News. For Newcomers | April 30, 2026

A new Statistics Canada report shows that many recent immigrants in Canada are struggling to find a regular health care provider.

Key highlights:

If you’re new to Canada, it’s worth looking for a regular health care provider as soon as you can, since waitlists can be long. The good news is access often improves with time, with 85% of longer-term immigrants reporting they have one.

Canada’s Express Entry pool remains very competitive, with 234,452 candidates as of April 26, 2026. Most people are grouped in the 401–500 CRS range, especially 451–500, which alone has over 73,000 candidates. This range has stayed fairly stable.

At the same time, profiles in the 401–450 range saw a decline, likely because of the 4,000 French language ITAs issued on April 15 at a 419 point cut-off.

For many candidates, even a small increase in CRS score can make a difference. Those with lower scores may need more substantial changes, such as gaining more experience or improving language test results, to become competitive.

Canada is making a big push to train more skilled trades workers, but Ottawa’s own numbers show the shortage is much bigger than one program can fix.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will need “more than 1.4 million additional trades workers by 2033,” while the new federal plan aims to train 100,000 workers over five years.

If Canada wants to build more homes, roads, infrastructure, and major projects, it needs enough workers to get the job done. Economist Trevin Stratton called the plan “definitely a step in the right direction,” but said “more will probably be needed.”

For newcomers, this is worth watching. Skilled trades could remain a strong career path in Canada, especially in construction, electrical work, welding, plumbing, and other in-demand fields. But the path into these jobs is not always simple. Carney said the system can be “tough to start” and “confusing to start,” with too few training spots and a long certification process.

Today is your last chance to file your taxes before the April 30, 2026 deadline at 11:59 PM (local time), and many Canadians are still behind, according to a new H&R Block survey.

Key details:

As H&R Block notes, many miss out on money simply by not filing, so even at the last minute, it can still pay to file. You can use H&R Block to file quickly and accurately today.

Canada’s 2026 Spring Economic Update puts a big focus on skilled trades jobs and making life more affordable.

Key highlights:

For newcomers, this means more job opportunities in trades like construction and electrical work, along with some future relief on living costs.

Picking health insurance in Canada isn’t just about finding the cheapest plan. While public healthcare covers many basics, it doesn’t include everything – like dental, vision, prescriptions, and more. That’s why many newcomers and temporary residents rely on private insurance.

When comparing providers, it’s important to look beyond the monthly cost. Check what services are covered, how much the plan will actually pay, and whether you’ll need to pay upfront or can use direct billing. You should also review waiting periods, coverage limits, and whether pre-existing conditions are included.

This guide walks you through how to compare health insurance plans so you can choose coverage that fits your needs, budget, and time in Canada.

If you’re looking for private insurance for your time in Canada, we recommend getting a quote from our trusted partner, Cigna Healthcare, if you’re staying 4+ months, or BestQuote if you’re looking for shorter-term coverage.