Canada Pauses Start-Up Visa Work Permit and Closes Program Ahead of New Entrepreneur Pilot
CBSA Replaces Remote-Area Border Permits with 24/7 Telephone Reporting
Canada Eases 12-Month Bar on Pre-Removal Risk Assessments for Iranian Nationals
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CBSA Records Nearly 19,000 Removals in 2025 as Canada Tightens Visa Rules
CBSA carried out nearly 19,000 removals in 2025, the largest tally on record, amid stricter rules limiting overstay grace periods. Employers must pay closer attention to expiry dates or risk losing staff and facing penalties. The jump in deportations also contributed to Canada’s first net population decline in nearly 80 years.
Air Canada Offers Free Same-Route Switch to Non-Stop Flights for Holiday Travellers
To ease holiday congestion, Air Canada is allowing passengers travelling through Toronto or Montréal between December 19–24 to switch free of charge to a direct flight on the same route, provided the ticket was issued by December 19. The voluntary change can cut connection risk for business travellers and helps the carrier manage storm-related disruptions.
Public Sentiment Turns as Canada’s Immigration Cuts Trigger Population Drop
A Guardian analysis links Canada’s first population dip in decades to a sharp policy pivot and rising public unease over immigration’s impact on housing and services. The political mood suggests future visa and permit caps could tighten further, injecting new uncertainty for employers that depend on foreign talent.
Winter Storm Forces Temporary Closure of Calgary Airport, Ripple Delays Across Canadian Network
Severe winter weather closed Calgary Airport on 18 December, cancelling and delaying scores of Air Canada and WestJet flights and causing cascading disruptions nationwide. The episode highlights the need for robust contingency planning for assignees and business travellers during Canada’s peak storm season.
Canada Marks International Migrants Day with Pledge to Balance Growth and Protection
On International Migrants Day, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab pledged that Canada will pursue ‘balanced’ immigration growth that safeguards vulnerable migrants and maintains public confidence. The remarks signal continued scrutiny of employer-sponsored programmes even as talent shortages persist.