Throughout this week, an eventful period from July 29th to August 3rd, four Canadian provinces orchestrated draws as part of their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). These draws have played a pivotal role in inviting skilled workers to participate in various immigration streams.
Let’s delve into a comprehensive breakdown of the outcomes from these PNP draws.
Ontario
Under the umbrella of the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP), a trio of nomination streams was actively engaged:
- Skilled Trades Stream: A sizable draw was conducted, resulting in the issuance of 2,855 Notifications of Interest (NOIs). These NOIs, akin to invitations to apply (ITAs), were extended to candidates boasting Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores ranging between 250 and 516.
- Master’s Graduate Stream: An impressive tally of 755 candidates, scoring a minimum of 48 points on the OINP points scale, received invitations.
- PhD Graduate Stream: In this category, 84 candidates with scores equal to or surpassing 39 points were granted the opportunity to apply for provincial nomination.
British Columbia
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) orchestrated a pair of draws on August 1st. These draws were orchestrated for the Skilled Worker International Graduate stream, which features the Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) option. These targeted draws aimed at in-demand professions, and the outcomes were as follows:
- Tech Workers: An impressive 132 invitations were extended to tech workers who secured a minimum BCPNP score of 88.
- Early Childhood Educators and Assistants: 39 invitations were granted to early childhood educators and assistants possessing a minimum BCPNP score of 60.
- Healthcare Workers: 23 invitations were extended to healthcare professionals, provided they met the minimum score requirement of 60.
Additionally, candidates from other targeted professions also secured invitations, so long as their score was at least 60. The Entrepreneur Immigration stream also witnessed participation, with invitations granted under both the base Entrepreneur Immigration and the Regional Pilot stream.
Alberta
The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (AAIP) actively engaged candidates through two distinct streams on August 1st:
- Priority Sector, Agriculture Occupation Stream: A total of 32 NOIs were issued to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 322.
- Dedicated Healthcare Pathway: Within this stream, 11 NOIs were dispatched to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 317.
Prince Edward Island
On August 3rd, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) orchestrated a draw within the Labour & Express Entry stream. A total of 58 invitations were extended to candidates associated with sectors such as Healthcare, Manufacturing, Food Processing, Construction, Hotel/Accommodation, and Agriculture. Notably, the draw did not specify a minimum CRS score requirement.
An Overview of the PNP
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) assumes a paramount role in Canada’s economic immigration landscape. Designed to distribute the benefits of immigration across the nation, the PNP has gained prominence in addressing labor shortages and demographic imbalances. In addition to the conventional PNP, provinces have embraced the option of nominating candidates from the Express Entry pool through the Enhanced Provincial Nomination. This strategic move affords Express Entry candidates an additional 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing their receipt of an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Looking ahead, the PNP is poised to welcome approximately 333,000 newcomers to Canada between 2023 and 2025. This underscores the program’s pivotal role in shaping the nation’s demographic and labor landscape.
