Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba hold draws through Provincial Nominee Programs

Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba have issued invitations to apply to candidates through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) this week.

Through the PNP, interested candidates may be invited to apply for provincial nomination in most Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Nunavut and Quebec). Receiving a provincial nomination can helpful for gaining permanent residence, especially for Express Entry candidates.

Quebec’s immigration programs are distinct from Canada’s economic immigration programs. Quebec is the only province that has control over the selection of all economic class immigrants.

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The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) accounts for 105,000 PR admissions per year. It began in 1998 and the annual number of PNP admissions has since increased steadily.

Federal and provincial governments both consider the PNP a useful method of promoting the economic benefits of immigration outside of urban centers.

The draws occurred within the same week that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 893 ITAs to Express Entry candidates who already had a provincial nomination. Most Canadian provinces and territories have PNPs aligned with Express Entry, except for Quebec and Nunavut.

This was the first Express Entry draw to target PNP candidates since June 2022. Between July and the recent draw, all Express Entry draws have been all-program draws.

Provincial immigration results January 28-February 3

Ontario

Ontario issued 611 invitations to apply to candidates in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) on January 31. The draw was targeted toward healthcare and tech occupations. Candidates required a minimum score of 53 to receive an invitation.

Additionally, Ontario held two targeted draws for candidates in the Human Capital Priorities stream on February 2. The province invited 1,175 candidates in a tech occupation with a minimum score between 481-489 as well as 725 candidates in healthcare occupations with minimum score between 476-489.

Alberta

In the second round of published draw results for 2023, Alberta issued 154 notifications of letters of interest to candidates in the Express Entry stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) on January 23, as well as 46 letters of interest on January 19.

The province recently announced that Express Entry candidates in the AAIP will be invited based on a combination of high-demand occupations and immediate family ties as selection factors when completing draws from the federal Express Entry pool.

There is no change to the eligibility criteria in any stream of the AAIP.

British Columbia

British Columbia invited more than 279 candidates to apply for provincial nomination on January 31.

The province held a draw targeted to candidates in tech occupations and invited 243 candidates. The invitations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduates categories and included Express Entry candidates.

Candidates from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate stream required a minimum SIRS score of 85. SIRS is similar to the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but is only used a provincial level in British Columbia.

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

18 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202) with scores of at least 60 points;
18 healthcare workers from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, including Express Entry category, with scores of at least 60 points and;
Other in-demand occupations with scores of at least 60 points.

Manitoba

Manitoba issued 21 Letters of Advice to Apply on January 30. The letters were issued under the province's special immigration measure for those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. To be considered for immigration under this pathway, candidates must be:

a citizen of Ukraine;
have a minimum of CLB 4 in each language band;
have established connection to Manitoba (close relative, family-like, community, previous employment, or studies in Manitoba);
have a valid language test; and
score at least 60 points according to MPNP assessment criteria.

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