Weekly Digest | January 4, 2026

Key Highlights:

Recent Case Law

Work Permit – El Hajj v. Canada, 2025 FC 2031: The officer refused a TFWP work permit after finding the applicant failed to demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of a cook and lacked sufficient language proficiency, despite an approved LMIA. The Court held that the officer reasonably relied on GCMS notes, a verification interview, employer checks, and a procedural fairness process, and meaningfully engaged with the evidence. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Excessive Demand Cost Threshold – January 2, 2026: IRCC updated instructions on medical refusals and inadmissibility to reflect the 2026 excessive demand cost threshold for health and social services: $144,390 over 5 years or $28,878 per year. Read more

Sudan Nationals Temporary Public Policy Extended – December 29, 2025: IRCC extended the public policy for Sudanese nationals, permitting fee-exempt extensions or changes of temporary status in Canada, in-Canada work or study permit applications, and limited waivers of passport and biometric requirements. The policy is in effect until October 27, 2026. Read more

Sudan Family Members Public Policy Updated – December 29, 2025: IRCC has extended the public policy for eligible family members from Sudan, providing fee-exempt temporary status extensions, in-Canada open work or study permits, and permanent residence fee waivers. The policy remains in effect until October 27, 2026. Read more

Parents and Grandparents Program Intake Paused – December 29, 2025: Effective January 1, 2026, New Ministerial Instructions authorize processing of up to 10,000 applications from the 2025 intake in 2026 and suspend acceptance of new parent or grandparent permanent residence and sponsorship applications until further instructions are issued. Read more

Ontario – Employment Standards Act – December 31, 2025: Effective January 1, 2026, new job posting rules require certain employers to disclose expected compensation, the use of artificial intelligence in hiring, whether a vacancy actually exists, to respond to interviewees within 45 days after an interview, and require public job posting platforms to implement fraud-reporting mechanisms and written policies addressing fraudulent advertisements. Read more

Ontario – Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act – December 31, 2025: Effective January 1, 2026, amendments require regulated professions and third-party assessors to evaluate internationally trained applicants in a fair, transparent, objective, and impartial manner. Read more

Ontario – Ontario Immigration Act – December 31, 2025: Amendments to O. Reg. 422/17 expand Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program eligibility for self-employed physicians by broadening the list of eligible licence classes. Read more

Citizenship Regulations Amended – Bill C-3 Implementation – December 31, 2025: New regulations amend the Citizenship Regulations to implement Bill C-3, expanding citizenship by descent, setting evidence requirements for adopted children born abroad, and creating a simplified renunciation process for certain individuals who automatically acquire citizenship but do not wish to retain it. Read more

Citizenship Regulations Amended – Simplified Renunciation Updates – December 31, 2025: New regulations align the Citizenship Regulations with Bill C-3 changes by updating section 7.1 to reference the new simplified renunciation provisions, correcting French-English consistency, and confirming that minors may apply under the simplified renunciation scheme. Read more