Canada is closing its programs

Canada is preparing the largest immigration reform in one of its key regions.
Most of the existing programs will be closed, but entirely new pathways to permanent residence will appear as early as 2026. This became possible after the adoption of Bill 30, a law that grants the minister the authority to rapidly change immigration streams without passing a separate legislative act.

The law has already been adopted and has been in force since the end of November 2025. This means these are no longer rumors — this is reality. We have carefully studied the government’s official proposals, and today we will explain exactly what will change, who will be affected, and most importantly, what you should do right now.

Today, we will primarily talk about Ontario, the region where 40% of Canada’s population lives. Toronto, Ottawa, the largest universities, the main employers — everything is here. We live in Ottawa, work with Ontario programs on a daily basis, and right now we are already restructuring strategies.

This is because the Ontario government has officially announced:
“The entire provincial immigration system is being completely restructured. Nine streams will be reduced to four, and they will operate on fundamentally different principles.”

Read until the end. We will tell you about three completely new immigration programs, one of which does not require a job offer at all.

Let’s start with the main question. Why did the authorities decide to completely rebuild the system?
After the high-profile closure of the skilled trades stream due to fraud — which we recently talked about — the government conducted a full audit of the program and concluded that the system is overloaded with streams, poorly protected, and no longer keeps up with the labor market.

As a result, nine streams are being reduced to four, and the selection logic is being completely changed. Ontario is not just changing streams — it is strengthening checks on both employers and applicants. Fake job offers and fabricated work experience will now be filtered out much more strictly.

So how exactly will this restructuring take place?
According to the draft regulation currently under public consultation until January 1, the reform will occur in two phases. The general structure and logic are very likely to remain, but specific criteria, language requirements, targeted occupation lists, and business requirements may change.

Phase one: three existing immigration streams for workers with job offers will be merged into one large stream with two tracks — one for skilled professionals and one for trades and labor occupations.
Phase two: the familiar streams for graduates and Ontario selections through the federal Express Entry system will disappear. Instead, three new pathways will appear — ones Canada has barely had before. One of them is expected to operate without a job offer. We will return to that shortly.

There are no official launch dates yet. Ontario is talking about gradual implementation throughout 2026. The first phase is expected in the first half of the year, and the second closer to autumn.

Before moving to phase two, let’s carefully examine phase one.

Three immigration streams are being merged into one stream for workers with job offers, but internally it will be divided into two tracks based on the TEER level of occupations.

The first track is for TEER 0–3 occupations.
The second track is for TEER 4–5 occupations.

Let us explain what TEER is. It is Canada’s occupational classification system based on required education, experience, and responsibility.
TEER 0–3 are skilled professions: doctors, engineers, IT specialists, managers, accountants, and so on.
TEER 4–5 are trades and labor occupations: caregivers, general laborers, packers, production assistants, delivery drivers, waiters, and similar roles.

Track for Skilled Professionals (TEER 0–3)

The main requirement is a job offer with a salary not below the median wage for your occupation in Ontario.
What is the median wage? It is the midpoint — half of workers earn more, half earn less. Your offer must be at least at that level.

It’s important to understand that the median wage depends on the specific occupation code and even the region. For example, for programmers in Ontario it is around $75,000 per year, for project managers about $80,000, and for nurses $65,000–70,000. These figures are approximate. Always check the median for your specific NOC and region on Job Bank, as it is updated regularly.

There is an exception. If you graduated from an Ontario educational institution within the last two years, you may be offered a salary at the lower end of the range, below the median. This was done to make it easier for employers to hire recent graduates.

The second requirement is work experience. There are three options, and you must meet at least one:

1. You are already working in Ontario for the same employer for at least 6 months in the position stated in your job offer.
   Important note: if you are already working in Ontario, it is most beneficial to reach the 6-month mark, as the requirements become noticeably softer.
2. You have at least 2 years of experience in the occupation within the last 5 years, anywhere in the world — in Canada or abroad.
3. Your occupation is regulated, and you hold a valid Ontario license. This applies to doctors, nurses, engineers, electricians, and other licensed professions.

The third requirement is post-secondary education — college or university.
However, there is an exception here as well. If you already have the 6 months of work experience in Ontario with the employer offering you the job, the education requirement is waived.

Example:
You are a project manager (TEER 0). You have been working in Ontario for 6 months. Your employer is ready to offer you a permanent position with a salary at or above the median. You qualify for this track.

It is important to note that employers will submit information through a special portal. Without real employer support, this pathway will not work.

Track for TEER 4–5 Occupations

This is a major change. Previously, immigration opportunities through Ontario for trades and labor occupations were extremely limited and restricted to a narrow list. Now, a real pathway is opening.

The key requirement is 9 months of work with an Ontario employer in the same position for which you are being offered permanent employment.
These 9 months act as a credibility check. The government wants to ensure the job is real, not fake, and that the employer genuinely needs you rather than selling job offers.

