Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Canada has announced new immigration priority categories aimed at attracting highly skilled professionals in critical sectors, including research, health care, aviation and defence, as part of a broader effort to reshape its immigration system.
The changes, unveiled on Wednesday, align with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strategy to reduce overall immigration levels while focusing on candidates who can address labour shortages and support key national priorities.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the updates to the Express Entry system for 2026 are designed to bring in individuals who can “contribute from day one” as Canada faces workforce gaps in essential industries.
The newly targeted categories will include researchers, senior executives, transport-sector professionals such as pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers, and foreign-trained doctors with Canadian work experience. The program will also prioritize highly skilled foreign applicants being recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces, including military doctors, nurses and pilots.
The government said the policy shift aims to restore immigration to sustainable levels while easing pressure on housing and social services, which have been strained by high intake levels in recent years.
“Canada’s future depends on a workforce ready for a changing economy,” Diab said in a statement.
The immigration overhaul comes alongside the government’s broader economic and defence strategy. Earlier this week, Carney announced plans to significantly expand Canada’s defence capacity, including an 85 per cent increase in defence-related research and development over the next decade, a major boost in industry revenues and exports, and the creation of up to 125,000 new jobs.
Canada has also committed, along with other NATO members, to increase defence spending to five per cent of GDP by 2035.
Existing Express Entry invitation rounds for French-speaking candidates, health-care workers and skilled trades will continue alongside the newly introduced targeted streams.
