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Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) in the most recent Express Entry draw.

The department issued 733 ITAs in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-aligned draw.

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 812 to be considered.

Today’s draw is the first of November and follows the release of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025. Under the Plan, IRCC aims to welcome 124,680 Express Entry candidates next year

Those who received an ITA today will be considered in targets for next year, either through the newly introduced In-Canada Focus targets for Express Entry candidates, or the Federal Economic Priorities category.

On 7th November, 2024, Alberta has conducted its EOI Draw, which is more or less Trade Specific enabling all the trade workers category to get invitations to apply having minimum EOI Score of 50 and inviting 187 candidates. And that creates a good hope for most of the aspiring candidates who are waiting for their invitations, as EOI Score showing downwards trend (like 45, 50) and specific NOC Based Draws.

The budget is the City’s plan for where we will get money (revenues) and how we will spend it (expenditures). It maps out how property tax dollars and other funding will be invested to provide the programs, services and construction projects Edmontonians rely on.

Every fall, Council approves adjustments to our 4-year budget in response to significant changes.

On November 13, 2024, Administration will present its fall budget adjustment reports to Council. The reports recommend changes to the 2023-2026 capital and operating budgets. Administration is recommending both spending reductions and revenue increases to support ongoing efforts to tackle budget challenges.

The operating budget changes will help the City to manage ongoing challenges like high costs, rapid population growth and changing service needs. These challenges are much bigger than what was forecast when the budget was set in 2022, and mean it is more expensive to deliver the same services, beyond what the current budget can support sustainably.

To keep its finances stable and continue delivering the services that matter to Edmontonians, the City must reduce spending and increase revenues.

Recommendations include:

• Adding 1.1% to the tax increase for 2025. 1% will help replenish the Financial Stabilization Reserve and 0.1% will help fund changes for the 2025 election.
• $8.5 million in ongoing savings to limit the tax increase.

Administration recommends a $152 million increase to the capital budget, mostly to fund neighborhood renewal projects and the Terwillegar Drive Expressway.

Administration also released its annual update to the carbon budget. It’s a tool to support Council’s decision-making as they adjust the capital and operating budgets. It also tracks progress on the City’s energy transition goals.

Edmonton’s unemployment rate averaged 5.9 per cent in 2023. The report expects a rise in the unemployment rate to 6.3 per cent in 2024, citing that the labour force increase will be faster than employment. The rate will lower in 2025 to 6.1 per cent and stabilize in 2026-2028, the report said.

Despite a “levelling resale market” in 2023 which will limit output growth in finance, insurance and real estate, the housing market is set to improve later in 2024, which will foster an estimated growth of 3.8 per cent in the finance, insurance and real estate industry in 2025.

Demand for Edmonton homes is being fueled by the “decent” economy and surging population — but faces higher interest rates nationally. While the demand is there, local pricing is unsteady, the report said.

“Against this backdrop, sales have flattened in recent months, while nonetheless exceeding year-earlier levels since July. The area’s resale market remains balanced, although listings are edging up. Rising listings combined with levelling sales could weaken the market’s stance, although we don’t expect a dip into buyers’ territory,” said the report.

The city’s affordability, continuing employment growth and easing interest rates point to a strengthening real estate market in 2024, although the near term looks “rocky.”

While oil remains an important part of Alberta’s economy — oil prices have been trimmed by recession fears and “boosted by Saudi production cuts and war in Israel.” Oil prices in 2023 trimmed output growth in the primary and utility sectors due to volatility to an estimated four per cent in 2023 after annual gains of 7.5 per cent in 2021 and 2022.

“We expect economic cooling and further oil price volatility to limit primary and utilities output growth to 3.1 per cent in 2024 and 2.1 per cent in 2025. The outlook for 2026–28 features 3.1 per cent average annual growth,” said the report.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) in the most recent Express Entry draw.

The department issued 400 ITAs in a draw that considered candidates through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 539 to be considered.

Today’s draw was the second Express Entry draw of the week. The last one occurred on October 21

and invited 648 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum CRS score of at least 791.

Foreign nationals may be eligible for an LMIA-exempt work permit if hired by one of eight Canadian companies, largely based in the tech sector.

Earlier this month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a new work permit under the Innovation Stream.

The Innovation Stream is one of the four pillars of Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy, designed to bolster economic growth by attracting talent into Canada.

Here’s a look at the eight companies eligible for the LMIA-exempt, employer-specific work permit, and the job opportunities they offer as of October 16:

Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan have all increased the legal minimum hourly wage paid to workers as of October 1.

Most increases are incremental and tied to the rate of inflation. For example, in Ontario, the minimum wage has increased from $16.55 an hour to $17.20.

The average income of a person making minimum wage generally depends on the number of hours they work each week. Statistics Canada data for 2023 shows that the average actual hours per week worked by a full-time employee in Ontario is 39.3. Assuming these are all paid hours (not accounting for unpaid breaks), this means that before tax and other deductions, employees making minimum wage can expect to gross $675.96 each week.

Most employers in Ontario pay their employees every two weeks, so on average, a full-time wage worker will gross $1,351.92 per paycheck. A part-time employee can expect much less.

If that is expanded to 26 pay periods a year (52 weeks a year divided by 2), minimum wage employees can now expect on average a gross income of approximately $35,149.92 a year.

However, according to Weathsimple’s income tax calculator, an employee in Ontario with that average annual salary will net (take home) $29,026 (assuming they have no other income, investments or an RRSP).

So, can you survive on a full-time minimum wage job in Ontario? This is relevant to many newcomers, especially those who immigrate without a job offer and need to find work quickly to support themselves or, in some instances, require proof of income to help them find accommodation.