The second requirement is a minimum level of English or French. The exact level has not yet been announced and will be specified in the regulations. Most likely, it will be around CLB 4–6, which is below intermediate level.

Technically, all TEER 4–5 occupations are eligible, without exclusions. However, the province will conduct targeted draws. This means that while everyone may technically qualify, invitations will only be issued to occupations and regions that are priorities at that moment, based on labor market needs.

For example, if agricultural workers are needed in Niagara, there will be a draw for farm workers in Niagara. If construction workers are needed in Ottawa, builders there will be invited.

This means that simply having a job offer is not enough. Your occupation and region must be among Ontario’s priorities at the time of the draw.

Example:
You are a foundry worker (TEER 4). You have worked 9 months for an Ontario employer and meet the language requirement. You wait for a targeted draw for your occupation or region.

If you are TEER 4–5 and already working, your strategy is simple: keep your job, avoid breaks in employment, reach 9 months, and improve your language skills.

An additional important point concerns construction occupations. The government documents explicitly state that unionized construction workers will be able to immigrate under a simplified scheme. They will not even need a permanent job offer from a specific employer — union membership and proof of employment will be sufficient. This is due to a severe shortage of construction workers in Ontario, where housing is being built at massive speed.

Phase Two: A Completely New System

In the second phase, the familiar system will disappear. After launching the new worker-with-job-offer stream, Ontario plans to close almost all other programs and open three entirely new ones.

Programs planned for closure:

• Streams for master’s and PhD graduates
• All Ontario streams through the federal Express Entry system, including the Francophone stream
• The trades stream has already been closed as of November

Important clarification: the federal Express Entry system itself is not going anywhere. What disappears are Ontario’s nomination streams within that system. You will no longer be able to rely on Ontario invitations through Express Entry. Candidates will need to go through federal draws directly or apply via the job-offer stream.

For Francophone candidates, Ontario’s Francophone stream is also planned to be closed, so it will be better to focus on federal Francophone draws.

Graduates of Ontario institutions without job offers will face greater difficulty, as graduate streams are being removed. However, those who are already working or have real experience will gain new opportunities.

The Three New Streams

Only four directions will remain:
one new job-offer stream and three new programs.

First new stream: Priority Healthcare Workers Stream
This stream is unique because no job offer is required. If you are a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or another licensed healthcare professional and you obtain an Ontario license, you can apply for provincial nomination immediately.

The reason is simple: Ontario has a massive shortage of healthcare workers. Millions of residents cannot find family doctors, and hospitals are operating under extreme pressure. The government wants to make the path as easy as possible for medical professionals.

The program will also be open to graduates of medical programs who are in the final stage of licensing. You do not need full licensure yet — being close to completion is sufficient.

This is a huge opportunity for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals.

Second new stream: Entrepreneurs
Ontario previously had a business immigration program, which was closed several years ago. Now it is being revived in a new format.

The key difference is that you do not need to submit a business plan and wait for approval before moving. Instead, you must already be actively running a business in Ontario.

There are two options:

1. You create a new business in Ontario and actively manage it.
2. You purchase an existing business and manage it.

The second option — business succession — is of particular interest. Many small business owners in Canada are aging and want to sell, but cannot find buyers. Now immigrants who purchase such businesses will have a pathway to permanent residence.

Investment requirements, job creation numbers, and regional criteria have not yet been announced and will be clarified in regulations.

Third new stream: Exceptional Talent Stream
This is the most unusual stream. There is no points system and no formal criteria like years of experience or education level. Instead, there will be an expert assessment of your achievements and potential.

Who are they looking for? World-class individuals in science, technology, innovation, culture, arts, and entrepreneurship.

Examples from official documents include: researchers with patents and international grants, artists or directors with prestigious international awards, founders of globally successful startups, scientists with significant publications, and creators of internationally recognized works of art.

Ontario’s immigration minister has openly stated that the province has been losing valuable candidates who did not fit standard programs.

This stream is not for good specialists — it is for truly outstanding cases. It will be small, and only a few will qualify. But for those few, it will be the shortest path to permanent residence.

What About Existing Applications?

The government has not provided a clear answer yet. Official documents state that transition details will be determined later. Based on recent precedent, there is a real risk. In November, applications under the trades stream through Express Entry were returned. Fees were refunded, but time and effort were lost.

Bill 30 explicitly allows Ontario to return applications if priorities change. This is now legal authority.

Our advice: if your application is already in process, prepare a backup plan. Improve your federal Express Entry score, look for employers, and consider learning French.

Practical Summary

Some doors will close, others will open. The key is not to panic, but to adapt correctly.

• Apply under existing programs as soon as possible before they close
• Ontario graduates should urgently find employers
• Medical workers should start licensing now
• TEER 4–5 workers should reach 9 months of experience
• Entrepreneurs should study Ontario’s business market

Ontario represents 40% of Canada’s population. When Ontario changes its system this radically, it signals broader national shifts. Other provinces are watching closely, and similar changes are already starting in New Brunswick.

This is a massive transformation — and it has only just begun.