The Express Entry has been there for over a decade; the Aussies started it and made it so complicated, and here we are. Canada’s problem is never immigration itself, nor any specific stream, and yet here we are.

For sure, there are many reasons for reform now, but the key one reflects the shift in government policy priorities. The clear mandate is now to attract highly skilled, high-earning immigrants, and candidates whose attributes better predict long-term economic success in Canada.

Here are the two major changes on the table:

1.     A new, streamlined unified program
Forget the separate FSW, CEC, and FST programs. They are set to be merged into a single, unified federal skilled labour program. This aims to streamline the eligibility process, replacing the complex points grid (for FSW only) with a clear baseline: a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent, at least CLB/NCLC 6 for language proficiency, and a focus on TEER 0–3 work experience.

2.     Recalibrating the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
A crucial “high-wage occupation factor” will be introduced, and this is the part I want to talk about. What does “high wage” mean in this new context? In many cases now, the high-wage threshold is roughly the median wage + 20%, but the proposal seems to move toward tiered thresholds, such as occupations earning 1.5 times or even twice the national median.

Fasten your seat belt, it will be a bumpy ride.

Special thanks to Andrew Carvajal (@carvajallaw) for sharing his invaluable insights on these developments.