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Connecting Ottawa Communiqué
April 9, 2026

We are pleased to provide this information for frontline workers to support the information and referral needs of clients. Connecting Ottawa education sessions that may be of interest to workers are listed following Connecting Ottawa News.  After reviewing Connecting Ottawa’s education sessions, you will find information and updates from our lawyers and partners related to services and programs relevant to clients who have a communication barrier due to language or sensory disability. Please feel free to share this email widely among your networks.

Connecting Ottawa News
Connecting Ottawa Information Sheet on Bill C-12: The Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act is now law
As noted in our March 30, 2006 special edition Communiqué, on March 26, 2026, Bill C-12 received Royal Assent and is now in force. It introduces significant changes to Canada’s immigration and refugee system and will affect many of the clients that frontline workers regularly support. While many details are still to come, some of the key changes include a rule requiring people to make a refugee claim within one year of their first entry into Canada, and another rule that bars people from making a claim if they enter Canada from the United States and do not make their claim within 14 days of arrival. To help frontline workers better understand these changes and what they may mean in practice, Connecting Ottawa has prepared an information sheet on Bill C-12: https://connectingottawa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/INFORMATION-SHEET-_-Bill-C12-March-30-2026.pdf.  If you have questions – whether general or about a specific client’s situation – you can request a consultation with Connecting Ottawa here: https://connectingottawa.com/request-for-information-consultation/.

Reminder: Connecting Ottawa has new Information Sheets on Immigration and Housing Law Topics
Connecting Ottawa is pleased to introduce three new information sheets. These resources provide clear, practical overviews of legal topics to help frontline workers better understand key legal topics, identify when a client may have a legal problem, and know when to reach out for a consultation with a lawyer or paralegal. Two of the information sheets focus on immigration law topics commonly encountered in frontline work. The first covers family sponsorship, including eligibility criteria, application steps, and common issues to watch for. The second explains the definitions of spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners for sponsorship purposes, along with the types of evidence typically required for a successful application.

The third information sheet is the first release in a new series designed to help frontline workers talk with their clients about possible legal issues.  The information sheets, prepared on various areas of law, suggest key questions that frontline workers can ask their clients to help them spot legal problems, understand how urgent they are, and decide what to do next. The first information sheet in this new series focuses on the area of housing law and is formatted as fillable form to make it easier to use.  

If there is a topic you would like to see covered in a future information sheet, please write to us at info@connectingottawa.com.  We would be happy to hear your suggestions!

Connecting Ottawa Communiqué Sign up
In Connecting Ottawa’s bi-weekly Communiqué, we share information about our upcoming education sessions, valuable resources, and timely information and updates on local, provincial, and federal legal and social service programs of interest to frontline workers serving clients in our target populations.  If you are a frontline worker who wants to receive Connecting Ottawa’s Communiqué directly to your inbox, we encourage you to sign up here: https://connectingottawa.com/connecting-ottawa-communique/sign-up-for-communque/.

Upcoming Connecting Ottawa Education Sessions
Practical Skills for Frontline Workers: Navigating the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal
Speakers: Tania Princz-Lebel, Laura Chaves Paz, Connecting Ottawa
Date: Thursday, April 22, 2026
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87846460442?pwd=cmfZCBIB4veNliicMYrrOaP6LkXNoz.1
Meeting ID: 878 4646 0442
Passcode: 653195
Connecting Ottawa is pleased to announce the first session in a new series focused on practical skills and building familiarity with tools and processes that frontline workers encounter in their day-to-day work. This session will focus on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Permanent Residence (PR) Portal, which is the main way for applicants to submit many permanent residence applications, including those based on Protected Person status, humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds, One Year Window applications, sponsorship applications, and more. This session aims to both build the capacity of frontline workers who support their clients in completing these online applications, as well as foster a better understanding of the immigration processes clients go through. During the session, Connecting Ottawa’s immigration lawyer will share their screen to walk you through the PR Portal, highlighting common pitfalls and offering guidance to complete applications accurately. Any frontline worker who supports clients with immigration applications is encouraged to attend.

