February 11, 2026 Edition
Today’s newsletter is brought to you by our trusted partner, Cigna Healthcare
Your Immigration Updates
Do international students get free healthcare in Canada? The answer may surprise you.
Some students get free access to Canada’s public healthcare system, while others have to pay a fee to access it. Others are not able to access Canada’s public healthcare system at all — and need to pay for private cover.
What this means is that costs for healthcare look very different for international students, depending on the university or college you choose.
Here’s the short summary:
Alberta, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories offer free access to public health care for international students.
BC, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador offer access to public health care but at varying costs.
Manitoba, Ontario, and Yukon do not offer access to public health care and require international students to get private coverage.
Access to healthcare in Quebec varies depending on whether you’re from a signatory country.
Keen to learn more about what your healthcare costs might look like in Canada, depending on where you live? Check out our deep dive into healthcare costs for international students.
Some of Canada’s provinces and territories have published their allocations for 2026. Each year, IRCC gives every participating province and territory a set number of PNP nominations. For 2026, the federal plan aims for 91,500 permanent resident admissions through the PNP, plus extra federal spaces for physicians and French-speaking newcomers.
As of February 2026, these jurisdictions have publicly confirmed their 2026 allocations:
Ontario: 14,119
Alberta: 6,403
British Columbia: 5,254
Saskatchewan: 4,761
Yukon: 282
So far, 30,537 nominations have been reported (as of February 11), with eight provinces and territories still to come. This looks low compared to the 2026 target, but IRCC can still meet its admissions goal by finalizing applications already in the system.
You can learn what these allocations mean for your 2026 PNP strategy and get our detailed insights here.
Immigration In The Media
Alberta’s government had quietly introduced changes that would mean some temporary workers (certain IEC work permit holders) would not be able to access the province’s public healthcare system. This change was never announced — it only came to light when workers tried to register for coverage or renew their health cards.
The government seems to have paused the proposed change ‘to review the policy’ after there was some public backlash.
We wanted to take this opportunity to remind all workers on temporary status that access to healthcare is managed at the provincial level, and changes like this can happen. It’s really important to understand Canada’s healthcare system, including what’s covered and what’s not. While this won’t protect your coverage if there are unexpected changes, it will empower you to act when it does. (Tip: The next step is private coverage if you can’t access Canada’s public system.)
Money Matters: Old School Money Advice You May Want To Ignore
The Toronto Star published a short guide covering old-school money advice that no longer applies. Here’s the advice the article says to ignore:
The advice: ‘Stay in one job for the long-term’. The reality: while job hopping too regularly can raise red flags for future employers, it can make sense to move positions more often (on average every four years) to expand your skillset and seek higher pay.
The advice: ‘Just buy a starter home’. The reality: With the cost of housing in Canada compared to average incomes, the average age of first time home buyers is getting higher (around 36-40, according to a recent Perspectives episode).
Plus, here’s what the experts in the article say you can do instead:
Note that not all debt is bad debt — while taking out loans for ‘toys’ like ATVs or buying vehicles with high monthly payments often isn’t the best move, having some debt and making regular payments can help to build your credit over time.
Start saving early for your retirement, usually in an RRSP or TFSA.
Consider putting your emergency savings in a TFSA (if it’s not otherwise maxxed out).
Not sure about how to use a TFSA as a newcomer to Canada? Check out our dedicated page to learn about who is eligible and how a TFSA can support your savings goals.
Career Moves: Canada’s Unemployment Rate Dropped in January 2026
Here’s what this month’s labour market data tells us:
Unemployment rate: 6.5%, down from 6.8% in December 2025.
Employment: -25,000 jobs.
Wages: Average hourly earnings up 3.3% year-over-year to $37.17.
Industries seeing gains: information, culture and recreation, business, building and other support services, agriculture and utilities.
Industries seeing losses: manufacturing, educational services and public administration .
Top provincial gains in employment: Alberta.
The takeaways for newcomers? The unemployment rate in Canada’s major cities has dropped almost everywhere compared to the same time last year. Overall, the rate of unemployment in Canada’s big cities is still high but newcomers with in-demand skills have reason to be optimistic.
Today's Tip: Where and Why to Watch the Winter Olympics
Canadian athletes have a long history of shining at the Winter Olympics — and this year’s Games in Milano, Italy are no exception. Even if you don’t usually follow sports, this is one event that’s hard to ignore.
Why? Because the Canadian Olympic spirit is ridiculously easy to fall for. The grit. The joy. The emotional moments that somehow make the whole country feel a little closer. Just check out these images put together CTV News.
If you want to dive in, it’s easy to watch. You can get a free login for CBC Gem and catch all the Winter Olympics action — whether you’re cheering for medals or just there for the vibes.
