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Legislation to Amend the Fair Registration Practices Act Passes Third Reading
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-29 21:20:12.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Labour, Governance, Immigration]Legislative amendments to the Fair Registration Practices Act have passed third reading in the House of Assembly in Newfoundland and Labrador. Introduced by Minister of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development Lin Paddock, the amendments transition the list of regulatory bodies covered under the statute into regulations to enhance flexibility and responsiveness. This statutory change enables the Provincial Government to more swiftly incorporate regulatory bodies, comply with interprovincial labour mobility commitments, and reduce regulatory red tape without requiring individual amendments to the act for each body added or removed. The core purpose of the Fair Registration Practices Act and the public protection mandates of independent regulatory bodies remain unchanged.
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Alberta referendum saw 70.4% turnout — highest voter participation in decades
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-29 19:52:44.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Immigration]According to official results from Elections Alberta, a recent provincewide referendum on 10 questions saw a 70.4 per cent voter turnout, marking the highest voter participation in a provincial vote since 1975. Three-quarters of voters rejected holding a binding referendum on separation, choosing instead to stay in Canada. While voters approved the province pursuing changes to immigration policies—with legislation expected as early as next spring—they rejected other questions urging the province to take further action to wrest power from the federal government.
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Legislative Amendments Proposed to Strengthen Administration of Fair Registration Practices Act
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-27 19:55:05.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Labour, Governance, Immigration]The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through Minister of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development Lin Paddock, introduced legislative amendments to the Fair Registration Practices Act on October 27, 2026. The proposed changes shift the list of regulated bodies covered by the legislation into regulations, streamlining the process to add or remove regulatory bodies and reduce administrative red tape. This reform aims to help the province respond more rapidly to labour mobility commitments, interprovincial credential recognition, and workforce demands for internationally educated and out-of-province professionals without requiring statutory legislative amendments. The amendments preserve the core mandate of the act and the authority of regulatory bodies to establish and assess professional qualifications and public protection standards.
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Changes to temporary foreign worker rules leave some P.E.I. farms short-staffed this harvest
Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-27 09:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Labour, Agriculture, Immigration]Changes to federal temporary foreign worker requirements enacted at the end of 2025 removed agricultural exemptions for local job advertising, resulting in severe processing delays and staff shortages for P.E.I. farms during the harvest season. Agricultural operations such as Bunny Burrow Vegetable Co. faced delayed arrivals—with seasonal workers arriving in July instead of April—after multiple LMIA application rejections and multi-week resubmission cycles. Stakeholders including Andrea McKenna and Donald Killorn of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture have called on Ottawa to streamline the application process, provide regional agency support for smaller farms, introduce more flexible work permit transfers between farms, and expand the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program to additional countries.
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Smith vows cautious approach after narrow win on immigration, muses about referendum on photo radar
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-24 23:03:15.0
Tags: [Alberta, Immigration, Governance, Justice, Transportation]Premier Danielle Smith announced a cautious legislative approach following narrow victories in an Alberta referendum on immigration questions, indicating a grandfathering approach that exempts immigrants who arrived under old rules. Smith confirmed that legislation requiring proof of citizenship—such as a passport, provincial driver’s license with a citizenship symbol, or equivalent verification—will be introduced for the next provincial election after receiving 58 percent support. Additionally, the government is appealing a court ruling regarding consultation duties on citizen-initiated separation referendums and is considering future referendums on medically assisted death advance directives and municipal photo radar enforcement.
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Conservatives accuse government of 'cooking the books' over immigration data presentation
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-23 20:35:58.0
Tags: [National, Immigration, Governance]Federal Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner accused Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada of misrepresenting permanent resident data in official online messaging by splitting 2026 data into three separate bars instead of a single total. The contested graph omits one-time initiatives—specifically the In-Canada Workers Initiative covering 33,000 workers and a protected persons program for up to 115,000 individuals—which IRCC states are not counted toward permanent resident targets. According to IRCC data, the total number of new permanent residents reached 40,155 in August 2026, compared to 26,080 in December 2025, with a federal target of 380,000 permanent residents set for 2026 representing a four percent drop.
