News. For Newcomers | February 19, 2026

IRCC has held its first-ever Express Entry draw for physicians, issuing 391 invitations to doctors with Canadian work experience. The CRS cut-off was just 169 – the second-lowest score ever in Express Entry history. In reality, that score was likely somewhat arbitrary, since physicians eligible under this category would almost certainly have CRS scores well above 169.

While the draw itself was small, it shows a clear push to get more physicians into Canada as permanent residents, as the country continues to face a serious doctor shortage. While it’s still too early to predict how often we’ll see physician-specific draws, this could signal more targeted rounds ahead –especially for candidates with Canadian work experience in high-need occupations.

We’ve put together a full breakdown of the draw details, key data, trends, and what it could mean for your PR plans this year.

IRCC has released new 2025 permanent resident admissions data, and it shows Canada didn’t land exactly where it first planned. But the shift aligns with the government’s new direction: slower growth, greater focus on people already in Canada, and a larger role for provinces. 

What to know from the numbers:

If you’re planning your next step, the safest bet in 2026 is still to focus on pathways that reward Canadian work or study experience, and keep an eye on provincial programs, because they’re playing a bigger role than before. 

Ontario is trying to plug a big funding hole at its colleges and universities, and the international student cap is a major reason. After two years of lower international enrolment, schools have lost a lot of tuition revenue. Now, Ontario says it will invest $6.4 billion in post-secondary education over the next four years. At the same time, the province has ended its long tuition freeze, allowing domestic tuition to rise by up to 2% a year over the next three years.

This means local students may end up paying more, even though the problem started with lost international student revenue. And across Canada, some schools are already cutting programs, laying off staff, or even closing campuses to stay afloat.

The student cap isn’t just changing campus life – it’s changing school budgets, tuition costs, and what programs are available.

Ontario transit systems are seeing an unexpected ripple effect from the international student cap, with fewer people on buses and trains.

Global News reports that after ridership bounced back strongly in places like Brampton, Mississauga, and Waterloo Region, it started dropping again as international student numbers fell. Mississauga says student ridership dropped 24%, and Waterloo’s Grand River Transit reported millions fewer rides in 2025.

Now, some cities say they may need to rethink routes that mainly serve campuses and student-heavy neighbourhoods. The goal isn’t to cut transit across the board – it’s to adjust service to match where demand is shifting.

Ontario ran two new Employer Job Offer draws on February 18, issuing 951 invitations to foreign workers and 453 to international students in skilled trades-related jobs (a total of 1,404 ITAs), bringing Ontario’s 2026 OINP invitation count to 3,229.

If you’re paying rent on time every month, you might be able to use those payments to help build your credit score.

In the past, rent didn’t count toward your credit in Canada, only things like credit cards or loans did. But now, some services let you report your rent payments to a credit bureau (like Equifax). That means your on-time rent could help improve your payment history, credit history, and credit mix, three key parts of your credit score.

This can be especially helpful for newcomers who arrive with no Canadian credit history.

A few things to keep in mind:

If you’re already paying rent every month, you might as well see if it can work for you.

Tap into Canada’s hidden job market, because many roles get filled before they ever hit a job board. This means getting early access to roles, instead of competing with the masses applying through job boards.

Here's how:

Good news for newcomers who want to explore on a budget: the Canada Strong Pass is being renewed for summer 2026.

After launching in summer 2025 and returning over the winter holidays, the federal government has confirmed the pass will run again from June 19 to September 7, 2026.

The pass gives you free or discounted access to national parks, museums, and even some rail travel. There’s no registration required – you just show up at participating locations and get the deal.

It’s open to everyone in Canada, including international students, work permit holders, and visitors. Kids get in free at many places, youth (18–24) get large discounts, and some Parks Canada pass holders will even get extra time added to their passes.

If you’ve been waiting for a cheaper way to see more of Canada, this summer might be your chance.