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.
CIC News — New language test will be available for Canadian permanent residence applications
Foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to Canada will have another testing option to prove their English language proficiency. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Essentials test in the future. IRCC is not currently accepting the test, but will update its official webpages once acceptance begins. This change will enable foreign nationals under its permanent economic immigration programs to take this test in order to prove English language proficiency. On 21 August, the Education Testing Service (ETS)—the organization that administers the TOEFL—announced that it had been added as a designated language testing organization by IRCC.
Radio-Canada — Demandeurs d’asile : Toronto déplore le financement insuffisant proposé par Ottawa
Un nouveau chapitre s’est écrit cette semaine dans la dispute entre la Ville de Toronto et Ottawa entourant le financement de l’accueil des demandeurs d’asile. Dans une lettre aux conseillers municipaux, la mairesse Olivia Chow annonce que Toronto pourrait accuser un manque à gagner de plus de 100 millions $ en la matière en raison des décisions du fédéral. Au cours de la crise des demandeurs d’asile qui a frappé la Municipalité en 2023 et 2024, la Ville de Toronto s’est souvent plainte auprès du gouvernement fédéral en raison du manque de financement pour loger les demandeurs d’asile.
National Post — Alberta minister wants ‘illegal immigrants’ to be counted in federal targets
Alberta Immigration Minister Joseph Schow says he wants Ottawa to stop turning a blind eye to illegal immigration in Canada and have an honest conversation about the strain he says it’s putting on infrastructure and public services. Schow, who is also Alberta’s minister of jobs, economy and trade, is calling on federal officials to account for the estimated number of undocumented migrants in the country when setting next year’s immigration targets. “These illegal migrants must be taken into account, as every province is feeling the pressure of Ottawa’s mismanagement of the immigration system,” said Schow. Federal officials have recently acknowledge the need to slow down the rate of immigration after welcoming millions of newcomers in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.
CBC News — As Canada reduces immigration, francophones settling outside Quebec are an exception
The federal government is slashing the number of permanent and temporary immigrants it’s admitting to Canada — but among the streams that are not only being spared but encouraged to grow significantly are francophones settling outside Quebec. Prime Minister Mark Carney promised during the last election campaign to raise the francophone immigration target to 12 per cent of all permanent residents admitted outside Quebec by 2029.
Radio-Canada — L’immigration, une « importance vitale » face à la baisse démographique
Les chambres de commerce de la région, ainsi que le Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Attractivité Abitibi-Témiscamingue et Expérience Québec présentent un mémoire sur l’importance de l’immigration pour la région, alors que la baisse démographique continue. Ces acteurs se sont organisés en Comité en immigration à l’hiver 2025, pour faire valoir les besoins spécifiques de la région sur le sujet. Le Comité a fourni ce mémoire dans le cadre de la consultation publique lancée par le gouvernement pour définir sa planification d’immigration pour la période 2026-2029.
CIC News — Atlantic Immigration Program: What candidates are Canada’s Atlantic provinces prioritizing for immigration in 2025?
With a reduced allocation in 2025, Canadian provinces have begun prioritizing specific occupations and sectors under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). In general, individuals working in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and select other sectors may have an advantage when applying through the AIP in 2025. The AIP is an employer-driven pathway to permanent residence (PR) for skilled workers and certain international graduates who wish to settle in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces. To be eligible, applicants must have a job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating provinces, and the job offer must be endorsed by the province.
