Last Updated On 15 December 2022, 7:39 AM EST (Toronto Time)
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
What’s New In Canada
- New GST Payment to Taxpayers will be going out on October 5
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be sending out the second quarterly HST/GST payment on October 5, 2023, to the eligible Canadian taxpayers.
The GST/HST credit is a non-taxable amount granted to individuals and families with low and modest incomes four times a year to help balance the goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) that they pay.
Learn about
HST/GST Payment Eligibility
If you are a resident of Canada for income tax purposes at the beginning of the month in which the CRA makes a payment, you are entitled to this credit.
You must be at least 19 years old in the month before the CRA makes a quarterly payment.
If you are under the age of 19, you must meet at least one of the following requirements during the same time period:
- You currently have (or previously had) a spouse or common-law partner.
- You are (or were) a parent who lives (or was living) with your child.
How to get GST/HST Credit
To claim the GST/HST credit, as well as any relevant provincial and territorial credits, you must file a tax return for 2022, even if you did not earn any income in that year.
If you are a newcomer to Canada (international student, work permit holder, landed permanent resident), then you can claim the GST/HST credit via one of the below-listed two options:
If you do not have children,
Send Form RC151, GST/HST Credit and Climate Action Incentive Payment Application for Individuals Who Become Residents of Canada, completed for the year you became a tax-paying resident of Canada.
If you have children,
Fill out Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application, and send it in to apply for all child and family benefits. To capture your citizenship and residency information, as well as your Statement of Income, you must also fill out Form RC66SCH, Status in Canada and Income Information for the Canada Child Benefits Application.
How much HST/GST payment can you get?
For the 2022 base year (payment period from July 2023 to June 2024), you could receive up to:
$496: If you are a single person
$650: If you are married or have a common-law partner
$171 for each child under the age of 19How is GST/HST payment calculated?
If the CRA concludes that you are eligible for the GST/HST credit based on your 2022 tax return, you would have received a notification in July 2023.
This notification contains information on how much money you will receive as well as the information needed to determine the amount.
To estimate your GST/HST credit, you can use the official CRA Child and Family Benefits Calculator to see how much you will get.What are the GST payment dates?
The HST/GST payment is calculated using information from your 2022 tax return.
The CRA is paying these four quarterly payments on the below-listed dates:
July 5, 2023
October 5, 2023
January 5, 2023
April 5, 2024
When the fifth falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a federal statutory holiday, the payment is made on the last business day preceding the fifth.
If you don’t receive your payment within the 10 working days around the 5th of above listed schedule, then you can call CRA at 1-800-387-1193.When does GST come out in October 2023?
Next GST payment is going out on October 5, 2023. Eligible individuals can receive up to $496, couples can get $650 and an additional $171 if they have children.What government payments are in October 2023?
GST/HST payment on October 5, 2023
Ontario trillium benefit (OTB) on October 10, 2023
Advanced Canada workers benefit (ACWB) on October 12, 2023
Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP) on October 13, 2023
Canada child benefit (CCB) on October 20, 2023
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- India Canada Latest News and Updates | Ongoing Diplomatic Issue
This page enlists all the India Canada latest news and updates related to the ongoing diplomatic issue between the two countries.
We (INC – Immigration News Canada) are updating this page in real-time, as the situation is unfolding with official verified updates from both countries.
Navigation
October 3 Update
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “We’re not looking to escalate; as I’ve said, we’re going to be doing the work that matters in continuing to have constructive relations with India through this extremely difficult time.”
He also said, “It is important for us to have diplomats on the ground working with the Indian government there to support Canadians and Canadian families.”
October 2 Update
As per the Financial Times article on Tuesday, India has instructed Canada to repatriate 41 Canadian diplomats from India by October 10.
India has stated that there should be 41 fewer Canadian diplomats there than there are now at 62.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said earlier that there was a “climate of violence” and an “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada, where the presence of Sikh separatist groups has frustrated New Delhi.
PM Trudeau has continued his stand on allegations against India but has also said that they want to constructively work with the Indian government.
Previous Updates
September 25 Update
According to reports, India will deregister more than a dozen owners of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards for spreading pro-Khalistan and anti-India propaganda.
September 24 Update
On September 24, 2023, Canada again updated its travel advisory for Canadians, asking them to exercise a high degree of caution.
September 23 Update
We are only publishing or posting official statements as well as reactions in this ongoing India-Canada diplomatic rift.
There was actually no official commentary from both sides on the weekend until September 24, 2023.
September 22 Update
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau continues his stand, asking India to work constructively to get to the bottom of this matter.
PM Trudeau said, “Canada has shared the credible allegations that I talked about on Monday with India. We did that many weeks ago and we are there to work constructively with India. We hope that they engage with us so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious matter.”
Morning update:
Canadian government sources are saying that Canada is weighing a response to the visa suspension by India but has made no decision yet.
It is being reported that India is making an effort to get the U.S. on its side by inviting Joe Biden to be the guest of honour at India’s Republic Day.
Joe Biden has not yet accepted that invitation, but the Financial Times has reported that Biden did raise the Nijjar murder with Indian PM Narendera Modi directly when he met with him at the G20 Summit.
CBC News reports that there were several efforts to talk to India even before Prime Minister Trudeau travelled to India and met with Modi at the G20 summit.
Canada’s national security adviser, Jody Thomas, went there for four days in August and then again a couple of days before the G20.
Canadian government sources are saying that contrary to what the Indian government is saying in public, Indian authorities have not denied these allegations in private meetings.
Previous Updates
September 21 New Canadian Update
New Update: According to the latest report by CBC News, the Canadian government sources claim there is human and signal intelligence to back up the allegation, including messages between Indian officials and intelligence from an unnamed Five Eyes alliance member, but as of September 21, 2023, the Canadian government has not made the allegation public.
The U.S. has now said some words as a sigh of relief for Canada, urging India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mr. Sullivan stated that the United States has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to work with Canada to apprehend those responsible for the gangland-style death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
He also said, “We are in constant contact with our Canadian counterparts. We are consulting with them. We support the efforts that they are undertaking in this investigation and we have also been in contact with the Indian government.”
Mr. Sullivan told reporters. “I firmly reject the idea that there is a wedge between the U.S. and Canada. We have deep concerns about the allegations and we would like to see this investigation move forward and the perpetrators held to account.”
Morning Update:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues his stand on asking India to work with them in the investigation of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s case and Indian involvement.
Trudeau reiterated his government’s claim that it has “credible” intelligence that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
PM did not provide a definite answer on whether they will also stop processing Canadian visas in India.
The Canadian government is decreasing personnel levels at its diplomatic posts in India, citing concerns for the safety of its employees as bilateral tensions remain high.
The Department of Global Affairs also stated that it expects the Indian government to continue to protect its diplomatic staff.
“In light of the current environment of heightened tensions, we are taking steps to ensure the safety of our diplomats.”
With some ambassadors receiving threats on various social media platforms, Global Affairs Canada is examining its personnel complement in India, according to Global Affairs spokesman Jean-Pierre Godbout.
“As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust our staff presence in India.”
Mr. Godbout stated that Canada’s high commission, or embassy, in New Delhi, as well as Canadian consulates throughout the South Asian country, remain open.
