Philippines added as a designated state under Canada's Visiting Forces Act

Canada has formally designated the Republic of the Philippines as a 'designated state' under the Visiting Forces Act. This means Filipino military visiting forces operating in Canada now fall under the legal framework that governs foreign armed forces on Canadian soil, covering matters such as jurisdiction, discipline, and legal status. Most of the Act applies to Philippines visiting forces, with the exception of Part VI. Civilian personnel employed by a Philippine visiting force in Canada are also formally recognized as a 'civilian component' of that force, provided they are not stateless, not nationals of a non-designated country, and not Canadian citizens or residents. Organizations or individuals hosting, contracting with, or otherwise interacting with Philippine military personnel in Canada should be aware that this legal framework now applies to those interactions.

Whitefish River First Nation added to the list of First Nations under the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement

Whitefish River First Nation (Première Nation Whitefish River) has been formally added to the schedule of First Nations covered by the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement Act. Previously listed as a pending amendment not yet in force, it is now incorporated into the consolidated schedule alongside the other participating First Nations. This means Whitefish River First Nation is now an active party to the governance agreement, with the same rights and obligations as the other listed nations. Organizations, governments, and individuals dealing with Whitefish River First Nation on governance or self-government matters should treat it as a full participant under this framework.

Permanent resident status fee waived for certain Afghan nationals approved under specific public policies

A new federal remission order cancels the permanent resident status fee for Afghan nationals whose permanent residence applications were approved under one of three specific temporary public policies — covering families of Afghans who came to Canada under earlier public policies, extended families of former language and cultural advisors, and a further policy signed in early 2025. Affected individuals who have already paid the fee are entitled to a refund; those who have not yet paid will have the fee waived. This applies only to individuals approved under the named policies and does not extend to other Afghan or general immigration applicants. Affected individuals should confirm with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that their application falls under one of the listed policies.

Federal government remits permanent residency application fees for certain TR-to-PR pathway applicants who were refused

A new federal remission order cancels or refunds the humanitarian-and-compassionate (H&C) application fees paid by certain foreign nationals whose permanent residence applications were processed under specific 2021–2022 temporary public policies — commonly known as the "TR to PR Pathway" — but who did not meet those policies' conditions. The remission covers both principal applicants and their accompanying family members. To qualify, the applicant must have applied under one of seven listed public policies, must have failed to meet that policy's conditions, and must have subsequently filed an H&C request under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Those who meet all three conditions will have the processing fee either waived (if not yet paid) or refunded (if already paid). Affected individuals or their representatives should verify whether their situation matches one of the listed public policies and confirm their H&C request was properly filed.

Federal government remits passport fee increases deemed unreasonable, capping certain fees for applicants

The federal government has issued a remission order forgiving certain passport and travel document fee adjustments that were considered unreasonable to collect. For a multi-year period ending January 2026, automatic annual fee increases applied to most passport services under the relevant regulations are remitted in full. For a separate period going back to 2019 and ending March 2026, annual inflation-linked adjustments on three specific services are also remitted. Going forward into the period ending March 2027, fees for those three services are capped at specific dollar amounts ($125.75 for two services and $383.50 for one), meaning any portion of the fee above those caps is forgiven. Individuals and organizations that paid passport or travel document fees during the covered periods may have overpaid relative to these remitted amounts, and those applying or paying fees in the current period should note the applicable caps.

Permanent resident application fee waived for certain Afghan nationals approved under specific public policies

The federal government has created a new remission order that cancels the permanent resident status fee for certain Afghan nationals whose applications were approved under one of three specific temporary public policies. These policies covered families of Afghan nationals who came to Canada under earlier programs, extended families of former language and cultural advisors, and applicants under a March 2025 humanitarian public policy. Affected individuals either do not have to pay the fee or, if already paid, are entitled to a refund. Afghan nationals who believe they were approved under one of the three listed policies should confirm whether this remission applies to their situation and contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada if they have already paid the fee.

Permanent residency and sponsorship fees waived for Sudan conflict family class applicants

This new federal remission order cancels or refunds the fees normally charged for acquiring permanent resident status and for processing a family sponsorship application, for a specific group connected to the conflict in Sudan. It applies to foreign nationals who received an exemption under either of two updated temporary public policies covering family members who fled Sudan, and to the Canadian citizens or permanent residents who sponsored them. Affected individuals do not need to pay these fees, and those who already paid are entitled to a remission (refund). Sponsors and applicants who believe they qualify should confirm they were covered by one of the two named temporary public policies and retain documentation of that exemption.

