October 27, 2026 Edition
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Express Entry's Labour Market Integration Factors (LMIF)
Dane explains how the new Express Entry Labour Market Integration Factor points work and who can qualify for them.
Your Immigration Update
Planning to get married online? Your wedding might be legally valid in another country but not recognized for Canadian immigration purposes.
IRCC generally does not recognize virtual or proxy marriages performed outside Canada, including online weddings through Utah. This can be a problem if you plan to sponsor your spouse for permanent residence.
Recent immigration cases show that even couples who were physically together during their online ceremony have had their sponsorship applications refused.
Wondering how many points you could get under Ontario’s new Workforce Priority Stream? Our free Ontario PNP Points Calculator helps you estimate your score out of 132 in under two minutes.
Just answer 10 questions about your job offer, education, language skills and work experience to see your estimated score. You’ll also get personalized tips on how to improve your score and what documents to prepare if you’re invited to apply.
Did Someone Say Draw
IRCC invited 5,000 French-speaking candidates in the October 27 Express Entry draw, with a CRS score cut-off of 407.
Immigration In The Media
Prime Minister Mark Carney has not ruled out giving Alberta more control over immigration, similar to the agreement Quebec has had with Ottawa since 1991.
His comments follow Alberta’s October 19 referendum, where approximately 53% of voters supported giving the province greater authority over immigration decisions, according to preliminary results.
Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta is preparing a proposal for the federal government, drawing inspiration from Quebec’s immigration agreement.
No changes have been announced yet, but a new agreement could give Alberta more say in selecting newcomers and setting immigration priorities.
Money Matters: CRA Benefit Payments Coming in November 2026
Several benefit payments are scheduled for November 2026, giving financial support to eligible individuals and families across Canada. Some newcomers may also qualify, depending on their immigration status and circumstances.
Key payment dates include:
November 10: Ontario Trillium Benefit
November 19: Canada Disability Benefit
November 20: Canada Child Benefit
November 26: CPP, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement
November 27: Alberta Child and Family Benefit
How much you receive depends on the benefit, your income and your eligibility.
Career Moves: Foreign Interest in Canadian Jobs Has Dropped
Is Canada becoming less attractive to international job seekers? A new Indeed Hiring Lab report found that foreign interest in Canadian jobs has dropped by more than 60% since 2023.
Here are some key findings:
Foreign job searches: Clicks from outside Canada fell from nearly 8% of all clicks on Canadian job postings in July 2023 to just 3% in September 2026.
Biggest declines: Engineering, agriculture, and forestry, and jobs saw some of the largest drops in foreign interest.
Immigration restrictions: The decline coincides with tighter rules for international students and temporary foreign workers.
Potential impact: Employers could face greater challenges filling jobs that rely on international workers.
Read our latest article, which breaks down the findings and what they could mean for Canada’s job market.
Today's Tip: Prepping for Halloween in Canada
Halloween is coming up on October 31! If you’re new to Canada, here’s how to join in the fun:
🍬 Get some candy: Trick-or-treaters usually visit between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Keep individually wrapped treats ready!
🎃 Decorate your home: Pumpkins, spooky decorations and porch lights to let people know that your home is “open” for trick-or-treaters.
👻 Wear a costume: Whether you’re heading to a party or just answering the door, dressing up is part of the fun!
🧥 Bundle up: October evenings can be cold, so wear layers under your costume.
🏘️ Explore your neighbourhood: Look out for pumpkin walks, haunted houses and local Halloween events.
Not participating? No problem just leave your porch light off so trick-or-treaters know to skip your home.
