month service standard, with about half receiving decisions within five months. IRCC reports that spouse, partner, and child applications destined outside Quebec took approximately 15 months to process during the same period. Across the broader family immigration inventory, 42% of applications are waiting for space under yearly targets. Express Entry applications are also subject to immigration targets, but processing performance varies by program and application category.
What caused the 68% drop in asylum claims between 2024 and 2026?
IRCC identifies several measures associated with the decline. Following the partial visa requirement for Mexican nationals, airport asylum claims from that country fell by 97% between February and March 2024. The Additional Protocol to the Safe Third Country Agreement was followed by a decline in claims from people crossing between official ports of entry, from an average of 165 daily claims in March 2023 to 13 per day. Heightened scrutiny of temporary resident visa applications was accompanied by a 73% drop in asylum claims from visa holders. The Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12), which came into force on March 26, 2026, introduced new eligibility requirements. Total port-of-entry claims fell from 44,000 in the first eight months of 2024 to 9,640 in the same period of 2026.
Fact-Checked: All statistics cited in this article were verified against the official IRCC application processing system page, the student and temporary worker statistics page, the permanent residence numbers page, and the asylum statistics page on Canada.ca, all carrying a page modification date of October 20, 2026, with data through August 31, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Readers should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or qualified immigration lawyer, or review the official IRCC website at canada.ca/immigration for guidance specific to their circumstances.
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- New Express Entry High-Wage Occupations Full List Effective November 3
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published the official list of high-wage occupations that will reshape how Express Entry candidates are ranked starting November 3, 2026.
The list covers 186 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes organized across three wage tiers, each tied to a specific number of additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for eligible Canadian work experience and qualifying job offers.
These occupations span medicine, engineering, technology, skilled trades, education, finance, law enforcement, natural resources, and transportation, making the overhaul one of the most wide-reaching structural changes to Express Entry scoring since the system launched in 2015.
Candidates already in the Express Entry pool will have their CRS scores automatically recalculated once the new Express Entry changes take effect, but anyone seeking job-offer points must update their profile before that date.
Table of Contents
How IRCC Defines A High-Wage Occupation Under Express Entry
Under the updated rules, a job qualifies as a high-wage occupation when the median wage of everyone in Canada performing that work under the same NOC code is at least 1.3 times higher than the average median wage of the overall Canadian workforce.
The classification is determined at the occupation level using data from Job Bank, the Labour Force Survey, and the Census of Population collected over the most recent three-year window (currently 2023 to 2025).
Individual salary or specific job position does not determine the tier placement for a given NOC code.
IRCC assigns each eligible NOC code to the highest wage tier it reached during any of the three measured years, which provides a degree of stability for occupations that might fluctuate year to year.
3 Wage Tiers And Extra CRS Points
The 186 eligible occupations are divided into three tiers based on how far their median wage exceeds the national average median wage.
Each tier awards a different number of CRS points depending on whether the candidate is claiming points for Canadian work experience or for a qualifying job offer.
High-Wage Occupation Level Work Experience Points Job Offer Points At least twice the average median wage 70 100 At least 1.5 times but less than twice 40 70 At least 1.3 times but less than 1.5 times 20 50 Below the high-wage threshold 0 0 A candidate with at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience in one or more eligible high-wage occupations may receive these additional work-experience points.
A candidate with a qualifying job offer in an eligible high-wage occupation may receive the corresponding job-offer points instead.
The two types of points (work experience and job offer) cannot be combined; the system awards whichever is higher.
Crucially, from November 3, a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will no longer be required for a qualifying job offer to earn these Express Entry CRS points, which is one of the most significant policy shifts announced alongside the high-wage occupation list.
Full List Of Occupations With A Wage At Least Twice The Median Wage
The top tier carries 70 additional CRS points for eligible Canadian work experience and 100 points for a qualifying job offer.
It includes 31 NOC codes concentrated in senior management, medicine, engineering management, law, and public protection leadership.
Physicians, surgeons, and nurse practitioners feature prominently in this tier, reflecting Canada’s ongoing healthcare workforce priorities.