Roommates, locataires, co-locataires et locataires en commun : les règles du logement partagé (séance d’information en français)
Présentateur : David Rodriguez, Clinique juridique francophone d’Ottawa (CJFO)
Date : jeudi 30 avril 2026
Heure : 10 h à 11 h
Lien Zoom : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87007866622?pwd=xORwxiSpvTbmGgI1KDsRFyJpwae4nY.1
ID de réunion : 870 0786 6622
Code d’accès : 439498
Vivre avec d’autres personnes peut être compliqué, surtout quand les rôles de chacun dans le logement ne sont pas clairs. Cette séance offrira aux intervenant·e·s de première ligne un aperçu simple et pratique des différences entre les roommates, locataires, co-locataires, et locataires en commun. Elle expliquera aussi quand la Loi sur la location à usage d’habitation s’applique – et quand elle ne s’applique pas. Nous aborderons aussi certaines idées reçues sur la location et les évictions, le fonctionnement des baux (y compris les ententes verbales), ce qui se passe quand quelqu’un emménage ou quitte un logement partagé, comment mettre fin à un bail selon la situation, ainsi que les règles particulières pour les maisons de chambres. Cette séance aidera les intervenant·e·s à mieux comprendre la situation de logement de leurs client·e·s et à mieux les accompagner.  This session will be presented in French only.

Pro Bono Ontario Free Legal Advice Helpline: An Important Tool in the Toolkit for Frontline Workers Supporting Clients with Legal Issues
THIS INFORMATION SESSION WILL BE OFFERED IN FRENCH AND IN ENGLISH
Speaker: Nana Yaa Nartey, Pro Bono Ontario
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
French Information Session:
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89402389767?pwd=s3EoE1qt29nuLhJzn924rf3J76Urlf.1
Meeting ID: 894 0238 9767
Passcode: 076921
English Information session:
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87588774404?pwd=VEZucBXgIZ8MumyFr8FH6COrzrDydx.1
Meeting ID: 875 8877 4404
Passcode: 579315
Frontline workers regularly encounter clients facing a wide range of legal issues, including matters that are not covered by Legal Aid Ontario. It can often be difficult to find free legal advice for these clients, particularly when they are self-represented litigants. Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Helpline can help fill that gap, offering services in both English and French. Callers can receive up to 30 minutes of summary legal advice on a variety of issues, including civil procedure, Small Claims Court, employment, housing, wills and estates, and consumer debt and protection. This information session will provide an overview of the helpline, including eligibility criteria, the areas of law covered, the services offered, and how frontline workers can help clients access it. If you are a frontline worker looking to learn about another legal referral option you can offer your clients, please join us!

New Date! CLEO & Connecting Ottawa webinar – Interim Federal Health Program and Upcoming Changes, May 7, 2026
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides essential healthcare coverage to refugee claimants and certain other eligible groups, and frontline workers often support clients who rely on it for critical care. In this recorded webinar, a collaboration between Connecting Ottawa and Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), Liz Majic and Tania Princz-Lebel, Connecting Ottawa Staff Lawyers, will provide a practical overview of the IFHP, including covered services, how to access them, and how to address common eligibility challenges. The session will also examine upcoming changes – particularly the introduction of co-pays for certain services and products effective May 1, 2026 – and their likely impact on those who depend on the program.  Registration details coming soon!

Navigating Youth Justice: Tools for Supporting Families
Speaker: Maya Shukairy, Lawyer, Shukairy Law
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81564238211?pwd=5VnfMavqMEaIVnT8k7o1qFcY5TwIaa.1
Meeting ID: 815 6423 8211
Passcode: 590524
Maya Shukairy of Shukairy Law will present an information session for frontline workers who support families navigating complex challenges, including situations where a young person becomes involved with the criminal justice system. Understanding how the system works can help frontline workers provide informed, practical support during these difficult times. This session will offer a clear overview of key topics, including the Youth Criminal Justice Act, police interactions, bail, the right to a lawyer, detention, court processes, sentencing, youth records, and students’ rights when interacting with police at school. Participants will also learn about the role frontline workers can play in supporting justice-involved youth, along with practical tips and relevant community resources. This session will be especially valuable for frontline workers in schools or those working directly with youth, helping them understand their clients’ rights and share this information so young people can better understand and assert their own. Education is the first step to enforcing your rights!

Save the date! CLEO and Connecting Ottawa Webinar: Legal Aid Ontario Certificates
Mark your calendars for May 20, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 pm and join us for a practical session on Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) certificates – a crucial resource that many low-income individuals rely on to obtain legal representation. This session, presented by Connecting Ottawa’s Tania Princz-Lebel and offered in collaboration with Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), will cover what LAO certificates are, what they cover, how to apply, and common challenges. The session will be recorded. If you’re a frontline worker who frequently supports clients relying on LAO for legal representation, this is an information session you won’t want to miss.  Watch for registration details coming soon!

