Ontario and British Columbia hold Provincial Nominee Program draws
This week the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) have issued invitations to apply to candidates through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), introduced in 1998, allows provinces and territories to share immigration responsibilities with the federal government, promoting the benefits of immigration across Canada.
While receiving a provincial nomination does not automatically grant permanent resident status, it significantly boosts a candidate's application by adding 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for Express Entry candidates, making an invitation to apply (ITA) in future draws far more certain.
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Provincial immigration results October 12-18
Ontario
On October 17, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), issued invitations to candidates who qualify for the Express Entry: Skilled Trades stream.
It issued 1,307 invitations to candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score within the range of 405-435, and work experience in the relevant National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes.
A list of accepted occupations, and their NOC codes, can be found here.
British Columbia
On October 16, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) invited more than 190 candidates through two separate candidate selections.
The first draw was a general selection across multiple streams. The BCPNP invited 102 candidates. The breakdown of this draw can be seen below:
General draw
| Stream | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| Skilled worker | 127 |
| Skilled worker – Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) option | 127 |
| International graduate | 127 |
| International graduate – EEBC option | 127 |
| Entry level and semi-skilled | 110 |
The BCPNP also held targeted draws for candidates with professional experience in specific industries, through the Skilled Worker and International Graduate (including EEBC option) streams.
| Draw type | Minimum score | Number of invitations |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare | 83 | 38 |
| Construction | 89 | 21 |
| Healthcare | 99 | 28 |
| Veterinary care | 80 | <5 |
Newfoundland & Labrador nears maximum provincial allocation
In a press release on October 8, 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills announced that it has used nearly its entire allocation of provincial nominations for the year of 2024.
Every year, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), sets a target for the overall number of permanent residents who will be welcomed to Canada in the annual Immigration Levels Plan. This includes those who will arrive through the PNP.
This target is broken down into a specific allocation of nominations for each participating province and territory (Quebec and Nunavut do not have PNPs).
Every province receives a different allocation of nominations they can use to select economic immigration candidates. It is based on several factors such as labour force needs and a province’s ability to support an increased population.
As a response to the limited allocation available, Newfoundland and Labrador’s immigration department will be prioritizing applications in sectors facing labour shortages such as health care, early learning, and construction, for the remain remainder of the year.
The department has stated they will continue to process applications for individuals with extenuating circumstances.
Other applications will continue to be accepted under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). However, they will not be processed until 2025 at the earliest. The department has advised that the 25-day processing standard for the NLPNP will resume in January 2025.
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