British Columbia and Ontario invite candidates in most recent Provincial Nomination draws

British Columbia and Ontario have issued invitations to apply to candidates through their Provincial Nomination Programs this week.

Although provincial nomination is not in itself the same as a permanent residence, it can act as a starting point toward gaining permanent residence status from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Most Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own Provincial Nomination Programs. Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

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Quebec’s immigration programs are administered by the province and are distinct from Canada’s immigration programs.

The PNP now accounts for over 80,000 PR admissions per year. When it was launched in 1998, it welcomed just 400 candidates. The increase in the number of PNP admissions in Canada comes as the federal and provincial governments have recognized it an effective tool to promote the economic development outside of the provinces and urban centres with already high immigrant populations.

Provincial immigration results September 30-October 7

Ontario

On September 29, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited 1,340 candidates from the Express Entry Skilled Trades stream. Candidates required a score of 266.

To be eligible for this stream, candidates must already live in Ontario and require at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Ontario in a skilled trade that is listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Work experience should be obtained within the past two years.

Eligible candidates also need a valid license or certificate for their trade from an Ontario authority and a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 5 or higher in English or French.

British Columbia

More than 229 candidates were invited to apply for provincial nomination in British Columbia on October 4.

In total, 184, were invited in a general draw that included tech occupations. The invitations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduates categories and included Express Entry candidates.

Candidates in the general draw had minimum SIRS scores that ranged between 82 and 120. SIRS acts much like the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but is only used for British Columbia’s PNP.

The province also held rounds of invitations for candidates working in the following occupations.

32 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 60 points; and
13 Healthcare workers from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (includes EEBC option) with scores of at least 60 points
Healthcare assistants from the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category with minimum scores of 60 and;
Other priority occupations with minimum scores of 60

There are several factors taken into consideration for the BC PNP, depending on the labour force needs of the province. British Columbia considers:

Education – level and field of education and where it was completed
Language skills
Occupation
Duration and skill level of work experience
Wage and/or skill level of job offer
Intent to live, work and settle in a specific region
Strategic priorities – factors that address specific labour market needs in B.C. or support government pilot projects and initiatives

This will be one the last draws of October as BC is pausing draws between October 12 and November 16 due to the transition from NOC 2016 to NOC 2021, an updated method of assessing a candidate’s skill level in economic immigration programs.

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