NOC Code Occupation 00011 Senior government managers and officials 00012 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services 00013 Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations 10010 Financial managers 10011 Human resources managers 10012 Purchasing managers 10020 Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers 10021 Banking, credit and other investment managers 20010 Engineering managers 20011 Architecture and science managers 20012 Computer and information systems managers 21330 Mining engineers 21332 Petroleum engineers 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine 31101 Specialists in surgery 31102 General practitioners and family physicians 31103 Veterinarians 31302 Nurse practitioners 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals 40010 Government managers – health and social policy development and program administration 40011 Government managers – economic analysis, policy development and program administration 40012 Government managers – education policy development and program administration 40019 Other managers in public administration 40040 Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services 40041 Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers 41100 Judges 41101 Lawyers and Quebec notaries 41200 University professors and lecturers 60010 Corporate sales managers 80010 Managers in natural resources production and fishing 90011 Utilities managers Full List Of Occupations With A Wage At Least 1.5 Times But Less Than Twice The Average
The middle tier awards 40 additional CRS points for eligible Canadian work experience and 70 points for a qualifying job offer.
This is the largest group by far, with 89 NOC codes covering a wide cross-section of professions.
Software developers, registered nurses, civil engineers, pharmacists, secondary school teachers, police officers, and firefighters are all included in this tier.
Several skilled trades occupations also appear here, including boilermakers, power system electricians, elevator constructors, steamfitters, and air pilots occupations that overlap with the certificate of qualification occupations list used for skill transferability factor points.
NOC Code Occupation 00014 Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services 00015 Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities 10019 Other administrative services managers 10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers 10029 Other business services managers 10030 Telecommunication carriers managers 11103 Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers 11201 Professional occupations in business management consulting 21100 Physicists and astronomers 21102 Geoscientists and oceanographers 21103 Meteorologists and climatologists 21109 Other professional occupations in physical sciences 21111 Forestry professionals 21120 Public and environmental health and safety professionals 21202 Urban and land use planners 21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries 21211 Data scientists 21220 Cybersecurity specialists 21221 Business systems specialists 21222 Information systems specialists 21223 Database analysts and data administrators 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers 21231 Software engineers and designers 21232 Software developers and programmers 21300 Civil engineers 21301 Mechanical engineers 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers 21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) 21320 Chemical engineers 21321 Industrial and manufacturing engineers 21322 Metallurgical and materials engineers 21331 Geological engineers 21390 Aerospace engineers 21399 Other professional engineers 22231 Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers 22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics 30010 Managers in health care 31110 Dentists 31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists 31120 Pharmacists 31200 Psychologists 31202 Physiotherapists 31203 Occupational therapists 31300 Nursing coordinators and supervisors 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses 32111 Dental hygienists and dental therapists 40020 Administrators – post-secondary education and vocational training 40021 School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education 40030 Managers in social, community and correctional services 40042 Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces 41210 College and other vocational instructors 41220 Secondary school teachers 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers 41310 Police investigators and other investigative occupations 41311 Probation and parole officers 41320 Educational counsellors 41401 Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts 41402 Business development officers and market researchers and analysts 41404 Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers 41407 Program officers unique to government 42100 Police officers (except commissioned) 42101 Firefighters 50010 Library, archive, museum and art gallery managers 50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts 51100 Librarians 70010 Construction managers 70012 Facility operation and maintenance managers 70020 Managers in transportation 70021 Postal and courier services managers 72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations 72012 Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades 72023 Supervisors, railway transport operations 72103 Boilermakers 72202 Power system electricians 72203 Electrical power line and cable workers 72301 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers 72406 Elevator constructors and mechanics 72600 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors 72601 Air traffic controllers and related occupations 72604 Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators 73310 Railway and yard locomotive engineers 82020 Supervisors, mining and quarrying 82021 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services 83101 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers 90010 Manufacturing managers 92011 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities 92100 Power engineers and power systems operators 93100 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing 93101 Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing Full List Of Occupations With A Median Wage At Least 1.3 Times But Less Than 1.5 Times The Average
The entry-level high-wage tier provides 20 additional CRS points for eligible Canadian work experience and 50 points for a qualifying job offer.
It contains 66 NOC codes and includes a mix of professional and skilled trade occupations.
Financial auditors and accountants, architects, social workers, web developers, paramedics, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, crane operators, and industrial electricians are among the occupations at this level.
Candidates in these roles may see a meaningful boost to their profiles, particularly those who already hold Canadian work experience and were previously not earning any additional points for it.
