The Media Roundup provides links to recent and archived articles, in both English and French, on immigration and diversity appearing in the national and local news. Some international content is also included. Articles are updated weekly.
CBC News — ‘We have to do better,’ says Quebec City mayor regarding province’s immigration policies
Quebec City’s mayor is defending immigrants facing uncertainty after changes to a provincial immigration program, saying the government must do more. In a post on social media Tuesday, Bruno Marchand spoke out against the end of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ), which allowed workers to obtain permanent residency after two years of employment.The PEQ allowed foreign students who graduated in Quebec and foreign workers meeting certain criteria, including sufficient knowledge of French, to obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). The certificate then allowed applicants to apply for permanent residency with the Canadian government. The program had been suspended since October 2024 and officially ended late last month.
Government of Canada — Targeted immigration measures to boost Canada’s supply of doctors
In support of the Budget 2025 commitment to fill critical labour gaps with high-skilled talent, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, today announced new measures to support Canada’s health care system by making the path to permanent residence simpler for international doctors. As part of these measures, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will create a new Express Entry category for international doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, gained within the last three years. These doctors are already working in Canada on a temporary basis, helping patients and contributing to our health care system. We’re giving these doctors a clear pathway to permanent residence in Canada to fill critical health workforce gaps, while helping support reliable care and a stable health system for Canadians. Invitations to apply for the new Express Entry category will be issued in early 2026.
The Globe and Mail — Ottawa to fast-track foreign doctors’ permanent residency
Foreign doctors are to be offered a fast track to permanent residency in a bid to persuade more medical professionals to stay and work across Canada. The announcement Monday by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab of a
new pathway to permanent residency is designed to increase the number of family doctors in Canada and cut wait times to see specialists and surgeons. The new express entry stream will be opened next year for foreign physicians who have worked in Canada for more than a year over the past three years. The government hopes it will attract more foreign health service professionals to relocate here.
CBC News — Liberals to open new fast track to permanent residency for 5,000 foreign doctors
The federal government is promising to open up permanent residency for foreign doctors working in Canada as temporary foreign residents in order to tackle the doctor shortage across the country. Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced the policy shift in Toronto Monday, saying 5,000 spots for international doctors would be opened over and above current immigration levels.
City News — Canadian experience: OMNI poll finds majority of newcomers struggle to find a job
The OMNI-Leger poll found that bias and discrimination, a lack of professional connections, and the struggle to get foreign credentials recognized were the top three reasons why, for over 50 per cent of newcomers, it is harder to advance in their careers.The federal government set aside $97 million over five years in Budget 2025 to create a Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund that promises to help internationally trained workers get their skills recognized faster.
CIC News — New Ontario labour laws to remove barriers for newcomers seeking jobs
Newcomers looking for work in Ontario may find it easier to land interviews and secure jobs that match their skills and experience. Starting January 1, 2026, several new requirements for publicly advertised job postings will take effect under changes to Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA). Among the most significant is a ban on requiring Canadian work experience in job postings, or associated application forms — an issue that has long been flagged as a barrier to skilled newcomers seeking employment in the province.
