📰 Immigration & Settlement Weekly Newsletter
🗓️ Week of November 4–10, 2026 | Settlement Services Regina
Welcome to your trusted weekly source for immigration and settlement news! We bring you the latest authentic updates from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan to help you stay informed about policies, programs, and opportunities affecting newcomers across Canada and here in Saskatchewan.
📈 TOP STORIES THIS WEEK
🔥 Canada tables the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan — 380,000 permanent residents a year, plus a path for 200,000 people already here
On November 5, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) tabled the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, holding permanent resident admissions steady at 380,000 a year and new temporary resident arrivals at 370,000 a year (220,000 workers and up to 150,000 international students) for each of the next three years. Economic immigration stays above 64% of permanent admissions, with the Provincial Nominee Program set at 95,000 admissions a year — good news for Saskatchewan, where the SINP is a main route to permanent residence. The plan also raises the French-speaking permanent resident target outside Quebec from 9.5% in 2027 to 12% by 2029. Alongside the plan, the government announced a time-limited measure to help up to 200,000 people already living in Canada transition to permanent residence in 2027 — 100,000 through a workers cohort (including through increased PNP allocations) and 100,000 through a humanitarian cohort. No new application has opened for this measure yet: it works through existing applications and nominations, so beware of anyone offering to sell you a spot.
💛 Faster permanent residence processing for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers already in Canada
On November 10, 2026, IRCC announced it will use the new time-limited measure to accelerate processing for thousands of Ukrainians and Hong Kongers already living in Canada and waiting for permanent residence. The plan aims to process all remaining applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways — expected to result in up to 32,000 admissions — and all remaining applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway — up to 18,800 admissions — in 2027. Both pathways are closed to new applications (Hong Kong since August 2026, Ukraine since October 2024), so this is about clearing the existing backlog, not opening new intake. Because these applicants are already living, working, and contributing in Canada, they do not represent net new arrivals, and the measure sits on top of the regular humanitarian targets without displacing other vulnerable groups, including resettled refugees. For Saskatchewan families with loved ones waiting on these pathways, the message is certainty: decisions are now expected in 2027.
🌾 Rural immigration pathway becomes permanent — and Moose Jaw is on the list
On November 9, 2026, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced that the Rural Community Immigration Pilot is becoming the permanent Rural Community Immigration Program. Launched in January 2025, the pilot gave skilled workers and international graduates in priority sectors a community-led pathway to permanent residence, with local economic development organizations vetting and designating employers. The permanent program keeps that model and the same 14 participating communities — including Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan — with expansion to more communities planned. From January 2025 to August 2026, participating communities vetted and designated more than 1,950 trusted employers facing labour shortages they could not fill locally. The 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan sets aside 5,500 admission spaces for the program in 2027, rising to 6,500 by 2029. For newcomers open to smaller Saskatchewan communities, Moose Jaw’s continued participation is a real, employer-backed route to permanent residence.
📈 Saskatchewan adds 5,900 jobs in October — unemployment third lowest in Canada
Statistics Canada’s latest labour force numbers, released November 6, 2026, show Saskatchewan added 5,900 jobs year over year in October, with the province’s unemployment rate at 5.9% — the third lowest among provinces and well below the national average of 6.7%. Growth was driven by the private sector, with employment up 25,000 (7.0%). The biggest year-over-year gains came in manufacturing (up 5,400), construction (up 5,200), and health care and social assistance (up 5,200) — three sectors where newcomers and internationally trained workers are in demand. Youth employment rose 1,700 (2.1%). Regina’s employment grew 5,300 (3.5%) compared with October 2025, while Saskatoon’s grew 400 (0.2%). The province’s economy also grew 3.1% in real GDP last year, outpacing the national average of 1.9%. For newcomers job hunting in Regina, the numbers say the market is moving in your favour — especially in trades, health care, and manufacturing.
🔧 Skilled tradespeople celebrated in Regina — apprenticeship is a strong newcomer pathway
The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) hosted its 26th annual Apprenticeship Celebration on November 6, 2026, at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina, with over 400 guests honouring more than 50 award winners for excellence in apprenticeship and the skilled trades. The largest award category recognized the Outstanding New Journeypersons who scored the highest marks on their journeyperson certification exams the previous year, alongside awards for lifetime achievement, outstanding instructors, and outstanding employers. Saskatchewan now has more than 8,000 registered apprentices — the highest number in nearly a decade — and the province is expecting $60 billion of investment across 60 major projects that will need skilled tradespeople and tech workers. For newcomers with a trade background, or young people starting out, the apprenticeship system — including the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship program for students — is one of the most reliable routes into well-paid, in-demand work in this province.
👀 WORTH WATCHING
🌟 Quick Updates from Government Sources
⏸️ Express Entry draws still paused — no rounds since October 28 — IRCC has held no invitation rounds since the October 28 transport round (150 invitations at CRS 477), while it recalculates every profile under the new November 3 scoring rules. The recalculation may take up to two weeks, so the earliest resumption is around November 17. Watch the official rounds page for the first post-pause draw.
🔗 Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/submit-profile/rounds-invitations.html
🇫🇷 Francophone immigration target climbs to 12% by 2029 — The new Levels Plan raises the target for French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec from 9.5% in 2027 to 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029. French-speaking candidates continue to benefit from category-based Express Entry draws and the Francophone Immigration Support Program.
🔗 Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/11/building-a-stronger-canada-through-a-well-managed-predictable-immigration-system.html
🎯 SINP 2027 intake windows — watch the statistics page — With the 2026 capped sectors filled and 4,023 of 5,261 nominations issued (76%), the next thing to watch is when Saskatchewan opens its 2027 SINP intake windows. The 2027–2029 Levels Plan raises the national PNP target to 95,000 a year, and the new time-limited measure adds space through increased provincial allocations.
🔗 Source: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/Residents/Moving-to-Saskatchewan/Live-in-Saskatchewan/By-Immigrating/Saskatchewan-Immigrant-Nominee-Program/sinp-processing-statistics
🎁 FREE IMMIGRATION RESOURCES
💰 This Week’s Government Resources
📋 IRCC: Supplementary Information for the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan
The full tables behind this week’s plan — every category target and range for 2027, 2028, and 2029, including the PNP, Rural Community Immigration Program, and Atlantic Immigration Program numbers.
🏠 IRCC: Rural Community Immigration Program
The official backgrounder on the newly permanent rural program — the 14 participating communities (including Moose Jaw), how communities and employers are selected, and how the community-led model works.
💼 Saskatchewan: SINP Processing Statistics
Saskatchewan’s official statistics page shows 2026 nomination allocations used, average processing times by stream, and the status of capped-sector intake windows — essential reading before you apply, and the page to watch for 2027 openings.
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🤝 From Settlement Services Regina
Thank you for trusting us to bring you authentic, government-sourced immigration and settlement news. Whether you’re navigating federal programs or exploring opportunities here in Saskatchewan, we’re committed to keeping you informed with reliable information from official sources. 🍁
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