News. For Newcomers | May 21, 2026

With the NHL playoffs underway, the Montreal Canadiens are giving fans plenty to talk about on and off the ice. But this playoff run is not just a hockey story; it’s also an immigration story.

Many of the players helping power the Habs come from immigrant backgrounds or international families. Some moved to Canada from Europe as young athletes, while others are the children or grandchildren of immigrants who built new lives here.

From Juraj Slafkovský adjusting to life in Montreal to Arber Xhekaj becoming a fan favourite as the son of Albanian immigrants to Nick Suzuki carrying a deep Japanese-Canadian family history, these stories show how Canada’s game is shaped by people from around the world.

As Montreal pushes through the playoffs, the Canadiens’ lineup is a reminder that immigration is part of Canada’s past, present, and future.

Canada’s international student arrivals fell again in March 2026, reaching another record low. New IRCC data shows just 2,085 new study permit holders arrived that month, down sharply from previous years.

Temporary worker arrivals increased slightly from February, with 13,910 new work permit holders arriving in March. However, both student and worker arrivals remain far below 2024 levels as Canada continues efforts to reduce the temporary resident population.

The biggest takeaway: Canada is becoming more selective about new temporary residents, while still prioritizing pathways for people already in Canada to become permanent residents. For future students and workers, planning ahead and understanding the latest eligibility rules is more important than ever.

Express Entry is not the only pathway to permanent residence in Canada. While the RCIP program is much smaller than Express Entry, it offers a direct pathway to PR for a limited number of applicants.

Each participating community targets different priority occupations, so it is worth checking our updated RCIP guide to see whether your occupation is included in one of the community lists.

As Canada lowers immigration targets, some economists say slower job and GDP growth may be tied more to population changes than weak demand.

In a BNN Bloomberg interview, economist Don Drummond said Canada’s recent immigration slowdown is reducing labour force growth. That means slower employment growth, and even small job losses, could become more normal in the years ahead.

For newcomers, this helps explain why Canada’s job market may feel slower right now. It does not always mean employers are shutting down or that there are no opportunities, but it does mean competition could remain high in some sectors.

In a lower-immigration era, Canada may need stronger productivity growth and higher workforce participation to support long-term economic growth.

This newsletter is sponsored by our partner, Wise, a game-changing platform that makes sending money to and from Canada fast, transparent, and affordable. It has over 13 million global users, a user-friendly app, and it supports over 50 currencies.

Moving money to Canada can be more complicated and expensive than many newcomers expect. Between transfer fees, exchange rates, and delays, choosing the right provider can make a big difference when sending savings, paying tuition, or supporting family abroad.

Specialized platforms like Wise are popular alternatives to traditional banks because they offer transparent fees, real exchange rates, and faster transfers. Wise also supports more than 50 currencies and offers features like multi-currency accounts and digital wallets, which can help newcomers manage money across borders more easily.

If you’re preparing financially for your move, understanding how international money transfers work can help you avoid hidden costs and keep more of your money.

Young Canadians are job hunting, but a new CFIB survey shows many are not searching where small businesses are hiring.

While most young workers use online job boards, many small businesses still prefer hiring through personal connections, referrals, walk-ins, and school or co-op programs. The mismatch comes as youth unemployment remains high in Canada.

The takeaway for job seekers is not to rely only on online applications. Networking, reaching out directly to employers, visiting local businesses, and using school career services can all help you find opportunities that may never be posted online.

This is especially important for newcomers trying to build Canadian work experience and understand how hiring works in Canada.

Canada is a popular retirement option for Americans, but moving there is not as simple as packing up and crossing the border. Canada does not have a retirement visa, so most U.S. retirees stay as visitors, apply through family sponsorship, or use a super visa if they have children or grandchildren in Canada.

Retirees are also encouraged to carefully plan for healthcare coverage, taxes, and managing U.S. retirement savings while living in Canada. Visitors do not receive public health coverage, and U.S. citizens must still file U.S. tax returns even if they live in Canada.

If you're looking for private health insurance options for your time in Canada, we recommend getting a quote from Cigna Healthcare, for policies of 4 months or more, or BestQuote for short-term coverage.