Immigration Concern Canada: Is the Shift in Priorities Real?

Immigration concerns in Canada have taken a noticeable back seat. According to new Nanos Research findings, immigration is no longer the most pressing issue for Canadians. Instead, economic uncertainty, US relations, inflation, and healthcare now dominate public attention.

The survey, conducted over four weeks and ending December 26, 2025, polled more than 1,000 Canadians. It found that only 6.4% of respondents identified immigration as their top concern, compared to the economy at 21.8%, US relations at 10%, inflation at 8.4%, and healthcare at 6.6%.

This shift raises a critical question for immigrants and policymakers alike: Is Canada entering a period of stability after years of rapid immigration reform, or are further changes still coming?

Immigration Reform Is Slowing Publicly, Not Operationally

While public attention has moved elsewhere, Canada’s immigration system is far from slowing down. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues to plan and roll out significant policy changes for 2026, driven by labour shortages, demographic pressures, and economic priorities rather than public sentiment.

Canada’s need for newcomers remains strong, particularly in agriculture, healthcare, construction, research, and innovation. As a result, the coming year is expected to introduce new permanent residence pathways, revised work permit rules, and structural changes to the classification of occupations.

New Permanent Residence Pathways Expected In 2026

IRCC has confirmed several PR initiatives currently in development, many of which target specific labour gaps.

Agriculture And Fish Processing Stream

IRCC’s 2025–2026 Departmental Plan confirms a new foreign labour stream for agriculture and fish processing workers. This pathway is expected to include a sector-specific work permit and address long-standing labour shortages in food production.

The program was first announced in June 2025, but as of now, no launch date or eligibility details have been released.

Entrepreneur Pilot Program

With the closure of the Start-Up Visa Program and the indefinite pause of the Self-Employed Persons Program as of December 31, 2025, IRCC is developing a new entrepreneur-focused pilot.

This program is expected to address existing gaps in business immigration, though eligibility criteria, investment thresholds, and timelines have not yet been disclosed.

Refugee Student Pathway

IRCC plans to introduce a complementary pathway for refugee students, inspired by the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP). The EMPP itself closes on December 31, 2025, and this new pathway is intended to continue offering education-based solutions for displaced students.

The launch was initially expected by the end of 2025, but the timeline now points to a 2026 rollout.

Construction Worker Pathway

In March 2025, IRCC announced plans for a permanent residence pathway for out-of-status construction workers already in Canada. Up to 6,000 spots will be allocated to allow eligible workers to regain legal status and apply for PR.

Details on eligibility, documentation, and intake dates are still pending.

Accelerated Pathway For H1-B Visa Holders

Canada’s 2025 federal budget confirmed plans for a fast-tracked PR pathway for US H1-B visa holders. This initiative aims to attract highly skilled professionals in healthcare, research, and advanced industries.

The program is expected to launch sometime in 2026, further strengthening Canada’s appeal to US-based talent.

Changes To PGWP Eligibility In Early 2026

Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility is also set to change. In June 2025, IRCC updated the list of eligible study programs by adding 119 new fields and removing 178 others. However, implementation of removals was delayed until early 2026.

Students may still qualify for a PGWP if:

Their study permit or PGWP application was submitted before November 1, 2024, or
Their application was submitted after June 25, 2025

Once the changes take effect, graduates from non-eligible programs may lose access to Canadian work experience pathways such as the Canadian Experience Class.

Major Revisions To The National Occupational Classification (NOC)

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is preparing a significant update to the National Occupational Classification system. Over 150 unit groups, nearly one-third of all occupations, will be affected.

Key goals of the revision include:

Updating Indigenous-related occupational content
Modernizing healthcare, science, and public protection roles
Improving alignment with real-world job duties

These changes may impact how candidates claim skilled work experience under Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs. Applicants should carefully reassess their job duties once the new NOC structure is released.

Although an update was expected in October 2025, it is now likely to be published in 2026.

Potential New Express Entry Categories

Between August and September 2025, IRCC conducted public consultations on expanding category-based Express Entry draws. Proposed categories include:

Leadership: senior managers and strategic decision-makers
Research and Innovation: scientists and researchers driving productivity
National Security and Defence: skilled personnel from allied nations

If adopted, these categories would further shift Express Entry toward targeted labour market needs rather than broad CRS competition.

Bill C-12 And Increased Government Control

Bill C-12, titled the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, is progressing through Parliament. As of December 11, 2025, it passed third reading in the House of Commons and first reading in the Senate.

If enacted, the bill would give the Governor General authority to manage immigration applications at multiple stages, including:

Permanent residence visas
Work permits
Study permits
Temporary resident visas

Further analysis is available at https://www.globemigrant.com/policy

Priority Shifts Toward In-Canada Applicants

IRCC has confirmed that temporary residents already in Canada will be prioritized for PR under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

Key measures include:

Increasing PNP admissions from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 in 2026
Targeting Express Entry candidates with Canadian work experience
Launching a Physicians with Canadian work experience category in early 2026
Accelerating PR for 33,000 temporary foreign workers in high-demand sectors
Streamlining PR for up to 115,000 protected persons already in Canada

These measures reinforce Canada’s shift toward retaining existing residents rather than relying solely on overseas recruitment.

Key Takeaways

Immigration is no longer the top public concern in Canada, but policy reform continues.
Multiple new PR pathways are expected to launch in 2026
PGWP eligibility rules will tighten, affecting future graduates
Major NOC revisions may impact how work experience is assessed.
New Express Entry categories could reshape selection priorities.
In-Canada temporary residents will receive increasing PR preference.

Canada’s immigration landscape is entering a more targeted and strategic phase. While public debate has cooled, the system itself is evolving rapidly, favoring candidates who closely align with labour market needs and are already contributing from within Canada.