Abramovich Immigration Law presents weekly news reviews, covering Canadian immigration policy developments, and providing you with accessible, precise information about regulatory updates. Stay informed through our official social media accounts for notifications on new policies and procedural changes that could affect your immigration process.

IRCC announced the Parents and Grandparents Program 2025 intake

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that the 2025 Parents and Grandparents Program intake will begin on July 28, with capacity for up to 10,000 complete sponsorship applications. Throughout a two-week period, IRCC will issue invitations specifically to potential sponsors who submitted interest forms in 2020 and have not previously received an invitation.

Applicants who receive invitations are required to submit their applications via either the Permanent Residence Portal or the Representative Permanent Residence Portal. For applicants not selected in this round, the Super Visa presents an alternative pathway, offering multiple entries valid for a 10-year period. This arrangement enables parents and grandparents to reside in Canada for extended durations of up to 5 years per visit, with the option to apply for in-country extensions for an additional two years without needing to depart from Canada.

Canada’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.9% in June 2025

Canada’s labour market showed signs of improvement in June 2025, with employment increasing by 83,000 jobs (+0.4%), marking the first rise since January. The unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 6.9%, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey. Core-aged workers (25-54 years) drove these gains, with men in this demographic gaining 62,000 jobs (+0.8%) and women adding 29,000 positions (+0.4%), thereby increasing their respective employment rates to 86.6% and 80.3%.

The wholesale and retail trade sector led industry growth, with 34,000 new positions (+1.1%), while the health care and social assistance sector added 17,000 jobs (+0.6%). Regionally, employment increased in Alberta (+30,000), Quebec (+23,000), Ontario (+21,000), and Manitoba (+8,500), but declined in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. Despite overall positive momentum, challenges persist for youth, with the student unemployment rate reaching 17.4% in June, the highest for this month since 2009, excluding pandemic years.

Canadian rental market eases as temporary residents depart

The Canadian rental market is experiencing a notable shift as temporary residents leave the country, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2025 Mid-Year Rental Update. Major housing markets, including Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, have reported asking rents that declined between 2% and 8% in Q1 2025 compared to the previous year. This softening is attributed to decreased demand from international students and foreign workers, coupled with increased housing supply across the country. Landlords are now offering incentives such as free rent periods and moving allowances to attract tenants.

Immigration policy changes have significantly impacted population growth, with Canada adding just 20,107 people in Q1 2025. The number of temporary residents fell by 61,111 during this period, creating a more favourable environment for newcomers seeking affordable housing. While overall housing affordability remains challenging with high rent-to-income ratios in major cities, the market adjustment offers potential relief. Rent control regulations vary by province, with Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island offering some form of tenant protection against excessive rent increases.

Ontario colleges lose 10,000 jobs due to international student cap

Ontario’s college system has shed approximately 10,000 jobs as a direct result of cuts to international student enrollment, according to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). The widespread job losses affect faculty members, support staff, and administrators across the province’s 24 public colleges. OPSEU attributes these cuts to the federal government’s recent cap on international study permits, combined with the province’s long-standing reliance on international student tuition to fund public post-secondary education.

Financial instability persists in Ontario’s college system as institutions struggle with substantial revenue shortfalls. Many colleges, where international students previously comprised more than half the student body and provided the majority of tuition income, have begun cancelling programs and reducing course offerings. OPSEU President JP Hornick defined the scenario as “devastating” for university staff. At the same time, the union calls for emergency support from both provincial and federal governments to prevent long-term damage to Ontario’s college infrastructure.

Court deadline looms for Ottawa’s resolution on Lost Canadians citizenship issue

The Federal Government faces a November deadline to address the “lost Canadians” issue through amendments to the Citizenship Act, with legal experts suggesting a fifth extension is unlikely. Bill C-3, introduced on June 5, aims to make the Act Charter-compliant by reversing the 2009 “first-generation limit” that prevents Canadian citizens born abroad from passing citizenship to their children, who are also born outside Canada. The Ontario Superior Court declared this limitation unconstitutional in December 2023, granting multiple extensions with the final deadline set for November 20, 2025.

The proposed legislation would automatically grant citizenship to those affected by the first-generation limit and introduce a “substantial connection test,” requiring parents to have spent a cumulative 1,095 days in Canada before passing citizenship to children born abroad. Opposition critics have questioned the non-consecutive nature of this requirement, while supporters argue it reflects modern global mobility. With Parliament resuming on September 15, legislators face pressure to advance the bill that previously died on the order paper when Parliament was prorogued in January 2025.

Four Canadian cities rank among the top 100 global destinations for international students in 2026

According to a recent assessment conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), renowned global higher education analysts, four Canadian cities have secured positions among the top 100 global destinations for international students. Montreal maintains the highest Canadian ranking at 18th position, with Toronto following at 22nd, Vancouver at 29th, and Ottawa at 80th. It is worth noting, however, that all four metropolitan areas have registered significant decreases compared to their 2025 standings, indicating a general decline trend observed across North American student destinations.

Canadian cities demonstrated exceptional performance in categories such as Student View and Student Mix, yet faced notable challenges with Affordability metrics, which considerably affected their overall rankings. Montreal, which is home to McGill University (ranked 27th globally), received strong scores for Student View (94.4) and Student Mix (91.5), but scored only 30.5 for Affordability. Similarly, Toronto demonstrated excellence in the Student View (93.1) and Student Mix (91.8) parameters, but received a low score of 17.4 for Affordability, underscoring the significant financial obstacles that international students face in Canada’s primary academic hubs.

Canada’s immigration system faces a crisis of credibility as public confidence wanes

Canada’s immigration system is facing unprecedented challenges as the federal government acknowledges the presence of up to 500,000 undocumented residents. This revelation comes amid growing concerns about criminal vetting processes, with reports indicating that 17,000 individuals with criminal convictions have been admitted. The system, once lauded for its fairness and effectiveness, now struggles with enforcement as tens of thousands of immigrants overstay visas annually without consequence, undermining public trust in immigration policies.

The Carney administration is currently focused on the essential objective of rebuilding trust in Canada’s immigration system. Proposed policy adjustments include aligning immigration levels with the nation’s infrastructure and economic capacity, enhancing security screening protocols, and ensuring that study permits are linked to recognized educational programs with demonstrated career opportunities. The primary focus is not on expanding immigration volume, but rather on developing frameworks that promote newcomer success while simultaneously addressing public concerns regarding healthcare access, housing availability, and infrastructure sustainability.

Abramovich Immigration Law offers comprehensive, tailored guidance through all Canadian immigration processes, ensuring your application receives the detailed attention necessary for success. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and let us help you achieve your Canadian immigration objectives.