“In the context of respect for Vienna Convention obligations, we expect India to provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we do for theirs here,” he said.
“Global Affairs Canada will continue to take all necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of all our personnel, including locally employed personnel, as well as our operations in India. Decisions are made based on a variety of considerations, including an employee’s professional profile and personal circumstances.”
Mr. Godbout refused to say how many Canadian employees are being reassigned from Canada’s embassies and consulates in India.
September 21 New Indian Update
The Indian High Commission and Consulate in Canada have temporarily halted processing visa applications for Canadians.
This is due to ongoing security threats being faced by Indian High Commission and Consulate in Canada, causing disruptions in normal functioning
An Indian government spokesman says this situation will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Furthermore, the Indian government has informed Canada to have parity in its mutual diplomatic presence.
The number of Canadian diplomats in India is very much higher than the number of Indian diplomats in Canada.
Details are being worked out and India expects Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence in India.
Our opinion on this latest update: It will be important to see the Canadian government’s response to India’s commentary on halting visas for Canadians.
If diplomatic presence in India is reduced, then it will definitely affect the processing of Canadian visas for Indians, including study visas, visitor visas, work visas, and permanent residency visas.
Stay tuned for the latest news and updates.
September 20 Canadian update
On September 20, Immigration Minister Marc Miller corrected his statement on date of Hardeep Singh Nijjar becoming a Canadian citizen, saying that Mr. Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on May 25, 2007.
He said, “Mr. Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on May 25, 2007, earlier than I stated below. The error in dates is my responsibility to assume. Again, nothing justifies the killing of Mr. Nijjar.”
Liberal Ministers face questions on the possible link between the Indian government and the June 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C.
Indian update on September 20
The Indian government issues a travel advisory for Indian nationals and Indian students in Canada, urging them to exercise the utmost caution in view of growing anti-India activities, politically-condoned hate crimes, and criminal violence in Canada.
The advisory said, “Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.”
They also asked Indian nationals and students from India in Canada to register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites or the MADAD portal, madad.gov.in
Canadian update on September 19
On September 19, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said they were not looking to provoke or escalate the situation with India but to encourage the Indian government to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.
PM Trudeau also asked the Indian government to take things seriously in this matter.
There was an ongoing viral question by people in Canada saying that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was not a Canadian citizen.
In response to this, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller first confirmed that Hardeep Singh Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on March 3, 2015.
In an interview, Stephen Brown, CEO of the National Council for Canadian Muslims and Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, called on the Canadian Government to do four more things
- Immediate recall of Canada’s Ambassador
- Start the process to expel India’s ambassador to Canada
- Cease all discussions of trade negotiations with India
- Immediate banning of the RSS organization in Canada and the expulsion of all of its Agents from the country
India’s First Response and September 19 update
The Indian government released an official statement rejecting all the allegations made by the Canadian government.
Furthermore, they also asked a senior Canadian diplomat in India to leave within the next five days.
Situation Worsens on September 18
The situation caught fire when Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced that they had expelled a top Indian diplomat from Canada.
Canada also updated their travel advisory for India, asking Canadians to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.
Previously, this issue got viral when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced possible allegations against Indian interference in Canada, with already fumes around Canada-India relations at the G20 summit.
On the first day of the House of Commons on September 18, he said that Canadian intelligence is actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Indian government and the killing of Canadian citizen and Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Diplomatic Commentary Began on September 10
The Canada-India issue of Khalistani Sikhs has always been a topic of discussion, but the situation got highlighted at the September G20 summit in India.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the issue of Indian interference in Canada, especially in relation to the killing of Sikh leaders on Canadian soil.
The situation was still good at that time, with the Canadian PM saying, “We recognize that India is an extraordinarily important economy in the world and an important partner to Canada.”
Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Sikh separatist from India who was active in the Khalistan movement. Nijjar was wanted by Indian authorities and declared a terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after allegedly plotting the murder of a Hindu priest in Punjab. On June 18, 2023, Nijjar was shot and killed in British Columbia.How will the Canada-India issue affect immigration?
The Canada-India issue may impact immigration between the two countries. It is advisable to stay updated with the latest news and official statements from the governments involved to understand the specific effects and any changes in immigration policies or procedures.
India has already indicated that they are halting the visa processing for Canadians in Canada due to service disruption.
Canada is yet to respond to this situation, but it does not seem to be in a position to halt visas for Indians.Is Canada suspending visas for Indians?
As of now, Canada has not suspended visas for Indians. According to Canadian government sources, Canada is considering a response to India’s visa suspension but has not yet made a decision.
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- Canada Sent 17,145 New PR Invites in PNP & Express Entry Draws in Sep 2023
Canada sent out 17,145 new permanent residency invitations in the month of September 2023 through Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws.
Compared to August 2023, Canada issued 7,575 fewer PR invitations in the month of September, with Ontario PNP sending only 2,677 invitations this time.
Summary of all the Canada PNPs and Express Entry draws | September 2023
Express Entry Draws
The IRCC held five Express Entry draws in September, inviting 8,300 people to submit applications for permanent residence (PR).
IRCC announced back-to-back ‘no program specified’ rounds of invitations for two consecutive weeks, issuing 6,200 ITAs.
Date Round type Invitations issued CRS score cutoff September 28, 2023 Agriculture and agri-food occupations 600 354 September 27, 2023 French language proficiency 500 472 September 26, 2023 No Program Specified 3,000 504 September 20, 2023 Transport occupations 1,000 435 September 19, 2023 No Program Specified 3,200 531 Express Entry draws September 2023 Furthermore, IRCC also introduced category-based Express Entry draws for transport and agriculture/food occupations for the first time ever.
Express Entry has issued a total of 86,048 invitations to apply for permanent residency so far in 2023.
Click here for all the Express Entry draws.
Ontario PNP Draws
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) announced six new provincial nominee program (PNP) rounds of invitations in the month of September.
In these rounds of invitations, OINP issued a total of 2,677 invitations for permanent residency, with the majority of these going to the Human Capital Priorities stream.
OINP Express Entry invitations
OINP Express Entry streams Date Invitations CRS score range Notes Human Capital Priorities stream September 26, 2023 1,696 350-462 Targeted draw for healthcare-related occupations French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream September 21, 2023 63 348-434 General draw French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream September 7, 2023 300 308-434 General draw OINP Express Entry draws OINP Expression of Interest Invitations
OINP Stream Date issued Invitations Score range Masters Graduate stream September 19, 2023 537 41 and above PhD Graduate stream September 19, 2023 71 40 and above Entrepreneur stream September 25, 2023 10 136 to 163 OINP EOI Draws Click here for latest OINP Draws
Quebec Arrima Draws
The Quebec Arrima draws in the month of September sent out a total of 2,451 invitations to apply for permanent residency in two rounds of invitations.
Quebec Arrima considered profiles having CLB level 7 in French and meeting the below-listed criteria in these draws:
Date Invitations Cutoff Score Description September 21, 2023 1,018 579 Targeted for 27
occupationsSeptember 7, 2023 1,433 586
GeneralQuebec arrima draws September 2023 Quebec has already issued 14,791 invitations to apply (ITAs) in the 14 Arrima rounds of invitations this year.
Click here for all the Quebec Arrima Draws.
Manitoba PNP Draws
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) sent out 2,292 permanent residency invitations in four PNP draws in September, as listed below:
Date Invitations Description September 29, 2023 42 A special immigration measure for Ukrainians September 28, 2023 1,072 Only for Skilled Workers Overseas category September 21, 2023 620 All the categories September 7, 2023 558 All the categories MPNP Draws 2023 Click here for all the Manitoba PNP draws.
British Columbia PNP Draws
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) sent out more than 834 permanent residency invitations during September 2023, as listed below:
Date Invitations Draw Type September 26, 2023 204 Targeted draws for Tech, ECE, Healthcare occupations September 19, 2023 225 General and targeted draws September 12, 2023 183 Targeted draws for Tech, ECE, Healthcare occupations September 6, 2023 222 General and targeted draws BC PNP Draws September 2023 Click here for all the BC PNP draws.
Alberta Express Entry draws
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) sent out only 476 invitations offering provincial nomination in four Express Entry draws in September, as listed below:
Date Invitations Draw selection criteria CRS Cutoff September 26, 2023 18 Dedicated Healthcare Pathway with Alberta job offer, CRS score 300 and above 311 September 14, 2023 142 Family connection and primary occupation in demand, CRS score 300-500 301 September 12, 2023 16 Dedicated Healthcare Pathway with Alberta job offer, CRS score 300 and above 327 September 12, 2023 300 Priority sector – Tourism and hospitality occupation with Alberta job offer, CRS score 300-500 383 Alberta Express Entry draws – September 2023 Alberta has issued a total of 3,487 invitations to apply in 37 Express Entry draws so far in 2023.
Click here for all the latest Alberta Express Entry draws and processing update.
Prince Edward Island PNP Draws
Prince Edward Island PNP sent out a total of 153 permanent residency invitations in September in just one round of invitations in the Critical Worker stream to individuals working for a PEI employer with a minimum EOI score of 55.
4 Business Work Permit Entrepreneur invitations were issued to profiles with a score of 80 or above.
In total, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) has issued 2,018 permanent residency invitations so far in 2023.
How many invitations have the IRCC Express Entry draws issued in 2023?
86,048 invitations to apply (ITAs) have been issued in 31 Express Entry draws so far in 2023.
- New Minimum Wage In Ontario and 5 Provinces Effective Today
Six Canadian provinces have implemented the new minimum wage effective today, October 1, 2023, raising the minimum bar to over $15 per hour.
The minimum wage rates in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island are now raised, benefiting thousands of workers in various industries.
The minimum wage is the fundamental income that employers are required by law to pay their employees.
Periodically, these rates are reviewed and adjusted to keep up with the cost of living and to ensure that employees are paid fairly for their labour.
Jump To
Province-Wise New Minimum Wages Effective Today (October 1)
1. Ontario Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Ontario has now increased significantly, from the current $15.50 to the new $16.55 per hour. $1.05 raise.
This modification has increased the incomes of approximately 900,000 workers in the province working on minimum wages, putting $2,200 more in their pockets.
The next raise for Ontarians is expected to come after 365 days on October 1, 2024, with an expected raise to $17.50 per hour.
The student minimum wage, which applies to those under the age of 18 who work 28 hours per week or less when school is in session or during summer vacation, will now rise by $1 per hour, from $14.60 to $15.60.
Homeworkers, who do paid work from their homes for companies, would see their minimum salary rise by $1.15, from $17.05 to $18.20.
Hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides will now earn $77.60 to $82.85 per day while working fewer than five consecutive hours, and $155.25 to $165.75 per day when working five or more hours.
2. Manitoba’s New Minimum Wage
Effective today (October 1, 2023), Manitoba has also raised the minimum wage from $14.15 to $15.30 per hour, thereby enhancing the lives of its workers.
Thousands of Manitobans who depend on minimum-wage jobs to support their families will now benefit from this decision.
This is the second time that Manitoba has increased the minimum wage in 2023. Previously, they increased the minimum wage from $13.50 to $14.15 on April 1, 2023.
The province will now resume yearly adjustments based on the province’s CPI, and the following hourly rate revision is anticipated on October 1, 2024.
3. Saskatchewan Minimum Wage Raise
Saskatchewan’s minimum wage goes from $13 to $14 per hour, effective today, a raise of $1.
The purpose of this modification is to improve the financial standing of the lowest-paid workers in the province.
Saskatchewan is on an annual schedule of revising the minimum wage and is expected to raise it further in 2024 to more than $15 per hour.
4. Nova Scotia Minimum Wage Increase
Individuals working at the minimum wage in Nova Scotia are set to hear this good news for the second time this year.
Nova Scotians will now not be paid less than $15 per hour, a raise of 50 cents since the last revision on April 1, 2023.
Individuals working at the minimum wage used to earn $13.60 per hour until October 1, 2022.
So now Nova Scotians working in minimum-wage jobs are earning $1.40 more for every working hour as compared to last year.
This minimum wage rate would now be updated annually on October 1, 2024, based on inflation plus an additional 1%.
5. Newfoundland and Labrador New Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador is now being raised for the second time this year.
Effective today, the new minimum wage will be $15 per hour, a raise of 50 cents from the last revision.
Previously, on April 1, 2023, the province increased the minimum wage from $13.70 to $14.50 per hour.
The official ministry is still considering the Minimum Wage Review Committee’s recommendation to increase minimum wage rates by inflation plus 1% per year after 2024.
6. Prince Edward Island Minimum Wage Increase
Effective today, October 1, 2023, the minimum wage in Prince Edward Island (PEI) is now $15 per hour, matching other Atlantic provinces.
Previously, PEI raised the minimum wage to $14.50 per hour from $13.70 per hour on January 1, 2023. So, PEI is also raising the minimum wage for the second time in 2023.
Minimum Wage Next Raise Schedule
Geography Minimum Wage
as of
October 1, 2023Next
Raise
DateNext
Raise
EstimateOntario $16.55 October 1, 2024 $17.65 Manitoba $15.30 October 1, 2024 $16.00 Nova Scotia $15.00 October 1, 2024 $15.50 Saskatchewan $14.00 October 1, 2024 $15.00 Newfoundland & Labrador $15.00 October 1, 2024 $15.50 Prince Edward Island $15.00 October 1, 2024 $15.50 Canada (Federally regulated private sectors) $16.65 April 1, 2024 $17.75 New Brunswick $14.75 April 1, 2024 (Expected) $15.50 Alberta $15.00 To Be Decided (TBD) TBD British Columbia $16.75 June 1, 2024 $17.75 Quebec $15.25 May 1, 2024 $16.25 Nunavut $16.00 April 1, 2024 TBD Northwest Territories $16.05 September 1, 2024 $17.00 Yukon $16.77 April 1, 2024 $17.50 Minimum Wage across Canada Actual Living Wages Across Canada
A living wage is the hourly pay that a worker must earn in order to satisfy their basic costs and contribute to their community.
The provincial government sets the minimum wage for all employers, but a living wage is not the same as the minimum wage.
However, the living wage shows what people need to earn to pay the actual costs of living in their neighbourhood, and it is based on community-specific data.
