Provinces begin inviting candidates to apply for provincial immigration in 2025

After a relatively quiet beginning to 2025, two provinces have started inviting candidates to apply for nomination.

Manitoba and Ontario are among the first to issue invitations to apply for nomination in 2025.

Manitoba was the first province to hold draws in 2025, with two held on January 9. It held its third draw of the year on January 23.

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Manitoba

On January 23, the Manitoba PNP (MPNP) held a draw under the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream, as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.

The province issued 128 Letters of Advice to Apply, with the lowest ranking invited candidate having a score of 609.

Of the 128 Letters of Advice to Apply that were issued, 22 were given to candidates who declared a valid Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code.

Ontario

On January 15, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued four invitations to apply under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.

This was a targeted draw for the Economic Mobility Pathways Project.

The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) is a program for skilled refugees and displaced people looking to live and work permanently in Canada.

PNPs deal with slashed allocations in 2025

The Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027 announced in October 2024, reduced the overall admissions allocations to Canada’s PNPs by around 50%.

In accordance with the reduced landings target, the federal government also reduced PNP allocations for nomination. Several provinces and territories have seen their allocations reduced by 50% from 2024 levels.

Some provincial immigration ministers have expressed a desire to negotiate with the federal government for higher allocations.

The Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee Program re-openeing, which had been set to take place on January 16, has been postponed on account of the reduced allocation.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs