Ontario, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island have recently issued provincial nominations to candidates in their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). PNPs provide provinces with the opportunity to select economic immigration candidates who can easily integrate into the provincial economy and labor force. A provincial nomination strengthens a candidate’s application for permanent residency and provides additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. For example, receiving a provincial nomination as an Express Entry candidate can provide an additional 600 CRS points, which increases the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in a subsequent Express Entry draw.
Recently, the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) met to discuss shared priorities and move forward on objectives set in July 2022. One outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of a multi-year provincial nomination levels plan. Under this plan, IRCC will inform each province how many spaces they have been allocated under the PNP for up to three years in advance.
Provinces will now be able to plan for future housing and infrastructure needs to better support newcomers and retain them in the province. The number of allocations has also increased in some provinces. For example, the number of PNP allocations for Manitoba in 2023 has increased by 3,175 spaces over 2022. Saskatchewan and Alberta have also reported significant increases in allocations over the next three years, with Saskatchewan’s PNP going as high as 8,500 spaces by 2025 and Alberta going up to 10,849.
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, typically receives the largest number of allocations under the PNP. Ontario held several draws in March 2023 under different streams, including International Student, Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Workers, and Skilled Trades. In the International Student stream, the province invited 606 targeted candidates in healthcare and tech occupations with a minimum score range of 70 and above. The second draw under this stream was for candidates in skilled trades occupations, and the province invited 300 candidates with a score range of 74 and above. In the Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Workers stream, Ontario invited 271 candidates in finance, health, and education occupations, and 344 in tech and skilled trades.
British Columbia invited more than 230 candidates in the weekly BC PNP draw on March 14. The largest draw was a targeted tech draw that invited 197 candidates from the International Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, including Express Entry candidates, who required a minimum SIRS score of 83. The province also invited candidates working in early childhood education, healthcare, and other priority occupations.
Prince Edward Island invited 144 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination, with the majority of them being candidates from the Labor and Express Entry stream. Six invitations were also issued to candidates in the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur category.
In conclusion, PNPs are an important aspect of economic immigration in Canada, and the recent increase in allocations and multi-year provincial nomination levels plan will help provinces plan for future needs and better support newcomers. Candidates who receive a provincial nomination have a higher chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency in subsequent draws, which is an excellent opportunity for them to start a new life in Canada.
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