Canada’s Immigration System Under Scrutiny for Favoring Certain Applicants Over Higher-Scoring Candidates
By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for Ghanaiannews Canada, 10 January 2026
Canada’s immigration selection process is drawing criticism as evidence emerges that some applicants are being favored over others with higher points under the country’s points-based system. The development has raised questions about fairness in how prospective newcomers are chosen for permanent residency, even when some applicants have stronger scores on paper.
At the centre of the debate is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which has been adjusting how its scoring and selection system particularly Express Entry and related programs operates in 2026. While the federal government maintains that its framework aims to meet labour market needs and economic priorities, critics argue that the system’s emphasis on certain categories or criteria can lead to situations where applicants with lower overall ranking scores are selected ahead of higher-scoring ones.
One of the key factors in this shift has been the rise of targeted immigration streams and changes in how points are allocated for different credentials. Many of these adjustments focus on aligning immigration with specific economic priorities, such as healthcare, research, or in-demand trade occupations, which can give a relative advantage to candidates in those areas even if their total point total is lower than others.
Additionally, recent policy changes have reshaped how Express Entry draws are conducted. For example, Canada shifted away from offering extra points for arranged job offers, refocusing selection on primary human-capital factors like education and language skills. These kinds of changes can result in selection outcomes that don’t strictly follow the highest-score-first model many applicants expect.
The federal government has defended the system as necessary for responding to evolving labour market demands and demographic pressures. Ottawa’s immigration levels plan for 2026–2028 outlines how Canada intends to balance economic growth, population needs, and labour shortages by prioritizing certain skilled workers and occupations.
Supporters of the current approach say that it allows Canada to remain competitive globally by actively recruiting newcomers who can fill critical gaps in key sectors, such as healthcare, technology, and infrastructure where demand is especially acute. Indeed, recent Express Entry draws have given priority to candidates in specific provincial nominee streams and occupations that align with national and regional labour needs.
Critics counter that the result is a system that, while well-intentioned, can be opaque and unpredictable to applicants. They call for clearer communication from IRCC about how selections are made and insist that transparency is essential to maintaining public trust in one of the most globally recognized immigration systems.
As Canada continues to adjust its immigration policies in line with economic and demographic goals for 2026 and beyond, the debate over fairness in how candidates are selected is likely to remain a central issue for prospective immigrants and policymakers alike.