Below are the living wages for major cities and areas across Canada that were recorded in 2022. Data on 2023 living wages will be available in 2024.
City/Region 2022
Living
WagesGolden $25.56 Greater Victoria $24.29 Metro Vancouver $24.08 Revelstoke $23.60 Halifax $23.50 Fredericton $23.45 Durham $23.15 Halton $23.15 Peel Region $23.15 Toronto $23.15 Kelowna $22.88 Southern $22.55 Fort McMurray $22.50 Calgary $22.40 Saint John $21.60 Edmonton $21.40 Moncton $20.85 Nanimo $20.49 Northern $20.40 Lethbridge $20.30 Cape Breton $20.00 Guelph & Wellington $19.95 Waterloo Region $19.95 Niagara Region $19.80 Sudbury $19.70 Thunder Bay $19.70 Ottawa $19.60 Kamloops $19.14 Kingston $19.05 Muskoka $19.05 Peterborough $19.05 Hamilton $19.05 Winnipeg $18.34 London & Middlesex $18.05 Saskatoon $16.89 Thompson $16.25 Regina $16.23 Brandon $15.66 Living Wages Across Canada What is the student minimum wage in Ontario?
The student minimum wage, which applies to those under the age of 18 who work 28 hours per week or less when school is in session or during summer vacation, will increase by $1 per hour, from $14.60 to $15.60.How much is the BC minimum wage 2023?
$16.75 is the minimum wage in BC (British Columbia), effective June 1, 2023.What is the Ontario minimum wage in 2023?
$16.55 is the Ontario minimum wage effective October 1, 2023.
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- New Working Holiday Visa Draws Sent 2,281 Work Permit Invitations
The new Working Holiday Visa rounds of invitations sent out 2,281 invitations to apply for open work permits over the last 2 weeks, as updated on September 29, 2023.
14,833 spots are still available in the 2023 season for youngsters from 33 eligible countries under the Working Holiday Visa category of International Experience Canada (IEC).
Additionally, 179 invitations to apply for closed work permits have been issued under the Young Professionals category of the IEC.
Only 59 closed work permit invitations have been sent under the smallest category of IEC, the International Co-op (Internships).
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IEC 2023 has a processing time of 7 weeks, as per the most recent official update by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
This article enlists comprehensive details on:
- the country-wise invitations extended in the past 2 weeks,
- the total number of invitations issued in 2023 and annual Quota
- number of candidates in the pool and available spots, and
- the likelihood of obtaining an invitation in the upcoming week.
Country-Wise Working Holiday Visa Invitations
Country Invitations
Sent in Last 2 WeeksTotal Invitations
in 2023Candidates
In PoolAvailable
SpotsIEC 2023
QuotaChances of receiving an invite next week Andorra 0 26 0 14 25 Excellent Australia 177 10,205 122 unlimited unlimited Excellent Austria 0 277 42 0 168 Very Low Belgium 11 1,468 118 28 950 Very Low Chile 24 4,714 7,705 1,471 4,118 Very Low Costa Rica 6 2,060 1,041 6 1,150 Very Low Croatia 1 178 3 168 275 Excellent Czech Republic 38 1,209 20 277 1,000 Excellent Denmark 12 450 4 31 350 Excellent Estonia 3 144 5 25 110 Excellent France 0 16,885 15,245 88 12,700 Very Low Germany 126 5,776 59 727 4,490 Excellent Greece 13 428 13 99 378 Excellent Hong Kong 1 474 192 7 200 Very Low Ireland 117 8,201 87 5,834 10,500 Excellent Italy 97 3,039 71 268 1,855 Excellent Japan 96 8,334 500 22 6,500 Very Low Korea Republic 251 13,188 92 929 8,500 Excellent Latvia 0 79 37 0 40 Very Low Lithuania 0 398 90 2 185 Very Low Luxembourg 3 53 1 40 80 Excellent Netherlands 42 1,311 20 44 880 Excellent New Zealand 93 2,971 37 532 2,500 Excellent Norway 14 177 6 31 130 Excellent Poland 36 1,040 10 80 635 Excellent Portugal 62 1,344 17 882 1,750 Excellent San Marino 0 4 0 22 25 Excellent Slovakia 0 555 39 5 323 Low Slovenia 6 66 1 51 80 Excellent Spain 121 2,711 53 403 1,845 Excellent Sweden 22 551 2 296 580 Excellent Taiwan 318 6,269 1,480 462 3,425 Very Low United Kingdom 591 14,938 238 1,989 10,000 Excellent Total 2,281 109,523 27,350 14,833 75,747 Working Holiday Visa invitations Country-Wise Young Professionals Invitations
Country Invitations
Issued In
Last two weeksTotal
Invitations
in 2023Candidates
In PoolAvailable
SpotsIEC 2023
QuotaChances
of
receiving
an invite
next weekAustralia 7 193 4 unlimited unlimited Excellent Austria 0 14 0 7 10 Excellent Chile 23 540 10 73 130 Excellent Costa Rica 3 221 5 9 98 Excellent Croatia 2 15 1 15 20 Excellent Czech Republic 5 296 2 2 145 Excellent Estonia 1 17 2 2 10 Excellent France 77 3,622 56 449 2,550 Excellent France via Volontariat international en entreprise (VIE) 15 549 68 107 600 Excellent Germany 17 576 11 68 350 Excellent Greece 3 164 3 34 120 Excellent Ireland 2 149 0 124 150 Excellent Italy 5 203 3 57 130 Excellent Latvia 0 10 1 6 8 Excellent Lithuania 0 25 0 2 13 Excellent Luxembourg 0 3 0 8 10 Excellent Netherlands 8 178 2 19 120 Excellent Norway 0 11 1 9 15 Excellent Poland 1 91 2 74 110 Excellent Portugal 0 44 1 186 200 Excellent Slovakia 2 61 2 2 25 Excellent Slovenia 0 15 0 7 15 Excellent Spain 4 192 5 61 150 Excellent Spain via ICEX Vives 0 10 0 43 50 Excellent Sweden 2 43 0 84 100 Excellent Switzerland 1 288 0 3 200 Excellent Taiwan 1 172 2 10 73 Excellent Total 179 7,702 181 1,461 5,402 Young Professionals Invitations Country-Wise International Co-op (Internships) invitations
Country Invitations
Issued In
Last two weeksTotal
Invitations
in 2023Candidates
in poolAvailable
spotsIEC
2023
QuotaChances of receiving an invite next week Australia 0 1 0 Unlimited Unlimited Excellent Austria 0 2 0 0 2 Excellent Chile 0 7 0 1 2 Excellent Costa Rica 0 2 0 2 2 Excellent Croatia 0 0 0 5 5 Excellent Czech Republic 0 1 0 4 5 Excellent Estonia 0 0 0 5 5 Excellent France 55 4,088 45 464 3,150 Excellent Germany 2 122 1 100 160 Excellent Greece 0 1 0 2 2 Excellent Ireland 0 18 0 38 50 Excellent Italy 0 27 0 7 15 Excellent Latvia 0 0 0 2 2 Excellent Lithuania 0 0 0 2 2 Excellent Luxembourg 0 3 0 9 10 Excellent Norway 0 0 0 5 5 Excellent Poland 0 2 0 3 5 Excellent Portugal 0 3 0 49 50 Excellent Slovakia 0 0 0 2 2 Excellent Slovenia 0 0 0 5 5 Excellent Spain 0 5 0 3 5 Excellent Sweden 0 16 0 19 20 Excellent Switzerland 2 55 0 16 50 Excellent Taiwan 0 19 0 2 2 Excellent Total 59 4,372 46 745 3,556 International Co-op Invitations What is a Working Holiday Visa Canada?