Save the date! CLEO and Connecting Ottawa Webinar: Working with Lawyers Retained with a Legal Aid Ontario Certificate  
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) and Connecting Ottawa are collaborating on a webinar on June 10, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on exploring the ins and outs of working with lawyers retained through Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) certificates. The session will cover how to find an LAO lawyer, what a typical consultation and retainer look like, the limitations on lawyers working under LAO certificates, common communication expectations, and how to change lawyers when needed. The goal is to help frontline workers better understand the lawyer-client relationship in the LAO context, so they can support their clients by setting expectations, explaining common practices, and identifying potential red flags where a change of lawyer may be necessary. Please join us if you have clients in this situation! Registration details coming soon!

Legal Information and Updates
IRCC Fee Increases for Citizenship and Permanent Residence Applications
The Government of Canada has announced increases to permanent residence (PR) application fees across multiple programs, effective April 30, 2026. For example, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) has increased from $575 to $600. The processing fee for a principal applicant applying for PR as a protected person has increased from $635 to $660, and the fee for a principal applicant in a family sponsorship application has increased from $545 to $570. The Right of Citizenship Fee has also increased, from $119.75 to $123, effective March 31, 2026.  Applicants must ensure they pay the updated fees for applications submitted on or after these dates, as incorrect payments may result in delays or returned applications. Frontline workers should be aware of these changes when supporting clients, as even modest fee increases can create barriers to access. For a full list of updated application fees, please visit: https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fee-changes.asp#2026-pr-fee-increase.

New Public Policy on Open Work Permits for People with Ineligible Refugee Claims
As noted in our special edition Communiqué distributed on March 30, 2026, the federal government has introduced a temporary public policy that allows some people whose refugee claims are found ineligible to keep or apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP). This mainly applies to people who made a refugee claim in Canada and are later found ineligible under the new Bill C-12 rules (such as the one-year rule or 14-day rule). Normally, when a claim is found ineligible and a removal order becomes enforceable, the person would lose their work permit and no longer be allowed to work. Under this new policy, some people may be able to keep their current work permit, or apply for a new one, even though they no longer have an active refugee claim. This is important because many people in this situation are waiting for next steps (for example, whether they will be offered a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA)), and without this policy, they may not be able to work during that time. Frontline workers can use this information to help clients understand their options and connect them with legal advice as soon as possible. For more information, please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/public-policies/work-permit-ineligible-claim.html.

Ontario minimum wage increases on October 1, 2026
The minimum wage in Ontario will increase to $17.95 per hour effective October 1, 2026. This increase is tied to the Consumer Price Index for 2026: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1007239/ontario-raising-minimum-wage-to-protect-workers-and-support-a-competitive-economy.

Federal minimum wage increases
On April 1, 2026, the federal minimum wage increased to $18.15 per hour. This wage applies to employees working in federally regulated sectors, such as banking, air transportation, telecommunications, interprovincial transportation, and postal services.

New Employment Insurance (EI) Board of Appeal launched April 1, 2026
Starting April 1, 2026, people who want to appeal a reconsideration decision from Service Canada about EI benefits must begin their appeal with the new EI Board of Appeal. EI appeals that are already in progress before April 1 will continue to be handled by the Social Security Tribunal’s (SST) General Division. The SST’s Appeal Division will continue to hear second-level appeals. This includes appeals of decisions made by both the SST’s General Division and the EI Board of Appeal. For more information about the EI Board of Appeal, visit: https://caae-eiboa.service.canada.ca/en/index.shtml.

New resources from the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) for clients moving on from social assistance at 65
ISAC has created two new public resources to ease the transition for clients turning 65 and leaving social assistance, including tips on filing taxes, understanding when and how to apply for seniors’ benefits, and how to avoid paying fees for prescription drugs:

ISAC also has a new public resource on health benefits for people leaving social assistance: https://incomesecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Health-Benefits-when-Leaving-Social-Assistance-Summary-Chart-and-Quick-Facts-Public.pdf.

University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic (UOCLC):  Summer Intake Schedule
The UOCLC is currently closed for new intake interviews due to student exams and new student caseworker training. Our office remains open during this time.  Our summer 2026 intake schedule is as follows:

  • Clinic intakes: May 19 – August 10, 2026 (inclusive)
  • Courthouse intakes:  Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., May 20 – August 12, 2026 (inclusive) (Courthouse intakes reserved for people facing criminal charges and/or provincial offences)

Scheduling of intakes for eligible clients will begin on May 4, 2026. An online Application for Services Form is available here: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-law/common-law/student-centre/courses/clinics/community-legal-clinic/clients/information-clients.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Clinic at 613-562-5600 or uoclc@uottawa.ca.

Notarial and commissioning services will continue by appointment only for uOttawa and Carleton University students.  For more information, please see the poster: https://connectingottawa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Clinic-Leaflet-Community-BIL-FINAL-1.pdf.

Catherine Street Community Service Hub Drop-in Services:  April Calendar
The Catherine Street Community Service Hub has shared its calendar of drop-in partner services for April 2026:  https://connectingottawa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/CSCS-Hub-April-2026-Partner-Schedule.pdf.

Séance d’information aujourd’hui de 12 h à 13 h 30: «Interdiction de territoire: 6 raisons pour lesquelles on peut vous refuser l’entrée au Canada»
Cette séance, offerte par la Clinique juridique francophone d’Ottawa et présentée par Me Safiatou Diallo, avocate en immigration et en droits de la personne, porte sur des questions importantes pour les intervenant·e·s de première ligne. Le séance vous aidera à comprendre les raisons courantes pour lesquelles une personne peut être interdite de territoire. Si vous travaillez avec des personnes nouvellement arrivées, des étudiants internationaux, des visiteurs ou d’autres personnes ayant des questions en immigration, nous vous encourageons à vous inscrire. Pour vous inscrire et pour plus d’information, veuillez consulter : https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/billets-serie-de-webinaires-gratuits-en-droit-de-limmigration-1982295817151?aff=oddtdtcreator.

CLEO Webinar – Understanding No-Fault Evictions: April 21, 2026
Do you work with tenants facing eviction in Ontario? Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) is hosting a webinar on no-fault evictions under the Residential Tenancies Act, including renovictions, demovictions, and landlords’ own-use evictions. This session will explain how these evictions work, the required forms (such as N12 and N13), and what “good faith” means in practice, including how to identify and respond to bad faith evictions. Participants will also learn about municipal bylaws, tenant protections, and how frontline workers can support and advocate for clients facing displacement. ASL interpretation will be available. The webinar will be recorded and available online. For more information and to register, please visit: https://outreach.cleo.on.ca/en/civicrm/event/register/?reset=1&id=494.

Accessible housing in Canada: share your input
The National Housing Council has launched a review panel under the National Housing Strategy Act to examine the lack of accessible housing in Canada. The review will explore:

  • How the shortage of accessible housing is affecting people across Canada
  • What system gaps, and government actions or inactions, are slowing progress
  • What solutions governments and communities can lead to improve access to housing for people with disabilities

You can take part by submitting written feedback until June 5, 2026:  https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx?co=NxusCNit.

Spring safety reminder about proper needle disposal
As the snow melts, you may come across discarded needles or glass pipes that were hidden over the winter or recently left behind. If you find a needle, here are two safe options:

  1. Call 311 to arrange for safe pickup (this may take an hour or longer, especially on weekends).
  2. Dispose of it safely yourself using tongs or a similar tool (never pick it up by hand) and place it in a puncture-proof container, like a pop bottle, for drop-off in a needle drop box: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1rXD1SJw-q0nFYp_-_rlgdo-iBrhZLug&femb=1&ll=45.33216247115503%2C-75.7086722&z=10.

Be sure to report the needle by emailing needlereporting@ottawa.ca.

Reminder: Changes to Super Visa income requirements
Canada has announced upcoming changes to the income requirements for the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa, which will take effect on March 31, 2026. The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit their family in Canada for longer periods: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/parent-grandparent-super-visa.html. An applicant’s host, that is, their child or grandchild in Canada, must provide proof that they meet the income requirements to support their family members while they’re here.

These adjustments are part of a broader effort to keep immigration levels sustainable while strengthening family reunification. Under the new rules, hosts in Canada will have more flexibility in demonstrating that they can financially support visiting parents and grandparents.

The first change expands the income assessment period. Instead of relying solely on the most recent tax year, hosts and co‑signers may now qualify using either of the two taxation years preceding the application. This shift is intended to help families whose income may fluctuate from year to year due to job changes, parental leave, or other temporary circumstances.

