Today’s newsletter is brought to you by our trusted partner, Rentals.ca

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab has defended Canada’s plan to grant permanent residence to up to 200,000 additional people in 2027, following criticism over the government’s immigration targets.

Diab emphasized that these are people already living and contributing to communities across Canada, rather than new arrivals. “These are people, these are not numbers,” she said.

The initiative includes 100,000 spaces for workers already in Canada and their eligible family members, with provinces playing a greater role in selecting candidates, and another 100,000 spaces for humanitarian and family-related applicants.

Importantly, this is not a new immigration program. The government will use existing pathways, with some additional spaces helping to clear application backlogs.

Could French-language Express Entry draws remain a major pathway to Canadian permanent residence in 2027?

Canada has increased its Francophone immigration target outside Quebec to 9.5% in 2027, aiming to welcome 31,825 French-speaking permanent residents.

But how many Express Entry invitations could that mean? Based on recent draw trends and immigration data, we predict around 44,000 French-language Express Entry invitations in 2027, with a likely range of 38,000 to 57,000.

That could mean 9 to 11 French-language draws, with approximately 4,000 to 5,000 invitations each.

However, these are forecasts, not confirmed IRCC plans, and the number of invitations could change.

After years of not speaking French, US-based healthcare worker James decided to brush up on his language skills and apply through Express Entry’s French-language proficiency category.

After seven months of studying and two attempts at the French test, he received an invitation to apply and eventually became a Canadian permanent resident.

We spoke with James about his experience and the lessons he learned along the way, including:

Whether you’re considering learning French to improve your Express Entry chances or already preparing your application, James’s experience offers practical tips for your own immigration journey.

Got questions about Canadian immigration or life in Canada?

Join Rebecca and Steph on November 20 for our next Ask-us-anything live webinar on November 20! They’ll be answering your questions about immigration, settling in Canada, and whatever else is on your mind.

Canada’s plan to grant permanent residence to up to 200,000 additional people in 2027 is raising questions about how cities and homebuilders can plan for the future.

In a Financial Post article, economists argue that adding one-time immigration measures on top of annual targets makes it harder to predict future housing demand and plan infrastructure.

While Canada’s regular permanent residence target remains 380,000 annually, the additional spaces could bring admissions to as many as 580,000 in 2027.

However, most of these additional permanent residents are already living in Canada, meaning the measure is unlikely to create significant new housing demand immediately.

Canada announced its 2027 federal budget last week, but what could it actually mean for your wallet? With the cost of living still a concern for many, the budget includes several measures aimed at helping people manage everyday expenses.

Here are some of the key announcements:

Of course, how much these measures help depends on your circumstances, but if you’re living and working in Canada, these are some announcements worth keeping an eye on.

Could AI be making it harder to stand out when applying for jobs in Canada? As more job seekers use AI to polish their resumes and cover letters, employers are finding it harder to tell candidates apart.

In a Canadian HR Reporter article, a recruitment expert explains that job interviews are becoming more important, with employers focusing on skills that AI can’t easily demonstrate, such as judgment, communication, and problem-solving.

Using AI to improve your application is fine, but be prepared to back up your experience with real examples during interviews. As AI becomes more common in recruitment, your ability to demonstrate your skills and build trust could help you stand out.

Planning a move to Canada or thinking about relocating to a new city soon? Before deciding where to live, take some time to compare rental prices across the country!

According to the latest Rentals.ca Rent Report, the average asking rent in Canada was $2,036 in October, down 3.2% compared to last year.

However, Toronto and Vancouver are seeing rents rise again after more than two years of declines. Average apartment and condo rents have reached $2,590 in Toronto and $2,735 in Vancouver.

If you’re flexible about where you live, it could be worth exploring other cities where rent prices are lower or continuing to fall.

Rent can take up a big part of your monthly budget, so comparing costs across different cities could help you find somewhere that suits both your finances and lifestyle.