New Immigration Trends in New Brunswick and Ontario in 2026

Recent immigration updates from New Brunswick and Ontario indicate a noticeable shift towards more targeted, labour-market-driven selection early in 2026.

Effective February 3, New Brunswick has made significant changes to its Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Program. The province has decided to exclude candidates employed in accommodation and food services, as well as various roles in retail, food processing, and entry-level occupations, from both in-Canada and overseas streams.

Furthermore, the Atlantic Immigration Program has transitioned to a pooled candidate system, halted new employer designations temporarily, and restricted overseas recruitment to healthcare, education, and construction trades. Concurrently, New Brunswick has extended its Private Career College Graduate Pilot until the end of 2026, but exclusively for students already enrolled in specific colleges.

On February 2, Ontario took a different approach by actively selecting workers. The province issued 1,825 invitations in its initial draws of 2026 through employer-driven streams, with a focus on recruiting physicians, healthcare professionals, early childhood educators, and individuals supporting regional and rural communities via the REDI pilot.

These recent developments underscore a prevailing trend: provinces are limiting access to lower-priority occupations while expediting pathways for healthcare, education, construction, and regional workforce demands.