What changed lately in Halifax, Toronto and Calgary, from official and trusted sources.
The OINP changed how Canadian work earnings are scored in the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, effective October 5. Registrants with CRA-verified earnings of $80,000 or more in any single year within the past five years now get 10 points. The change applies automatically to existing registrations.
This piece looks at referendum Question 1, which asks whether Alberta should take more control over immigration to lower it, put economic migrants first and give Albertans priority for new jobs. A yes vote would not change any law on its own, but it could shape future provincial policy toward newcomers.
Premier Danielle Smith said the province is considering charging temporary residents a health-care premium of about $1,900 per worker, linked to a question on the October 19 referendum. Nothing has been decided yet. The proposal would mainly affect temporary workers, international students and their families.
Alberta's Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) received 200 more provincial nomination spaces from IRCC, bringing its 2026 total to 6,603. The change affects foreign workers and graduates in Alberta who are waiting in or applying to AAIP streams.
Since September 1, 2026, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program charges an application fee when a candidate's Expression of Interest is selected for assessment. The fee is $1,000 for the worker streams and $2,000 for the Entrepreneur stream, it does not change with the number of dependants, and it is generally not refundable. Submitting an Expression of Interest is still free, and the Atlantic Immigration Program has no provincial fee.
On August 4, Ontario opened its Expression of Interest portal for the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream, which replaced the eight earlier OINP streams that closed in June 2026. The portal covers job offers in all TEER categories. It affects foreign workers and international graduates in Ontario who want provincial nomination for permanent residence.
IRCC has paused new intake under the Parents and Grandparents Program and will not accept new interest-to-sponsor forms until further notice. Applications already submitted will still be processed, with up to 15,000 admissions planned for 2026. The super visa for visiting parents and grandparents is not affected.
For one time only, Nova Scotia widened who it will pick under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program. The change covers people already living and working in the province whose work permits expire in 2026 or earlier and who sent an Expression of Interest by June 30, 2026. Candidates must also meet one of five conditions, such as working in a key sector, having graduated from a Nova Scotia school, living outside Halifax Regional Municipality, or earning above set hourly wages. Meeting a condition does not guarantee a nomination.
Summaries are written by MoreLife. Always check the original source before making decisions.
