In the latest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) selection round, three Canadian provinces, namely Ontario, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island, have extended invitations to prospective candidates. The PNP was established as a collaborative effort between provincial and federal authorities to manage immigration more effectively. It grants provincial governments greater autonomy in choosing economic immigrants who will reside and contribute to the growth of their respective nominating province.

Through the PNP, provincial governments adopt a meticulous approach in identifying highly skilled candidates who possess the necessary expertise to fill essential gaps in the local labor market. By doing so, they aim to facilitate a seamless integration of these candidates into the regional economy. Essentially, the provinces nominate individuals with the highest potential for long-term residency and success, ensuring a mutually beneficial relationship between the candidates and the province they choose.

A nominee designated by a province enjoys significantly enhanced prospects of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Moreover, candidates within the Express Entry system who receive a provincial nomination receive a substantial boost of 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, practically ensuring their selection in an upcoming draw.

To allocate available Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nominations to each province, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) follows the targets set forth in the latest Immigration Levels Plan. This comprehensive plan outlines the intended number of permanent resident admissions for the forthcoming three years.

Recently, the provinces have expressed a desire for greater autonomy in matters concerning economic immigration and have signaled their preference for individual agreements with the federal government, similar to Quebec's arrangement. Quebec, under the Canada-Quebec Accord, possesses exclusive authority in selecting economic immigrants, making it the sole province in Canada with such privileges.

Though these individual agreements have yet to be finalized, in March of this year, the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration convened and approved a new initiative introduced by IRCC—a Provincial Immigration Levels Plan that delineates provincial nomination allocations for the next three years, with most provinces receiving higher allocations than in the past.

This strategic measure grants provinces increased capacity to plan for an influx of newcomers, ensuring the availability of sufficient jobs, housing, and other vital infrastructure necessary to support these individuals, making the province an even more appealing destination for prospective immigrants.

Provincial Nominee Program Results: July 15-20, 2023

Ontario:

Ontario conducted two draws on July 20, targeting candidates in specific occupations under the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream.

In the first draw, 902 candidates in tech occupations and in the second draw, 159 healthcare professionals were invited to apply. All candidates needed to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score within the range of 458-462.

These provincial results mirror the newly introduced category-based selection rounds for Express Entry invitations. This summer, a total of 2,000 healthcare professionals and 500 candidates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the federal Express Entry draws.

British Columbia:

On July 18, British Columbia held its regular Tuesday Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw. In this week's draws, the province invited over 167 candidates in four separate rounds. Candidates from the Skilled Workers or International Graduate Streams, including Express Entry candidates, were considered.

The largest draw targeted 112 candidates in tech occupations, requiring a minimum Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) score of 88.

The other three draws were also occupation-specific, each demanding a minimum SIRS score of 60. The province invited:

• 39 early childhood educators and assistants
• 16 healthcare professionals
• Less than five candidates from other priority occupations

Prince Edward Island (PEI):

On July 20, Prince Edward Island (PEI) conducted its first PNP draw of the month, inviting a total of 106 candidates, which were divided into two categories.

The first category consisted of candidates in the Labour and Express Entry stream. PEI invited 97 candidates under the Critical Worker Stream, who were already working for a PEI employer and had a minimum Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 50.

Additionally, the province extended invitations to nine candidates under the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur stream, meeting the minimum point threshold of 80.

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