Young people from 33 member countries can work and travel in Canada for any business thanks to the Working Holiday Visa for Canada program.
It is intended to encourage cross-cultural interaction and provide foreign guests with options for temporary work.
Throughout their visit, participants are able to work in a variety of capacities, which enables them to sustain themselves while travelling throughout Canada.
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- Canada Added 700,000 New Temporary Residents in 1 Year
On September 27, 2023, Statistics Canada unveiled the new data reporting number of temporary residents already in Canada on study permits, work permits, and asylum claimants.
This demographic data reveals a nearly 700,000 increase in the number of temporary residents year-on-year as of the second quarter of 2023.
We expect that this number could easily breach the 2.5 million mark by the end of 2023.
Reading Points
No Clear Pathway For Permanent Residency
These Canadian temporary residents (TRs) are facing uncertainty around options to get Canadian Permanent Residency (PR).
More than 1 million work permit holders in Canada are looking for permanent residency options through Canada’s economic immigration options.
However, the number of PR spots through these economic immigration are capped and quite less than number of these TRs in Canada.
Temporary Resident Type Q2 2023 Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q3 2022 Q2 2022 Total, asylum claimant 256,958 238,186 217,925 192,914 177,281 Work permit holders only 1,001,479 853,221 766,690 698,522 599,810 Study permit holders only 582,201 559,428 575,431 537,581 477,491 Work and study permit holders 273,850 240,653 227,937 213,758 189,862 Other (mainly refers to family members living with permit holders) 84,191 73,830 68,900 63,972 56,534 Total Temporary Residents 2,198,679 1,965,318 1,856,883 1,706,747 1,500,978 Furthermore, these temporary residents have to compete with international talent for the same number of PR spots.
Canada’s flagship program Express Entry has a specific category for individuals having Canadian Experience, but IRCC has not conducted any round of invitations specific for this category since 2021.
So this increase in number of temporary residents across Canada is due to less conversion of TRs to PRs forcing them to extend their stay by enrolling in study programs or gettting LMIA based work permits from within Canada.
Canadian government also introduced PGWP extension allowing internatioal students on a work permit after graduation to extend their status for another 18 months.
In layman’s eyes, Canada already has enough temporary residents to fulfill permanent residency targets for next 6-7 years if they don’t invite anyone from outside Canada.
However, Canadian immigration has now became more competitive with focus on giving permanent residency to individuals having experience in occupations with labour shortage, Francophones, and individuals with high level of education as well as 3-4 years of experience.
Internationally, educational consultants have already started advising new international students to avoid Canada and choose other developed countries given the economic slowdown and uncetainty around permanent residency options.
Province-Wise Number of Temporary Residents
Ontario has the highest number of temporary residents close to 1 million among all the categories.
Province Total Temporary Residents Asylum Claimants Work Permit Holders Study Permit Holders Both Work and Study Permit Holders Others (mainly refers to family members living with permit holders) Ontario 986,863 90,793 419,475 284,739 159,806 32,050 Quebec 470,976 146,723 200,522 63,799 38,858 21,074 British Columbia 400,964 11,384 196,259 138,434 38,848 16,039 Alberta 150,320 5,766 89,575 36,576 11,013 7,390 Manitoba 60,615 1,434 32,608 18,068 6,652 1,853 Nova Scotia 45,794 325 20,712 13,619 9,056 2,082 Saskatchewan 30,704 236 15,512 10,512 2,957 1,487 New Brunswick 27,458 188 13,864 7,476 4,626 1,304 Newfoundland and Labrador 12,911 73 6,063 5,017 1,186 572 Prince Edward Island 9,953 26 5,192 3,702 745 288 Yukon 1,446 0 1,120 217 80 29 Northwest Territories 567 7 490 38 20 12 Nunavut 108 3 87 4 3 11 Canadian Population Crossess 40 Million
Increase in temporary residents has also contributed to increase in overall Canadian population surpassing 40 million in July 2023.
More than 75% of the population reside in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia with Ontario being home to half of it.
Alberta recorded the highest percentage increase in population in 1 year as of July 2023.
Geography Q3 2023 Q3 2022 Year-on-Year Change Canada 40,097,761 38,939,056 2.98% Ontario 15,608,369 15,145,006 3.06% Quebec 8,874,683 8,672,185 2.34% British Columbia 5,519,013 5,356,284 3.04% Alberta 4,695,290 4,510,891 4.09% Manitoba 1,454,902 1,413,409 2.94% Saskatchewan 1,209,107 1,178,422 2.60% Nova Scotia 1,058,694 1,025,445 3.24% New Brunswick 834,691 809,568 3.10% Newfoundland and Labrador 538,605 531,583 1.32% Prince Edward Island 173,787 167,188 3.95% Yukon 44,975 43,905 2.44% Northwest Territories5 44,972 44,685 0.64% Canadian population How much is the population of Canada?
40,097,761 is the population of Canada as per latest official demographic data of Statistics Canada.
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- New Express Entry Draw For Agriculture & Agri-Food Occupations Is Now Out
Today, IRCC unveiled the new Express Entry draw, first-ever, for profiles with experience in agriculture and agri-food occupations.
Below are the full details of the targeted Express Entry draw for agriculture and agri-food occupations.
- Number of invitations issued: 600
- Rank required to be invited to apply: 600 or above
- Date and time of round: September 28, 2023, at 16:45:09 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 354
- Tie-breaking rule: June 12, 2023, at 10:23:21 UTC
With these new rounds of invitations, Canada will be able to attract the qualified people it needs, with a focus on applicants with expertise in the agriculture and agri-food industries, such as retail and wholesale butchers, farm supervisors, and agricultural service contractors.
This new Express Entry round of invitations targets individuals with at least 6 months of experience in one of the below-listed occupations.
82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
- Example job titles:
- Greenhouse supervisor
- Grounds maintenance contractor
- Groundskeeping supervisor
- Horticulture workers supervisor
- Interior plantscaping contractor
- Landscaping contractor
- Landscaping foreman/woman
- Landscaping supervisor
- Lawn care contractor
- Nursery foreman/woman
- Park maintenance supervisor
- Tree service contractor
82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- Example job titles:
- Artificial insemination service contractor
- Crop harvesting service contractor
- Farm foreman/woman
- Farm supervisor
- Feedlot foreman/woman
- Hog operation supervisor
- Livestock breeding service contractor
- Poultry farm foreman/woman
- Ranch foreman/woman
- Vegetable farm foreman/woman
63201 – Butchers – retail and wholesale
- Example job titles:
- Apprentice butcher – retail or wholesale
- Butcher – butcher shop
- Head butcher – wholesale
- Retail butcher
Our Expectation from this new Express Entry draw
We are expecting that the number of invitations may stay between 500 and 700, and the IRCC will be unveiling details of this draw tomorrow.