NOC Code Occupation 00010 Legislators 11100 Financial auditors and accountants 11101 Financial and investment analysts 11102 Financial advisors 11109 Other financial officers 11200 Human resources professionals 12201 Insurance adjusters and claims examiners 12203 Assessors, business valuators and appraisers 21101 Chemists 21110 Biologists and related scientists 21112 Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists 21200 Architects 21201 Landscape architects 21203 Land surveyors 21234 Web developers and programmers 22214 Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology 22232 Occupational health and safety specialists 22233 Construction inspectors 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians 22313 Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors 31121 Dietitians and nutritionists 32102 Paramedical occupations 32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists 32120 Medical laboratory technologists 32121 Medical radiation technologists 32122 Medical sonographers 41300 Social workers 41400 Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers 41405 Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers 41409 Other professional occupations in social science 43201 Correctional service officers 43203 Border services, customs, and immigration officers 50012 Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors 51101 Conservators and curators 51102 Archivists 51111 Authors and writers (except technical) 51112 Technical writers 51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations 52112 Broadcast technicians 60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers 60031 Accommodation service managers 60040 Managers in customer and personal services 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations 72013 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades 72014 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers 72020 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades 72021 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews 72102 Sheet metal workers 72105 Ironworkers 72201 Industrial electricians 72302 Gas fitters 72320 Bricklayers 72321 Insulators 72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics 72403 Railway carmen/women 72404 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors 72500 Crane operators 72602 Deck officers, water transport 72603 Engineer officers, water transport 73311 Railway conductors and brakemen/women 82010 Supervisors, logging and forestry 83100 Underground production and development miners 83120 Fishing masters and officers 92010 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing 93102 Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators What Happens If The List Changes After You Receive An ITA?
IRCC has confirmed that if the high-wage occupation list is updated after a candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA), the department will continue using the tier level that was in effect on the date the invitation was issued.
This protection applies whether the candidate’s occupation moves to a different tier, is removed from the list entirely, or is newly added after their invitation date.
The safeguard is particularly relevant for candidates in resource-sector occupations or specialized trades where median wages can shift from one measurement period to the next.
Which Sectors Benefit The Most From The High-Wage Occupation List
Healthcare dominates the upper tiers of the list, with physicians, surgeons, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, registered nurses, and physiotherapists all qualifying for the top two wage levels.
Technology professionals are heavily represented in the middle tier, where software engineers and designers, software developers and programmers, cybersecurity specialists, data scientists, and computer systems developers all appear.
Engineering occupations span all three tiers, with petroleum and mining engineers at the top, civil and mechanical engineers in the middle, and construction inspectors in the entry tier.
Skilled trades — an area that has received growing attention through recent Express Entry draws targeting trade occupations — are scattered across the middle and entry tiers, covering everything from elevator mechanics and power system electricians to crane operators and heavy-duty equipment mechanics.
Education professionals are represented across the upper two tiers, with university professors and lecturers in the highest tier, while secondary school teachers and elementary school teachers fall in the middle tier.
Public safety roles such as police officers, firefighters, and correctional service officers are distributed between the middle and entry tiers.
Natural resources and energy occupations, from oil and gas well drillers to power engineers and pulping control operators, appear primarily in the middle tier.
What This Means For Candidates Currently In The Express Entry Pool
IRCC will automatically recalculate CRS scores for candidates already in the pool to include any eligible high-wage work-experience points once the November 3 changes take effect.
Candidates do not need to withdraw and resubmit their profiles to receive the work-experience recalculation.
Candidates who want job-offer points, however, must ensure all required job-offer details are entered into their Express Entry profiles before November 3.
IRCC has also confirmed that invitation rounds will be paused starting November 3 while scores are being recalculated, with draws expected to resume within approximately two weeks.
The recalculation could significantly reshuffle rankings inside the pool, potentially lifting candidates with strong Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations above those who previously held higher raw human-capital scores.
Steps Candidates Should Take Before November 3
Verify that the NOC code listed in your Express Entry profile matches the actual duties of your current or most recent Canadian employment — IRCC evaluates work experience against NOC descriptions by examining duties performed, not job titles.
Confirm that at least 12 months of cumulative eligible Canadian work experience is accurately recorded in your profile if you plan to claim high-wage work-experience points.
If you have a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, enter all required job-offer details into your profile before November 3, since IRCC will not automatically detect offers that have not been submitted through the system.