Permanent resident status fee waived for certain former child-protection youth who obtained PR under 2024 public policies

The federal government has remitted (waived) the fee normally charged when someone acquires permanent resident status under Canada's immigration rules, for a specific group of people. Those covered are individuals whose permanent residence application was approved under either the January 2024 or November 2024 temporary public policies targeting people who came to Canada before age 19 and were under the legal responsibility of a child protection system. Anyone in this group who already paid the fee is entitled to a refund; anyone who has not yet paid no longer owes it. Affected individuals do not need to take action to trigger the remission, but should retain documentation of their PR approval under the applicable public policy in case it is needed to support a refund claim.

Several Budget 2024 amendment sections repealed before they ever took effect

Sections 213 to 221 and 224 of the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1 were repealed by a subsequent federal statute before they ever came into force. These sections had been held in reserve, awaiting activation by Governor in Council order, but that activation never occurred. The official note in the Act now records them as repealed rather than simply 'not in force.' Businesses or individuals who were monitoring these provisions for potential impact should be aware that those changes will not take effect. No action is required, but compliance plans built around these sections should be updated to remove them.

Excise duty rate tiers for small Canadian brewers restructured: first 2,000 hL tier rises from 5% to 10%, next 10,000 hL tier rises from 20% to 40%

The reduced excise duty rates that apply to beer and malt liquor brewed in Canada by smaller producers have been restructured across the volume tiers in Schedule II.1. The first 2,000 hectolitre tier, which previously attracted a 5% rate, now attracts 10%. The tier covering the next 10,000 hectolitres, previously set at 20%, now carries a 40% rate. The second tier (next 3,000 hL) retains a 20% rate and the fourth tier (next 35,000 hL) remains at 70%. Previously announced amendments that were listed as 'not yet in force' for these three tiers have now been incorporated into the consolidated text, meaning they are treated as operative law. Canadian brewers who benefit from the small brewer reduced-rate schedule — particularly those producing up to roughly 15,000 hectolitres annually — should review how these revised rates affect their duty calculations.

Turkey production quotas increased for all provinces in the next annual control period

The national schedule of turkey production quotas has been updated for the new annual control period. Every province's allocation has been raised, pushing the national total from roughly 372 million pounds to approximately 397 million pounds — an increase of about 6.8%. Ontario sees the largest absolute gain, moving from about 173.6 million to 186.7 million pounds. Turkey producers in all eight listed provinces will need to ensure their operations align with the revised quota allotments assigned by their provincial commodity boards under the new figures.

Advance payment loan limits extended to program year 2026, with higher cap maintained for canola producers

The regulations have been updated to set the maximum advance payment amount for program year 2026 at $250,000 for most agricultural producers. Canola producers continue to benefit from a higher cap of $500,000 for both program years 2025 and 2026. The structure of the rules was also reorganized: the general $250,000 limit for program year 2025 and the new 2026 limit are now each subject to the canola-specific override, which has been renumbered and consolidated into a single subsection. Producers who rely on advance payments under the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act should check which program year and commodity category applies to their situation to understand the cap that governs their loan.

EI appeals now go to the new Employment Insurance Board of Appeal, not the Social Security Tribunal

The Employment Insurance Act has been updated to reflect that appeals of EI Commission decisions are directed to the newly created Employment Insurance Board of Appeal, replacing the previous route through the General Division of the Social Security Tribunal. Rules about benefits being payable while an appeal is pending have been updated to cover decisions made by either the new Board of Appeal or the existing Tribunal, depending on the stage of transition. A transitional provision (s. 676) has also come into force, clarifying that certain older review processes under the Department of Employment and Social Development Act continue to apply to decisions and applications that were already underway before the new appeals structure took effect. Workers who have received or are seeking EI benefits and employers involved in EI-related disputes should be aware that the appeals body and applicable procedures have changed. Anyone with an ongoing or anticipated appeal should verify which body and rules apply to their specific situation.