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Advocates flag contributions, not costs, of newcomers in Alberta referendum aftermath
Source: Alberta - Provincial Politics
Date: 2026-10-23 12:21:33.0
Tags: [Alberta, Immigration, Labour, Healthcare, Economy, Agriculture]Following an Alberta referendum where a slim majority of voters supported limiting access to or charging fees for provincially funded services based on immigration status, advocates and industry groups have warned of negative economic and operational impacts. Premier Danielle Smith’s government had estimated that healthcare and education costs for temporary residents total $1 billion annually. However, union representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 at the Cargill abattoir in High River, alongside the Christian Health Association of Alberta and the Business Council of Alberta, emphasized the critical economic contributions of newcomers, noting that immigrants paid an estimated $4.1 billion in Alberta personal income taxes in 2026.
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Searches of cellphones, laptops by U.S. customs up more than 32% so far this year
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-23 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Public Safety, Immigration]Data obtained by CBC News shows that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers searched 52,080 electronic devices during the first three quarters of the 2026 fiscal year, representing a 32 percent increase over the 39,251 devices searched during the same period in 2025. Of the 2026 searches, 47,517 were basic searches conducted without reasonable suspicion, while 4,564 were advanced searches requiring reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity or national security concerns. The agency's revised January guidelines expanded device definitions to include SIM cards, GPS systems, unmanned aircraft systems, and vehicle infotainment systems, following a record 55,424 total searches in fiscal 2025.
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What to know about Quebec's new cabinet ahead of swearing-in ceremony
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 10:40:12.0
Tags: [Quebec, Governance, Healthcare, Education, Finance, Immigration]Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's minority Parti Québécois government, holding 59 out of 127 seats, is unveiling a 22-minister cabinet during a swearing-in ceremony at the National Assembly. Key appointments include Marie-Karlynn Laflamme as Minister of Health, Prevention and Seniors tasked with abolishing Santé Québec, Joël Arseneau as Minister of Education, Nicolas Marceau as Minister of Finance, and Catherine Gentilcore as Immigration Minister. Other key portfolios include Alain Therrien as Treasury Board President, Stéphane Paquet for Economy and Energy, Nicolas Girard for Transportation and Sustainable Mobility, Guy Lapointe Jr. for Internal Security, Marie-Claude Sarrazin as Justice Minister, and Anne Nguyen for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs. Additionally, the ceremony faces a historic constitutional challenge as the lieutenant-governor will not preside over it following a provincial law that abolished the requirement to pledge allegiance to the King.
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Danielle Smith calls for unity after separatism rejected in Alberta referendum
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 00:58:00.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Immigration, Economy, Energy]Alberta voters decisively rejected separation from Canada, with approximately 75 percent voting against leaving in a historic referendum that saw 1.9 million ballots cast. Premier Danielle Smith stated that Alberta will remain a province of Canada and confirmed she will not hold another referendum on the issue during her tenure. Alongside the separatism question, voters passed eight out of nine additional government proposals, including initiatives focused on provincial oversight of immigration, increased limitations or fees for temporary workers accessing health care and education, and requiring proof of citizenship to vote provincially.
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith vows to not hold formal separation referendum
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-21 00:47:50.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Immigration, Justice]Following a provincial referendum where approximately 75 per cent of voters chose to remain in Canada, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith vowed not to hold a formal separation referendum while in power. Smith announced that her government will pursue increased provincial control over immigration, require temporary residents to pay public service fees, and mandate proof of Canadian citizenship to vote. Opposition Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the referendum as a political game that risks infringing on basic human rights.
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UPEI sees 20% drop in international student enrolment from last year
Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-20 23:48:48.0
Tags: [National, Prince Edward Island, Education, Immigration]International student enrolment at the University of Prince Edward Island has dropped by approximately 20 per cent compared to the previous year, with total international student numbers falling to roughly 1,300 from about 2,000 prior to federal policy changes. According to the Association of Atlantic Universities, the Atlantic region has experienced a 48 per cent overall decrease in international enrolments since Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced study permit caps in 2024, surpassing the federal target of a 35 per cent reduction. Concurrently, regional universities recorded a 3.4 per cent increase in first-year enrolments as of October 2026, driven primarily by domestic students from Atlantic Canada and the rest of Canada.
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Alberta to stay in Canada; PM Mark Carney, First Nations and leaders hail unofficial results
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-20 18:32:10.0
Tags: [Alberta, National, Governance, Indigenous, Immigration]In an unofficial provincial referendum held in Alberta, 75.5 per cent of voters rejected separation by choosing to remain in Canada, while 24.5 per cent voted in favour of option two. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith discussed intergovernmental cooperation on shared priorities, including immigration, following the results. Indigenous leaders, including Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of Treaty 8 First Nation and Chief Samuel Crowfoot of Siksika Nation, emphasized the importance of upholding treaties and protecting rights while noting ongoing political divisions.
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Carney says Albertans chose unity and to move forward with 'purpose' and 'high ambition'
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-20 16:41:56.0
Tags: [National, Alberta, Governance, Immigration, Justice]Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to Alberta's October 2026 provincial referendum, where 75.5 per cent of voters chose to remain in Canada while 24.5 per cent voted to hold a separation referendum. Discussing the ballot's other questions with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Carney stated that federal-provincial reforms regarding immigration controls and the appointment of provincial judges can be achieved through cooperation rather than complex constitutional amendments. Carney noted that federal reductions in asylum seekers, temporary foreign workers, and foreign students demonstrate alignment on sustainable immigration levels. Meanwhile, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc emphasized Ottawa's priority to work collaboratively with Alberta following the decisive unity vote.
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Alberta referendum vote to remain is ‘great result for Canada,’ Carney says
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-20 14:22:51.0
Tags: [Alberta, National, Governance, Immigration, Affordability]Approximately 76 percent of voters in Alberta decisively rejected holding a formal referendum on separatism, opting to remain part of Canada in a vote administered by Elections Alberta. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith discussed the referendum results, emphasizing a commitment to cooperative federalism regarding immigration and provincial priorities, alongside addressing the recent fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also responded, stating that the focus must shift to affordability, safety, strong borders, and immigration.
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Albertans mixed on other referendum questions after rejecting separation
Source: Alberta - Provincial Politics
Date: 2026-10-20 12:29:00.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Immigration, Healthcare, Education]Albertans decisively rejected provincial separation in a 10-question referendum overseen by Elections Alberta, with roughly 76 per cent voting against moving toward independence. The remaining questions produced mixed, narrower margins, including 59 per cent support for increased provincial control to decrease immigration and 57 per cent support for limiting access to health care, education, and social services. Additionally, roughly 63 per cent backed requiring proof of citizenship to vote, 52 per cent opposed opting out of federal programs without losing funding, and 51 per cent supported giving provincial laws priority over federal laws in conflict.
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Alberta referendum voters reject separatism, choose to stay in Canada
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-20 06:19:08.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Immigration, Energy]Voters in Alberta overwhelmingly rejected a formal referendum question on provincial separatism, with approximately 76 per cent voting to remain part of Canada. Elections Alberta reported that out of 1,163,148 total votes counted by midnight, 883,641 favored remaining in Canada while 278,062 voted to pursue a future binding referendum on leaving Confederation. The separation question, designated as Question 10, was added to the ballot by Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party government following constitutional and legal debates. An additional nine questions concerning immigration powers, provincial leverage in negotiations, and constitutional matters were also put to voters.
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Alberta votes to stay in Canada, CBC News projects. Here's how the referendum is unfolding
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-20 01:00:24.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Immigration, Justice]Alberta voters have decisively rejected a proposal to begin the legal process of separating from Canada, with 76 per cent voting in favour of remaining in the country and 24 per cent supporting a binding independence referendum. Early results across nine concurrent referendum questions indicate majority "yes" votes for establishing provincial immigration controls, requiring proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections, and various constitutional adjustments including judicial appointments and Senate reform. However, results remain unfinalized as elections officers continue counting mail-in and delayed ballot boxes across several provincial ridings.
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Alberta referendum live updates: Voting stations open at 9 a.m. | 1.3 million ballots cast, so far
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-19 14:59:59.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Immigration, Justice]Elections Alberta reported an unofficial total of 1,356,873 ballots cast during the advanced voting period and via special ballots for the October 19, 2026 provincial referendum, representing 43.1 per cent of the 3.1 million eligible voters. The referendum features 10 questions covering potential separation from Canada, increased provincial control over immigration levels and social program eligibility, and constitutional amendments regarding judicial appointments, the abolition of the federal Senate, the ability to opt out of federal programs, and the primacy of provincial laws over federal legislation.
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It’s referendum day in Alberta. Here’s what you need to know
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-19 11:00:00.0
Tags: [Alberta, Governance, Constitution, Immigration]Elections Alberta oversaw a provincial referendum featuring 10 questions covering immigration, the Constitution, and whether voters support Alberta remaining a province or holding a binding separation vote. A total of 1.3 million Albertans voted via special ballots or advance polls prior to referendum day, with election officers mandated by provincial rules to hand-count all ballots within 48 hours, prioritizing Question 10. Polling stations remained open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., permitting voters to choose answers for any or all of the 10 separate colour-coded ballots.
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