Important: IRCC has confirmed that its Express Entry online system will not immediately reflect the new LMIA rules on November 3.
Candidates with qualifying job offers without an LMIA will temporarily need to select “Yes” when asked whether a positive LMIA was issued and enter the placeholder LMIA number 00000, issuance date January 1, 2026, and expiry date January 1, 2029, as instructed by IRCC.
Check whether your occupation appears on the official high-wage occupations list published by IRCC and note which tier it falls under to understand the potential CRS increase.
Review the current Express Entry processing fees ($990 processing per adult, $270 per dependent child, $600 RPRF per adult) that apply to applications submitted after April 30, 2026.
The 186-occupation high-wage list represents one of the most targeted structural adjustments ever applied to the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System.
By tying additional CRS points directly to occupation-level wage data, IRCC is signalling a clear preference for candidates whose Canadian work experience or employment prospects align with occupations that contribute at higher economic value to the Canadian labour market.
Combined with the removal of the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers, these changes could meaningfully alter which candidates receive invitations to apply for permanent residence in the months ahead.
The pause in invitation rounds during the CRS recalculation underscores how significant the pool reshuffling is expected to be.
Candidates who have been building Canadian work experience in qualifying occupations without seeing corresponding CRS recognition may find November 3 to be a turning point in their immigration journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can a candidate earn high-wage CRS points for work experience gained in more than one eligible occupation?
Yes, IRCC allows eligible Canadian work experience to be combined across more than one high-wage occupation when calculating the additional CRS points. The 12-month minimum applies to total cumulative work experience in eligible high-wage occupations, not 12 months in a single NOC code. The points depend on how much qualifying experience the candidate accumulated at each wage level. For example, eight months in a tier-2 occupation and four months in a tier-3 occupation would qualify for 20 additional CRS points, not 40, because the candidate has not completed 12 months in occupations at or above the 1.5-times wage threshold.
Will the November 3 recalculation affect candidates who received an ITA before that date?
No, candidates who already received an Invitation to Apply before November 3 will have their applications assessed under the rules and CRS scoring that were in effect on the date their ITA was issued. The high-wage tier assigned at the time of invitation is locked in even if the occupation later moves tiers or is removed from the list entirely. Candidates with an outstanding ITA should continue preparing their permanent residence application using the 60-day submission deadline that applies under current rules.
Does a qualifying high-wage job offer still need to meet Express Entry program requirements beyond the wage threshold?
Yes, the job offer must meet IRCC’s validity requirements to qualify for CRS job-offer points. Separately, applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program may use qualifying job offers to meet program eligibility requirements, even when those jobs are not on the high-wage occupation list. The offer must be for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours per week) in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, and the employer must meet all applicable standards. Meeting the high-wage threshold adds CRS points but does not waive any of the underlying program eligibility conditions.
How often does IRCC plan to update the high-wage occupation list?
IRCC has not published a fixed update schedule for the high-wage occupation list, but the department has indicated it will refresh the list as new labour market data from Job Bank, the Labour Force Survey, and the Census of Population becomes available. Given that the list uses a three-year rolling data window (currently 2023 to 2025), the next major data refresh would likely incorporate 2024-to-2026 figures once 2026 data is fully compiled. Candidates should monitor the official IRCC page for any interim adjustments, especially following each new Census or Labour Force Survey release.
If my occupation is not on the high-wage list, can I still receive an Express Entry invitation?
Yes, the high-wage occupation list adds supplemental CRS points to eligible candidates but does not replace or override the existing Express Entry selection mechanisms. General draws, Canadian Experience Class draws, Provincial Nominee Program draws, and category-based draws for healthcare, trades, STEM, French-language proficiency, and other categories continue to operate independently of the high-wage scoring. A candidate whose occupation falls outside the high-wage list can still receive an invitation through any of these draw types based on their overall CRS score, provincial nomination, or category-based eligibility.
Fact-Checked: All high-wage occupation tiers, NOC codes, and CRS point values cited in this article were verified against the official IRCC high-wage occupations page and the 2026 changes to Express Entry points page as published on Canada.ca with a page date of October 16, 2026.
Disclaimer: Immigration rules and eligibility criteria can change at any time. Readers should consult a qualified immigration professional or review the official Express Entry program page on Canada.ca before making decisions based on the information in this article.
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