The second change allows the income of the visiting parent or grandparent to be included in the calculation, provided the host already meets a minimum percentage of the required amount. This addition recognizes that many parents and grandparents have stable pension or investment income that can contribute to their stay in Canada, and it offers support to hosts who are close to meeting the threshold on their own.

All Super Visa applications already in processing on March 31, 2026, as well as those submitted on or after that date, will be assessed using these updated criteria. Families who previously qualified will continue to do so, while many others who were just below the requirement may now become eligible. Applicants who wish to use the new options will need to provide documentation showing how they meet the income requirement for their family size. For more information: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/changes-parents-grandparents-super-visa-income-requirement-calculated.html.

Reminder: CBSA issues a temporary halt on removals to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar
The Canada Border Services Agency has announced a temporary halt on removals to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar as of March 24, 2026. This decision follows a rapid deterioration of conditions in these countries, creating broad and unpredictable risks that affect the entire civilian population rather than specific groups. Because of this generalized danger, the CBSA has imposed an Administrative Deferral of Removals under paragraph 230(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, a measure used when countries face violence, instability, or environmental crises that make them unsafe for return.

The deferral does not apply to individuals who are inadmissible for reasons such as criminality, serious criminality, human rights violations, organized crime, or security concerns. For everyone else, removals will remain paused until conditions stabilize and no longer pose a widespread threat. Once the situation improves, the CBSA will lift the deferral and resume removals for individuals with enforceable removal orders. For more information please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/news/2026/03/cbsa-issues-a-temporary-halt-on-removals-to-the-united-arab-emirates-kuwait-bahrain-and-qatar.html.

Reminder: Temporary Employment Insurance (EI) measures extended
In our last Communiqué, we reported that several temporary EI measures would end on April 11, 2026. We are pleased to report that the Government of Canada recently extended the following measures until October 10, 2026:

  • The one-week waiting period is waived, so benefits can begin in the first week
  • Separation payments (like severance) will not delay access to EI benefits
  • Long-tenured workers may receive up to 20 additional weeks of regular benefits

These measures apply to claims starting between March 30, 2025, and October 10, 2026.

Reminder: Appeal timelines available from the Social Security Tribunal (SST)
The SST is now sharing average timelines for appeals that go to a hearing. This includes appeals related to Canada Pension Plan (CPP), CPP-Disability, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. These timelines are measured from the date an appeal is filed to the date a decision is issued, giving applicants a clearer sense of how long the process may take: https://sst-tss.gc.ca/en/our-work-our-people/average-start-finish-times.

Reminder: Targeted processing time for Disability Tax Credit (DTC) applications
The Canada Revenue Agency has updated its processing times for DTC applications. The current targeted processing time is up to 8 weeks from the time a complete application is received: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/contact-information/check-cra-processing-times.html.

Reminder: New report on social assistance in Ontario
A new report from the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC), In Their Own Words: The State of Social Assistance in Ontario, highlights the realities faced by people relying on Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Based on survey responses and focus groups conducted in 2024, the report finds that many people are struggling to meet basic needs despite recent increases to benefits. It also explores barriers to employment, access to services, and the added challenges faced by people with disabilities: https://incomesecurity.org/new-report-in-their-own-words-the-state-of-social-assistance-in-ontario/.

Reminder: OCDSB Speaker Series – Helping Your Child Through Tough Times: A Webinar on Autistic Burnout, Inertia, Meltdown, and Shutdown 
The Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is facilitating a webinar on April 16, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. for parents and caregivers to help them understand the core experiences of Autistic youth: burnout, inertia (the intense struggle to start or stop tasks), meltdowns, and shutdowns (BIMS). The webinar will include valuable, practical, and positive strategies to support children’s well-being at home, helping them feel understood and respected.  More details and registration link available here: https://www.ocdsb.ca/family-community-support/getting-involved/parent-involvement/speaker-series.

Reminder: Ottawa Free Tax Clinics 
Through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) and Quebec’s Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program (ITAVP), community organizations host free tax clinics where trained volunteers help people with modest incomes and simple tax situations complete their tax returns: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/community-volunteer-income-tax-program.html.