Employment Insurance appeals now go to a new Board of Appeal before reaching the Social Security Tribunal

The consolidated law now activates a new two-step appeal structure for Employment Insurance (EI) decisions. Claimants who disagree with a Commission decision under the Employment Insurance Act must first appeal to the Board of Appeal within 30 days; the Board can extend that to one year in special circumstances. Board of Appeal decisions can then be challenged at the Tribunal's Appeal Division within 30 days, but only on limited grounds (natural justice, legal error, perverse factual finding, or constitutional questions). The leave-to-appeal requirement that previously applied to EI appeals at the Appeal Division has been removed for this pathway; leave remains required only for Income Security Section decisions. The Appeal Division can refer EI matters back to the Board of Appeal rather than the former Employment Insurance Section, and the Board and Appeal Division must exchange documents needed to decide cases. Parties before the Board may be represented by a representative of their choice at their own expense, and travel or living expenses may be reimbursed in warranted cases.

Appeals under the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act now go to the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal, not the Social Security Tribunal

Changes previously listed as 'not yet in force' have now taken effect. The body that hears referrals and appeals of Commission decisions under the Labour Adjustment Benefits Act has changed: references to the Social Security Tribunal have been replaced by the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal. Employees who want to challenge a Commission decision about their eligibility for labour adjustment benefits must now direct that appeal to the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal within 30 days of receiving the decision. The Commission can also refer an application or a related question to the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal within 14 days of receipt. One transitional provision — dealing with ongoing applications that were already before the General Division — remains listed as not yet in force and will carry those matters over to the Board of Appeal when it comes into effect.

Social Security Tribunal rules updated to integrate Employment Insurance Board of Appeal into the appeal process

The Social Security Tribunal Rules of Procedure have been updated to formally incorporate the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal (Board of Appeal) as a body whose decisions can be appealed directly to the Tribunal's Appeal Division. A new separate appeals pathway (section 26.1) now exists for appealing Board of Appeal decisions to the Appeal Division, with its own filing requirements, deadlines, and rules for when a decision is considered received. Key definitions — including 'appeal', 'appellant', 'Employment Insurance appeal', and 'party' — have been revised to reflect this two-track structure (Board of Appeal track and General Division track). The old requirement for the Tribunal to notify an employer about an Employment Insurance appeal at the General Division (former section 25) has been removed. New procedural rules require the Board of Appeal to send the Tribunal the full appeal record within seven business days of being notified of an appeal, and the Appeal Division must send a copy of its final decision back to the Board of Appeal in relevant Employment Insurance cases. Employment Insurance appellants at the Appeal Division may now also call witnesses in appeals involving constitutional law questions.

Employment Insurance Board of Appeal Regulations come into force (except two sections)

These regulations, which establish the framework for the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal, are now in force — with the exception of sections 39 and 41, which await a separate commencement order. The change simply updates the official record to reflect the force-of-law status confirmed by a Governor in Council order. Employers, workers, and representatives involved in EI appeals should be aware that the Board of Appeal regime is now operative and governs how appeals are heard and decided. Sections 39 and 41 remain suspended until a further triggering event occurs.

EI Pilot Project No. 24 extended and appeal rules updated to cover new Board of Appeal

Three sets of changes have been made to the Employment Insurance Regulations. First, the end date for Pilot Project No. 24 measures has been pushed back: the window during which the Commission can waive the two-week waiting period, treat separation earnings as non-deductible, and allow long-tenured workers to receive up to 20 extra benefit weeks has been extended by roughly six months. Second, rules that suspend benefit payments while the Commission appeals a tribunal decision have been updated to explicitly cover the new Employment Insurance Board of Appeal, not just the Social Security Tribunal's Employment Insurance Section. Third, two previously listed 'amendments not in force' (sections 38 and 40 of SOR/2025-74) have been brought into force and removed from the pending-amendments list, meaning those Board of Appeal references are now part of the live regulatory text. EI claimants whose benefit periods fall within the extended window, employers, and payroll administrators should note the longer period over which the special pilot measures apply.

Federal government remits permanent residence application fees for certain out-of-status construction workers and pandemic healthcare workers

This new federal order grants a refund (or waiver) of the processing fees for permanent resident applications made on humanitarian and compassionate grounds by two specific groups: out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area who applied under a series of temporary public policies between 2019 and 2024, and certain foreign nationals or refugee claimants who worked in Quebec's healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The remission applies to both principal applicants and any accompanying family members who were included in those applications. The key condition is that the applicant did not meet the eligibility conditions of the specific public policy under which they originally applied but still filed a humanitarian and compassionate request. Affected individuals who paid the processing fee or still owe it should assess whether they qualify under one of the listed public policies and may wish to seek a refund or have the outstanding fee cancelled.