With only 3 occupations eligible for the Agriculture and Agri-Food round of invitations, we expect to see the lowest CRS cutoff score ever among the category-based Express Entry draws.
Canada maintains its commitment to attracting top talent from across the world and assisting in addressing the need for workers in agriculture and agri-food to boost the economy through the Agri-Food Pilot and category-based selection.
By giving priority to inviting qualified immigrants with past work experience in agriculture and agri-food positions, Canada hopes to address the growing need for talent and staff in critical roles that progress the country’s farming and food processing industries.
All The Express Entry draws – September 2023
Date Round type Invitations issued CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited September 28, 2023 Targeted for 3 Agriculture and Agri-food occupations 600 354 September 27, 2023 Targeted for profiles having
level 7 in French500 472 September 26, 2023 No Program Specified 3,000 504 September 20, 2023 Targeted for 10
Transportation
occupations1,000 435 September 19, 2023 No Program Specified 3,200 531 Express Entry draws September 2023 What is Express Entry?
Express Entry system is Canada’s most popular and fastest way of geting Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) through one of the programs managed by this application management system.
Individuals can immigrate to Canada through its Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and some parts of the Provincial Nominee Program.What are Express Entry category-based selections?
On May 31, 2023, former Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser announced the introduction of a new procedure called category-based selection, which will allow qualified immigrants with work experience in 82 occupations to have better odds of becoming permanent residents filling in the existing labour market gaps in one of the below listed sectors:
1. Healthcare Occupations
2. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
3. Trade occupations
4. Transport occupations
5. Agriculture and agri-food occupations
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- Canada Now Has The Lowest Job Vacancies Since May 2021
The new job vacancy data for Canada shows a decrease in available jobs by 43,100 (or 5.8%) to 701,300 in July, continuing a declining trend that began in June 2022.
In July 2023, there were 273,700 fewer job openings than there were a year earlier, registering a decline of 28.1%, as per the new Statistics Canada report released today, September 28, 2023.
The total number of job openings in July 2023 was the lowest at 673,400 since May 2021.
In July, Ontario (-123,900; -33.8%) saw the biggest year-over-year decline, followed by British Columbia (-38,400; -26.0%) and Quebec (-65,800; -26.6%).
On a monthly basis, the number of job vacancies also fell in Ontario by 27,700 (-10.2%) to 242,600 in July, following some variation in May and June.
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The number of open positions as a percentage of total labour demand (the total of filled and unfilled positions) is known as the job vacancy rate.
It dropped to 3.9% in July, the lowest level since February 2021.
The job vacancy rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points on an annual basis as a result of increases in payroll employment (+446,600; +2.7%) and decreases in vacancies (-273,700; -28.1%).
1.7 unemployed people were available for every open job vacancy in Canada in July 2023, an increase from 1.5 in June and 1.2 at the beginning of the year.
Since there was little change in the number of jobless people in July, the decline in job vacancies (-43,100; -5.8%) was primarily responsible for the increase in the unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio.
The job vacancy rate in accommodation and food services reaches its lowest level since January 2020.
Furthermore, the retail trade also records the lowest number of vacancies since January 2021.
The number of unfilled retail positions decreased by 10,800 (-12.8%) to 73,100 in July 2023, marking the lowest level since January 2021 (68,000) and the third consecutive monthly decline since March 2023.
In July, there were 139,200 open jobs in the health and social support sectors, which represented roughly 1 in 5 (19.9%) of all job openings across all industries. This represents a little change from the previous month.
Highest Job Vacancy Sectors in Canada
Sector/Industry Job Vacancies Job Vacancy
RateHealth care and social assistance 139,200 5.7% Retail trade 73,100 3.5% Manufacturing 54,300 3.3% Educational services 19,500 1.3% Accommodation and food services 79,500 5.7% Professional, scientific and technical services 41,400 3.3% Construction 61,800 5.0% Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services 43,200 4.9% Finance and insurance 21,300 2.5% Transportation and warehousing 37,900 4.4% Wholesale trade 28,500 3.3% Other services (excluding public administration) 32,000 5.4% Public administration{4} 15,800 2.8% Information and cultural industries 9,500 2.5% Arts, entertainment and recreation 11,600 3.6% Real estate and rental and leasing 9,700 3.2% Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 10,100 4.1% Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 7,600 3.5% Utilities 3,100 2.2% Management of companies and enterprises 2,200 1.7% Sector-wise job vacancy data Province-Wise Job Vacancies
Provinces and territories July 2023
Job VacanciesJuly 2023 Job
Vacancy rateOntario 242,600 3.5% Quebec 181,500 4.5% British Columbia 109,200 4.3% Alberta 80,100 3.8% Manitoba 23,700 3.8% Saskatchewan 22,200 4.3% Nova Scotia 17,100 3.9% New Brunswick 11,500 3.2% Newfoundland and Labrador 7,400 3.6% Prince Edward Island 2,900 3.9% Job Vacancies July 2023 Average Weekly Earnings in Canada Continues To Increase
Average weekly earnings increased by 0.8% (to $1,215) in July compared to a 0.4% monthly increase in May and June.
The two industries with the biggest gains in July were construction (+1.6% to $1,509) and public administration (+1.9% to $1,553).
July had a 4.3% year-over-year increase in average weekly earnings, which had increased by 3.7% in June.
Generally speaking, an increase in the average weekly pay can be attributed to a variety of variables, such as shifts in hours worked, job composition, and wage levels.
Provinces and territories July 2023 June 2023 July 2022 June to July 2023 % change July 2022 to July 2023 %change Nunavut 1600.99 1635.57 1522.96 -2.1 5.1 Northwest Territories 1593.03 1601.51 1542.77 -0.5 3.3 Yukon 1382.73 1361.82 1340.85 1.5 3.1 Alberta 1293.23 1281.12 1244.79 0.9 3.9 Ontario 1242.82 1228.02 1194.35 1.2 4.1 British Columbia 1230.44 1205.24 1162.26 2.1 5.9 Newfoundland and Labrador 1204.53 1205.60 1148.34 -0.1 4.9 Saskatchewan 1173.69 1164.86 1138.92 0.8 3.1 Quebec 1163.31 1157.72 1119.40 0.5 3.9 Manitoba 1104.05 1091.90 1056.31 1.1 4.5 New Brunswick 1102.90 1091.82 1070.83 1.0 3.0 Nova Scotia 1068.36 1070.35 1027.25 -0.2 4.0 Prince Edward Island 1019.61 999.88 979.69 2.0 4.1 Average Weekly Earnings in Canada How high is the unemployment rate in Canada?
Canada has the unemployment rate of 5.5% as of August 2023 after increasing by 0.5 percentage points from April to July.
- New IRCC Update Shows Surge In Canada Immigration Backlog
The new IRCC update on Canada immigration backlog reveals a 5.25% increase in the backlog of applications under processing, as per data updated on September 26, 2023.
Every month, IRCC updates this backlog data for the processing inventory they had at the end of the previous month. So this data is the most recent and accurate figure noted on August 31, 2023.
