Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration landscape underwent considerable reshaping in 2025, with several prominent permanent residence pathways either suspended or permanently closed across multiple provinces. These changes reflect a broader strategy of immigration program reform, though they have left many applicants reevaluating their options.
Among the most notable closures was Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, discontinued on November 14, 2025. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) cited concerns over systemic misrepresentation and fraud, prompting the province to shut down the stream and return all pending applications. This stream had previously offered a targeted route for skilled trades professionals in the Express Entry pool.
In Saskatchewan, the Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) took broader action. On March 27, the province announced the complete shutdown of all its Entrepreneur and Farm pathways: the Entrepreneur Category, the International Graduate Entrepreneur Category, and the Farm Owner/Operator Sub-Category. Saskatchewan further confirmed it had no intentions of reopening these streams in the future, marking a significant shift in its approach to business immigration.
New Brunswick also introduced changes that affected international graduates and skilled workers. Early in 2025, the province officially closed its NB Express Entry Stream – Student Connection Pathway, which had served as a vital option for graduates of New Brunswick’s designated learning institutions. In March, the province suspended intake for its Skilled Worker – Priority Occupations pathway, although no subsequent updates or reopening timelines were provided.
British Columbia followed suit, announcing the closure of its International Post-Graduate (IPG) Stream on January 7, 2025. This was a significant development for international students, though B.C. had already outlined plans to launch three new academic streams—Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate—designed to go live this same year. These new streams could offer fresh hope for students planning to transition to permanent residence based on their Canadian credentials.
Despite the spate of discontinuations, Canada continues to offer a variety of strong alternatives. New provincial immigrant pathways are in development, and existing federal programs like Express Entry remain robust. Additionally, some provinces are introducing modernized replacement streams, aiming for greater transparency and alignment with regional labor market needs.
For those impacted by these closures, it’s critical to stay informed about updates from both provincial and federal immigration authorities. Consulting immigration experts and closely monitoring new program launches can help prospective immigrants realign their strategies in a changing landscape.
Maple News will continue to track and report on all updates related to Canadian immigration policies and pathways to permanent residence.