Federal Court of Appeal jurisdiction over Social Security Tribunal expanded to cover new disability benefit decisions

The Federal Courts Act has been updated to bring two previously pending amendments into force in the consolidated text. The Social Security Tribunal's Appeal Division decisions are now subject to Federal Court of Appeal review with an expanded set of exclusions: decisions made under a new subsection (54.2(2)) and appeals about time extensions under a new subsection (43.11(2)) of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act are added to the list of matters the Federal Court of Appeal cannot hear. This reflects the coming into force of provisions related to the Canada Disability Benefit Act. Parties appealing or seeking judicial review of Social Security Tribunal Appeal Division rulings — particularly those involving disability benefits or employment insurance time-extension requests — should confirm which court has jurisdiction over their specific matter. The change also removes previously staged 'amendments not in force' language now that those provisions are operative.

New monetary penalty ranges added for vessel traffic services and Canada Shipping Act provisions

Three provisions of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (paragraphs 126(1)(a), 126(1)(b), and subsection 129(2)) have been added to the penalty schedule, each carrying fines of $260 to $10,000. A new Part 18 has also been added to the penalty schedule covering violations of the Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations, with 24 specific provisions now subject to penalties ranging from $260 to $10,000. These changes bring these provisions into the administrative monetary penalty framework, meaning Transport Canada can issue financial penalties directly rather than pursuing court action. Vessel operators, vessel traffic service participants, and others subject to the Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations should be aware that breaches of those rules now carry explicit monetary penalty ranges. A separate amendment to the Environmental Response Regulations penalty provisions is listed but not yet in force.

Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations (NORDREG) repealed in full

The Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations, which required certain vessels operating in Arctic and sub-Arctic Canadian waters to file sailing plan, position, final, and deviation reports with NORDREG CANADA, have been repealed in their entirety. All reporting obligations previously imposed on vessels of 300 gross tonnes or more, vessels towing or pushing combined tonnage of 500 or more, and vessels carrying pollutants or dangerous goods in the NORDREG Zone are eliminated by this repeal. Vessel operators, masters, and their agents who previously complied with NORDREG reporting requirements should verify what replacement rules, if any, now govern traffic services in the affected northern waters. Legal and compliance teams should review any internal procedures, vessel operating manuals, or contracts that reference these regulations and update them accordingly.

Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations repealed in full

The Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations have been repealed entirely. All of the rules they contained — covering which vessels must participate in vessel traffic services, required radio communications, mandatory reporting before entering or manoeuvring within a VTS zone, and the geographic definitions of all eleven VTS zones across Canada — are no longer in force under this instrument. Vessel operators, masters, and maritime companies that previously relied on these regulations for compliance guidance should seek the replacement framework, as the repeal was made by a separate amending instrument. Anyone operating vessels in Canadian VTS zones needs to confirm what rules now govern their reporting, communications, and zone-entry obligations.

Eastern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations have been repealed

The Eastern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations, which governed vessel traffic reporting requirements for ships operating in Canadian east coast waters and the St. Lawrence River, have been formally repealed. The full body of the regulations — including all rules about pre-entry reports, departure reports, dangerous goods disclosures, and emergency notifications — is no longer in force. Ship operators, masters, and agents who previously relied on these rules for compliance should confirm which replacement framework now governs vessel traffic services reporting in this zone. Organizations operating vessels of 500 gross tons or more, ships carrying pollutants or dangerous goods, and towing operations in eastern Canadian waters are most directly affected.

Federal government creates remission program for US motor vehicle surtax paid by specific importers

A new federal remission order allows named motor vehicle importers — identified by business number in a confidential schedule — to recover surtaxes paid or payable under the 2025 US Motor Vehicles Surtax Order. The remission applies to vehicles imported within a one-year window and is subject to several conditions. Importers must submit a claim to the Minister of Public Safety within two years of importation and must provide both the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Industry with requested information about importing, selling, and manufacturing motor vehicles in Canada. Additional conditions apply to importers that paused Canadian manufacturing for factory retooling (they must restart under ministerially-set requirements) and to importers who were not Canadian vehicle manufacturers when the order came into force (they must begin manufacturing in Canada). Eligible companies should check whether their business number appears in the confidential schedule and begin preparing claim documentation and information for the two ministers.