FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Following yesterday’s announcement from the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship on 2026 Express Entry categories, Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship made the following statement:

This announcement reveals a deeply confused talent policy that will cost the Canadian economy dearly.

On one hand, Ottawa is acknowledging that the Canadian economy has serious skills needs that aren’t being met domestically. On the other hand, it is reducing the number of available immigration spots substantially. Yesterday’s announcement amounts to splitting a shrinking pie into many more pieces. That is not a strategy. That is the appearance of action. A policy with so many stated priorities, it actually has none.

There should be no need for these boutique immigration categories. A well-functioning Express Entry System would already be elevating candidates with the most in-demand skills to the top of the pile. Existing boutique programs have not worked as intended. The #1 profession selected in the Skilled Trades stream is cooks, and these draws occur very infrequently.

The chronic issue of licensing discrimination will also hobble this policy. Ottawa can admit as many doctors, pilots and mechanics as they like, but how can they contribute to Canada if our regulatory bodies don’t let them work the jobs we brought them here to fill?

Besides, recent research has shown that skilled immigrants are giving up on Canada at record rates, with in-demand professionals most likely to leave. Immigrant professionals can’t contribute to Canada if they’re gone. Yesterday’s policy ignores this essential reality and offers nothing to boost retention.

Instead of adding even more complexity onto a slow, expensive, and poorly performing immigration system, the Immigration Minister would do well to sit down with a blank piece of paper to design a quick, scalable, and manageable system for attracting global talent to Canada and putting that talent to good use immediately.

The Minister’s announcement draws attention to a foundational weakness of Canada’s immigration policy – by making it worse.

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About the ICC

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship is a national charity that works for a Canada where immigrants don’t just come, but stay, become citizens, succeed, and make Canada stronger, richer, and more interesting. 

The ICC’s Canoo app gives newcomers and their families free access to Canada’s most sought-after experiences as well as the tools they need to help call Canada home. Since 2010, Canoo has welcomed over 950,000 newcomer members. All recent permanent residents and new citizens can join Canoo for free by downloading the app. For more about the app and the growing list of benefits for Canoo members, please visit https://canoo.ca/. 

Media Contacts 

ICC / Canoo: media@forcitizenship.ca