Three Canadian provinces have nominated candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) this week.
Provincial governments nominate candidates that are the most likely to easily integrate into the provincial labour force and be able to economically establish.
Most provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) hold PNP draws that target candidates with specific occupations, such as healthcare, tech, and skilled trades. This allows provinces to target candidates who can fill local labour shortages. Similarly, the federal government through Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will soon begin holding Express Entry draws in upcoming category-based selection draws for specific occupations and French language abilities.
If the PNP candidate is in the Express Entry pool and gets a provincial nomination, they automatically receive an additional 600 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This makes it far more likely they will get an invitation to apply.
Economic immigration candidates who are not in an Express Entry program may still apply for provincial nomination. This can strengthen their overall permanent resident application.
Getting nominated is different from getting permanent resident status. A candidate with a provincial nomination must still apply separately to IRCC. This is because immigration is a shared responsibility between the provincial and federal governments.
Provincial immigration results June 17-22
Ontario
Ontario invited 1,000 candidates over three draws on June 20 under the Employer Job Offer stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
The first draw was for candidates with job offers in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream. The province invited 426 candidates with scores of 36 and above who had experience in a skilled trades occupation.
The second draw was for 318 foreign workers with a job offer in a healthcare occupation. Candidates in this draw required a minimum score of 33.
The final draw invited 256 candidates in a general draw through the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream. Candidates needed a minimum score of 26.
British Columbia
British Columbia held four targeted draws on June 20 for candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams of the BC PNP (including Express Entry candidates). In total, more than 144 candidates were invited.
The largest draw targeted 107 candidates with tech occupations. The minimum cut-off score under the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) was 90. SIRS is similar to an Express Entry CRS score but is only applicable to BC PNP candidates.
The remaining three draws targeted 18 early childhood educators and assistants, 19 candidates in healthcare occupations and less than five in other priority occupations. Candidates in each draw required a minimum score of 60.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick has posted its monthly results for provincial Express Entry draws.
The province says that throughout May, it invited a total of 93 Express Entry candidates in three streams including:
- 21 in the NB Employment connection
- 10 in the NB Student Connection
- 62 in the Occupations in Demand connection
To date, New Brunswick has nominated 509 provincial Express Entry candidates this year. March was the busiest month so far in 2023 when 186 candidates were invited. This may have been because March was also the busiest month for federal Express Entry draws when 21,667 candidates were invited across Canada.