Temporary residency application processing inventory has now decreased by 6.11% from 1,346,200 applications to 1,264,000 compared to the previous IRCC backlog update.
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Temporary residency applications within IRCC service standards dropped by 14.52%, with most of them converting into backlogs, with the temporary residency backlog number rising by 11%.
Conversely, the backlog for citizenship applications has dropped drastically by nearly 11% as compared to the last update.
Backlog number for permanent residency residency applications registered only 0.17% increase; although, there have been increase in the processing inventory by 2.3%.
New IRCC Update On Processing & Backlog
Application Type Overall Processing
Inventory As of August 31Overall Processing
Inventory As of July 31Difference Citizenship 288,700 296,900 -2.76% Permanent Residence 646,000 631,500 2.30% Temporary Residence 1,264,000 1,346,200 -6.11% Total 2,198,700 2,274,600 -3.34% IRCC Processing inventory 2023 Application
TypeBacklog Percentage Change Within
Service
StandardsPercentage Change Citizenship 60,700 -10.60% 228,000 -0.44% Permanent Residence 291,000 0.17% 355,000 4.11% Temporary Residence 493,000 10.99% 771,000 -14.52% Total 844,700 5.25% 1,354,000 -8.02% IRCC Backlog as of August 31 
All The IRCC Backlog Updates in 2023
Backlog Update
DateApplications
In BacklogTotal Applications
Under ProcessingAugust 31, 2023 844,700 2,198,700 July 31, 2023 802,600 2,274,600 June 30, 2023 801,000 2,264,000 May 31, 2023 820,000 2,248,000 April 30, 2023 809,000 2,006,000 March 31, 2023 896,300 2,017,700 February 28, 2023 910,400 1,962,600 January 31, 2023 974,600 1,944,500 Canada Immigration Backlog – 2023 What are the IRCC backlog projections by the end of 2023?
The official IRCC estimates for 2023 predict that backlogs will continue to shrink month by month.
The IRCC has released its official backlog forecasts to the end of October 2023 for the following categories of applications:
20% backlog for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP via Express Entry) and Federal High Skilled, including Express Entry.
Applications for citizenship and spousal sponsorship are backlogged by 19–24%.
20% for work visas and 9% for study visas.
34% for visas for temporary residence or travel.
Please note that if the percentage is 20% or below, then IRCC is fulfilling the service standards for that particular application type.What is the difference between backlog data and IRCC Service Standards?
Understanding the IRCC’s position on the distinction between service standard data and backlog data is crucial.
As an illustration, it usually takes a year to complete an application for spousal sponsorship. If an application is being handled and the 12-month time limit hasn’t been reached, it is “NOT” considered to be in a backlog.
IRCC will consider this as a part of regular processing instead. That spousal sponsorship application would only be considered backlogged if its processing time exceeded the 12-month mark.
The immigration department intends to process 80% of the filed applications in accordance with these service standards.
To learn more about the service standards of the IRCC, click this link.What is the latest update on the IRCC backlog in 2023?
As of August 31, 2023, the IRCC was processing 2,198,700 applications for citizenship, immigration, and visas.
The latest IRCC update on Canada immigration backlog reveals a 5.25% increase in the backlog of applications to 844,700 as of August 31, 2023, as compared to 802,600 as of July 31, 2023.
The backlog for applications for citizenship and permanent residency decreases by over 5% per month, while applications for temporary residency rise by 4.27%.
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- New Ontario Express Entry Draw Invites 1,696 Profiles For PR
Today, a new Ontario Express Entry draw sent out 1,696 invitations for permanent residency under the Human Capital Priorities stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
Valid Express Entry profiles created between September 26, 2022, and September 26, 2023 with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 350 and 462 are receiving an invitation to accept provincial nominations from Ontario.
Furthermore, this OINP HCP draw targeted profiles with primary experience in one of the 5 healthcare occupations listed below.
- NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
- NOC 31300 – Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
- NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
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Provincial nomination increases the CRS score by 600 points, so, in simpler words, these profiles now have 45 days to accept the invitation and boost their CRS score.
Invited profiles accepting this invitation will then have a total CRS score of 969–1038, making their selection guaranteed in the next IRCC Express Entry draw.
OINP selects the profiles directly from the Express Entry pool of active profiles, usually having the destination province set as Ontario.
There is no separate process to apply to receive a PNP invitation in the Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream, but you need to meet the HCP eligibility criteria.
OINP HCP Eligiblity Criteria
Must have
- A valid Express Entry profile under Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
- Education level equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor’s or higher (Candidates outside Canada must have equivalent Education Eredential Assessment (ECA).
- CLB level 7 or higher in the English or French proficiency test. Click here for the CLB-level equivalency chart for IELTS/CELPIP/TEF/TCF.
- Enough settlement funds to support yourself and your dependent family members. You can prove this with a bank statement, ongoing employment in Ontario, or a job offer in Ontario.
- Intention to live in Ontario, which can be proved by one or more things listed below:
- Employment in Ontario
- job offer or applying for or interviewing for jobs in Ontario
- study enrollment in Ontario
- leasing or owning property in Ontario
- visiting Ontario
- having professional networks and affiliations, family ties and personal relationships in Ontario
Ontario Express Entry Draw 2023 summary
OINP Express
Entry StreamInvitations CRS Score
RangeHuman Capital Priorities stream 14,091 350-516 French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream 1,490 250–516 Skilled Trades stream 7,512 291–489 OINP Express Entry Draw 2023 Summary All The OINP HCP Draws 2023
Date Invitations CRS score range September 26, 2023 1,696 350-462 August 11 – 16, 2023 2084 473-516 August 16, 2023 751 473-495 July 20, 2023 902 458-462 July 20, 2023 159 458-462 July 6, 2023 748 479-485 May 8, 2023 2,349 427-482 May 5, 2023 1,863 475-482 March 10, 2023 815 479-489 March 8-9, 2023 822 469-489 February 2, 2023 1,127 481-489 February 2, 2023 775 476-489 All the OINP HCP Draws 2023 When was the latest OINP Express Entry draw?
The latest OINP Express Entry draw was on September 26, 2023, which invited 1,696 Express Entry profiles with a CRS score between 350 and 462 and experience in one of the below-listed 5 Healthcare occupations:
NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
NOC 31300 – Nursing coordinators and supervisors
NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
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- Ontario Drive Test Pass Rates | Latest Location Wise List
This article provides the latest Ontario drive test pass rates for full G and G2 driving licenses for all major cities in the province.
It is always recommended for your own safety to learn all the driving rules and only take a driving test once you are confident and fluent with driving on Canadian roads.
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Location-Wise Ontario drive test pass rates
The best drive test locations for the G2 and G License Road Test in Ontario based on pass rates are:
Drive Test Centre G Full Road Test G2 Road Test Espanola 93.00% 79.00% Kapuskasing 91.00% 79.00% Sudbury 89.00% 86.00% Kirkland Lake 88.00% 73.00% Sault Ste. Marie 88.00% 89.00% Kenora 84.00% 93.00% Timmins 83.00% 75.00% Huntsville 82.00% 73.00% Winchester 81.05% 80.00% Thunder Bay 81.00% 80.00% Belleville 80.00% 78.00% Chatham-Kent 80.00% 73.00% Dryden 80.00% 81.00% Cornwall 78.00% 64.00% North Bay 78.00% 77.00% Fort Frances 77.00% 72.00% Sarnia 77.00% 76.00% Barrie 76.00% 70.00% Orillia 75.00% 74.00% Ottawa Walkley 75.00% 70.00% Woodstock 75.00% 65.00% Kingston 72.00% 74.00% Brantford 71.00% 65.00% Lindsay 71.00% 68.00% Oshawa 71.00% 64.00% Stratford 71.00% 76.00% Bancroft 70.00% 79.00% Clinton 70.00% 65.00% Renfrew 70.00% 58.00% Burlington 69.00% 64.00% Hawkesbury 69.00% 74.00% London 69.00% 69.00% Peterborough 69.00% 62.00% Walkerton 69.00% 68.00% Windsor 69.00% 59.00% Kitchener 68.00% 69.00% Owen Sound 67.00% 63.00% Simcoe 67.00% 74.00% Smiths Falls 67.00% 63.00% St. Catharines 67.00% 69.00% New Liskeard 66.00% 60.00% Ottawa Canotek 66.00% 68.00% Tillsonburg 66.00% 54.00% East York 65.00% 56.00% Toronto Metro East 65.00% 56.00% Pembroke 64.00% 64.00% Guelph 63.00% 63.00% Orangeville 63.00% 63.00% Newmarket 62.00% 74.00% Hamilton 61.00% 62.00% Brampton 59.00% 47.00% Mississauga 57.00% 48.00% Oakville 55.00% 57.00% Toronto Downsview 55.00% 48.00% Toronto Port Union 54.00% 53.00% Toronto Etobicoke 47.00% 51.00% Ontario G or G2 test pass rates Just FYI, Guelph is the most favourite location for most of the driving instructors in the Brampton and Etobicoke Area, given the highway maximum speed of 80 km/h and the easily predictable route.
Making an informed choice on where to take your G2 and G road tests is possible now that you are aware of some statistics about the pass rates for various locations across Ontario.
Factors that affect G or G2 driving test
Several factors can affect the pass rates at Ontario DriveTest locations.
1. Road Test Location: While some testing facilities are located in crowded urban areas, others are in more serene rural settings.
Since driving in congested city traffic is frequently more difficult than driving in a serene rural environment, this may have an impact on how demanding the test is.
Furthermore, highway speed limits vary depending on the location; for example, Highway 427 has a speed limit of 100 km/h, but a highway in Guelph has a speed limit of 80 km/h.
2. Popularity: Some centres could have a reputation for being more forgiving or more challenging, which may affect their pass rates due to increased or decreased test taker volume.
3. Instructor and school quality: The calibre of driving instructors greatly influences students’ performance on exams.
Some instructors may not adequately prepare their students for the challenges of the test.
Guide to get Driver’s License in Ontario
What is the easiest location to give a driving test in Ontario?
Espanola and Kapuskasing have the highest success percentages for the full G Road tests, with pass rates above 90%, while Kenora and Sault Ste. Marie have the highest pass rates for the G2 road test.
However, the actual experience can vary widely based on a variety of circumstances, including personal abilities, knowledge of the regulations, and the state of the roads on the test day.What are the best places to take your G or G2 road test in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)?
East York and Toronto Metro East have the highest pass rates in G2 and the full G driving test in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).What errors are permitted in the Ontario G2 test?
The precise number of permitted errors isn’t fixed, though; it depends on the kind and seriousness of the errors.
Small driving mistakes are usually acceptable, but any reckless behaviour, disregard for directions, or infraction of the law will result in failure right away. Additionally, the total number of small errors must stay within allowable bounds, which may differ based on the evaluator’s discretion.What is the full G driving test pass rate in Brampton?
Brampton has a pass rate of 59% for the full G driving test and 47% for the G2 driving test.Which locations have the highest G2 passing rate in Ontario?
Kenora (93%), Sault Ste. Marie (89%), Sudbury (86%), Dryden (81%), and Winchester (80%) have the highest G2 passing rates in Ontario.
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- Universal Eye Care Deemed Essential for Canadians
Today, Canadians are facing a unique health crisis that continues to baffle researchers and plague the nation’s healthcare system.
Over eight million citizens are living with at least one of the following major blinding eye diseases: age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
But despite 75% of visual impairment being avoidable when detected and treated early, over 1.2 million Canadians are living with vision loss.
This has spurred the country’s vision health stakeholders to urge the Government of Canada to support eye care in its federal budget, seeing as the total cost of vision loss in Canada was $32.9 billion in 2019 and is expected to balloon to $56 billion in 2050.
More importantly, blindness can negatively impact a person’s financial health and sense of independence.
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So, if a simple and typically inexpensive eye exam can prevent a debilitating and expensive condition such as blindness, why are more and more Canadians suffering from it?
There are various factors at play here, such as the ripple effects of the global pandemic, accessibility to doctors, and the country’s rapidly aging population.
There is a clear and immediate need to bridge the gap between those at risk for vision loss—older adults aged 55 and above—and the eye care programs they sorely need.
Vision issues faced by Canadians
Most of Canada’s population is concentrated in urban areas, resulting in an uneven distribution of eye doctors.
A 2020 study found that the average distribution of optometrists was only 1.70 per 10,000 people.
In some remote areas, low vision care was attributed to a lack of access to government-insured eye doctors.
Because optometrists can detect and diagnose vision problems before they progress, it’s critical to address this issue.
That said, even adding more eye doctors and access to available coverage in certain areas may not help matters.
According to Clearly’s study on Canadian vision care, almost half of Canadians regularly experience vision issues, but 34% of Canadians are long overdue for an eye exam.
Their reported symptoms included blurred vision, floaters, and glare at least a few times per month.
This is concerning because plenty of eye diseases can progress without one noticing vision changes; seeing actual changes in vision merits an eye exam all the more.
However, there is an even more vulnerable group that the health sector needs to pay closer attention to: Canadian immigrants.
Immigrants and eye care
There are several reasons Canadian immigrants, in particular, need eye care. First, it’s important to note that diabetes is linked to vision loss, particularly macular edema and retinopathy.
Second, the number of Indians who became Canadian permanent residents increased by 260% from 2013 to 2022.
In a study of over 1.7 million immigrants to Canada for ethnic differences in prediabetes incidence, South Asians were the highest risk group, with 47.9% incidence in the 50-64 year age range.
That means this ethnic group has a significantly higher risk of eye problems among the current pool of immigrants.
Therefore, governments should not only make blanket changes to eye care policies but also provide special attention to minorities and the Canadian provinces where their population incidence is higher.
Some provinces give Canadian immigrants access to primary healthcare as soon as they land, while in major cities, it may take up to three months.
Nevertheless, it appears that access is not a concern. New research published in BMC Primary Care has found that recent immigrants are less likely to have a family doctor, which means a lack of familiarity in a new country may impact people’s willingness to see even a general physician, much less an eye doctor.
To avoid further burdening the healthcare system and worsening the country’s vision crisis, addressing seemingly minor barriers like language, transportation, and a sense of belonging may be necessary to encourage immigrants to prioritize their eye health.
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