Reminder:  Connecting Ottawa’s Infographics, “Connecting Ottawa – Who We Are” and “When Should I Contact Connecting Ottawa”
Connecting Ottawa has infographics that provide a clear, visual overview of who we are, the services we offer, and when and how frontline workers can contact us for support. They’re designed to provide quick, accessible information that can help frontline workers better support their clients with legal issues.

The infographics in French and English can be accessed here:

In case you missed it … (we think the following information bears repeating):
Updated Connecting Ottawa information sheets
The following resources have been produced by Connecting Ottawa lawyers to provide front line workers and community members with information and referral resources for common legal issues. Please feel free to share with your clients and networks.

Settlement Service Eligibility Changes for Economic Immigrants

On March 10, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced upcoming adjustments to the length of time economic immigrants may access federally funded settlement services. These changes support the government’s broader plan to maintain sustainable immigration levels while ensuring that essential services remain available for newcomers who rely on them most.

Beginning April 1, 2026, economic immigrants will be eligible to use settlement services for up to six years after obtaining permanent residence. One year later, on April 1, 2027, this eligibility window will be reduced to five years. These new limits apply to both current and future permanent residents in the economic class, including principal applicants, their spouses or partners, and dependent children. IRCC explains that the purpose of these changes is to encourage earlier engagement with settlement support and to preserve service capacity at a time when immigration volumes remain high. The government emphasizes that settlement services continue to play a vital role in helping newcomers integrate successfully into Canadian society by supporting their economic participation, social inclusion, and cultural adaptation. For further information please review: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/changes-settlement-service-eligibility-economic-immigrants.html.

Canada Extends Special Measures for Iranian Nationals
The Government of Canada has announced an extension of the temporary special measures originally introduced in February 2023 to support Iranian nationals already in the country. These measures were created in response to the ongoing instability in Iran, and the situation continues to remain uncertain. As a result, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a new set of targeted measures to ensure continued support for eligible individuals. Under the updated measures, Iranian nationals who hold a valid work permit issued on or before February 28, 2025, may apply to extend it. These special provisions will remain in effect until March 31, 2027. IRCC has confirmed that standard processing fees continue to apply. The announcement also clarifies that individuals wishing to extend their stay as visitors or renew their study permits must continue to apply through the regular IRCC processes, as these categories are not included in the special measures. For more information please review: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/canada-extends-certain-temporary-special-measures-iranian-nationals.html.

Canada to Grant Permanent Residence to 33,000 Workers
Canada is preparing to launch one of its most significant immigration initiatives in recent years. In an interview reported by national media outlets, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed that the federal government will introduce a new, one‑time pathway that will grant permanent residence to 33,000 temporary foreign workers already living and contributing in Canada. This measure was first signaled in the federal budget and later reflected in the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. According to the Minister, the program has already been developed and will operate over 2026 and 2027, offering a limited‑window opportunity for eligible workers to transition from temporary to permanent status.

The new pathway is designed to support sectors experiencing chronic labour shortages across the country. It will focus on workers who have established themselves in Canada, gained Canadian work experience, and demonstrated long‑term ties to their communities. Please note that full eligibility criteria have not yet been released. Further details — including the list of qualifying occupations, language requirements, and application instructions — are expected to be published by IRCC in April 2026.

Citizenship – Knowledge and language assessment
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released updated instructions outlining new procedures for assessing the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship applicants. These updates replace previous guidance and introduce revised processes that officers will follow when evaluating applicants’ readiness for Canadian citizenship: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/updates/2026-citizenship-language-tests.html.

The new instructions provide detailed direction on how citizenship knowledge testing is to be administered and assessed. They also clarify what constitutes acceptable language evidence for citizenship grants, outlining the types of documentation and indicators officers may rely on when determining whether an applicant meets the language requirement. 

In addition, the update includes revised procedures for conducting language and knowledge hearings. These hearings are used when additional assessment is required to determine whether an applicant meets the statutory requirements related to language proficiency and knowledge of Canada. For more information please review: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/canadian-citizenship/grant/language-assessment-tests-hearings.html.

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Connecting Ottawa is available to support front-line workers in Ottawa to provide appropriate legal information and referrals to clients with communication barriers as a result of language or sensory disability. If you have a question or require a consultation, please complete our request for legal information/consultation form: https://connectingottawa.com/request-for-information-consultation/.  Along with your completed request for legal information/consultation, please send any documents related to your client’s legal issue by email to info@connectingottawa.com. This will ensure the most efficient response to your request.  As a reminder, we do not provide direct legal services to individuals.