Bengaluru
IRCC tightens work permit rules for foreign workers’ family members
On February 3, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced major changes to work permit eligibility for family members of temporary foreign workers. These adjustments involve restricting work permit access for the spouses of low-skilled foreign workers and dependents of all foreign workers. In addition, the new regulations now restrict work permit access to spouses of foreign workers in high-skilled occupations or critical sectors, requiring the primary worker to have at least a 16-month valid work authorization from the spouse’s application submission. Importantly, applications from family members of workers transitioning to permanent residency remain unaffected by these changes. This reform aims to better align the International Mobility Program (IMP) with Canada’s economic objectives and current labour market conditions.
#work_permits, #foreign_workers, #labour_market, #international_mobility, #skilled_workers, #temporary_workers, #ircc
Canadian universities face financial crisis as international student permits plummet
A severe 40% decline in international study permits issued in Canada during 2024 has created a financial emergency for postsecondary institutions, surpassing the government’s 35% reduction target. Universities Canada’s president, Gabriel Miller, likens the situation to “an earthquake hitting an education system already structurally weakened by years of underinvestment.” The impact is particularly stark in Ontario, where permit approvals dropped by 55%, with college student permits decreasing by approximately 60%. As the government aims for an additional 10% reduction this year, institutions face potential program cuts due to widening budget gaps.
#international_students, #university_funding, #study_permits, #canadian_universities
Canada averts trade war with U.S. for 30 days through the border security agreement
On February 3, 2025, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada has temporarily averted a trade war with the United States by agreeing to border security measures. Following a phone call with President Donald Trump, Canada will invest $1.3 billion to bolster border security through new helicopters, technology, and personnel aimed at combating fentanyl trafficking. This agreement came shortly after Mexico reached a similar deal to avoid U.S. import tariffs. The U.S.-Canada truce is set for 30 days, while Trump’s threat of a 10% tariff on China remains active. Meanwhile, Canada had been preparing retaliatory tariffs to counter the 25% duties threatened by Trump on various Canadian goods, including a 10% tariff on Canadian oil.
#Canada_US_tradetruce #border_security_agreement #trade_relations #US+Canada_partnership #trade_war_aversion