According to the latest update from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada’s immigration backlog has dropped to 2.4 million. The record across all aspects of business has advanced as follows since July 2021:
• November 3, 2022: 2,411,388 persons • September 30, 2022: 2,600,000 persons • August 31, 2022: 2,583,827 persons • July 15-17, 2022: 2,679,031 persons • June 1-6, 2022: 2,387,884 persons • April 30-May 2, 2022: 2,130,385 persons • April 11-12, 2022: 2,031,589 persons • March 15 and 17, 2022: 1,844,424 persons • February 1, 2022: 1,815,628 persons • December 15, 2021: 1,813,144 persons • October 27, 2021: 1,792,404 persons • July 6, 2021: 1,447,474 persons
As of October 31, there were 331,401 citizenship applicants, compared to 351,964 on October 3. Compared to October 3, the permanent residence inventory stood at 506,421 people.
According to the October 3 temporary residence inventory, there were 1,651,649 people, while on November 3 it stood at 1,537,566. This resulted in reductions in two of the three major categories, with the biggest reduction in temporary residences.
39,589 Express Entry applications are awaiting processing as of November 3. In July, the IRCC resumed inviting Express Entry candidates from all programs. Due to IRCC’s struggles to meet its service standard of processing Express Entry applications within six months, draws were limited to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) between September 21, 2021, and July 6, 2022. After reducing the number of Express Entry invitations for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, IRCC has returned to its six-month service standard for candidates who have received a permanent residence invitation since July 6. The PNP has an inventory of 62,073 total applications.
Family Class Inventory
A total of 128,112 family immigrants are currently in the system, compared to 125,488 on October 3. The Spouses and Partners program is among the largest inventories among all lines of business, at 61,118, a slight rise in the number as compared to October 3. The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) has an inventory of 55,653 people compared to 53530 people waiting for decisions in October.
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Canada Immigration News Podcast #94: Express Entry Draw 394, North Bay RCIP 2026, Ontario Record Nomination Allocation, and Alberta Job Growth
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Canada Immigration News Podcast #94 brings you the latest developments shaping Canada’s immigration landscape. In this episode, we cover Express Entry Draw 394 issuing 8,500 invitations, the North Bay RCIP 2026 priority occupation list, Ontario’s record nomination allocation for 2026 immigration intake, and strong Alberta job growth in 2026. These updates reflect how Canada continues expanding economic immigration pathways while aligning regional workforce needs with long-term population planning.
Canada delivered one of the largest Express Entry rounds of the year through Draw 394, issuing 8,500 Invitations to Apply under the French-language category. The draw required a CRS score around 400, significantly lower than most program-specific or Provincial Nominee Program rounds. This large-scale selection highlights Canada’s growing emphasis on Francophone immigration outside Quebec and demonstrates how category-based draws continue to expand opportunities for bilingual candidates. The size of this draw also signals IRCC’s intent to accelerate immigration targets through targeted selection streams that address demographic and linguistic priorities.
Regional immigration pathways remain central to Canada’s strategy, and the North Bay Rural Community Immigration Pilot has released its 2026 priority occupation list. The updated list expands to include technology roles alongside traditional sectors such as healthcare, skilled trades, and community services. By refining priority occupations, North Bay aims to attract talent that directly supports local labour shortages and economic growth. Regional programs like RCIP provide smaller communities with tools to select candidates aligned with real workforce needs, ensuring newcomers integrate quickly into employment and community life. This localized approach strengthens regional retention and supports balanced population growth across Canada.
Ontario has received its largest ever provincial nomination allocation for 2026, reinforcing its role as Canada’s primary destination for skilled immigrants. The expanded allocation will allow the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program to issue more nominations across key streams, including employer-driven pathways, human capital priorities, and regional initiatives. This record allocation reflects both Ontario’s economic scale and its persistent demand for skilled labour across sectors such as healthcare, technology, construction, and finance. By increasing nomination capacity, Canada ensures that provinces can directly select candidates who match labour market needs while accelerating permanent residence pathways for skilled workers.
Economic performance continues to shape immigration priorities, and Alberta job growth in 2026 highlights strong labour demand. The province recently added more than 40,000 full-time jobs and recorded employment growth of about 3.4 percent, far above the national average. This expansion spans multiple industries including energy, technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. Strong job growth not only signals economic resilience but also increases opportunities for immigrants seeking stable careers. Provinces demonstrating sustained employment expansion typically receive increased immigration attention, making Alberta an increasingly attractive destination for newcomers aligned with high-demand sectors.
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