During the week ending on March 25, 2023, Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba conducted Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. The PNP, as outlined in the latest immigration levels plan, serves as the primary route for economic immigrants entering Canada. The program's objective is to distribute immigration benefits across the country and assist provinces in addressing unique labour and demographic challenges.
Enhanced PNP nominations, or Express Entry aligned streams, are part of the PNP. These streams target candidates in the federal Express Entry pool. Based on their eligibility, candidates can apply for a specific province's enhanced PNP streams and receive a provincial nomination or Notification of Interest (NOI). Consequently, candidates gain an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the particular enhanced PNP stream. The fifth and sixth Express Entry draws of 2023 were exclusively for candidates in enhanced PNP streams, issuing a total of 1,366 ITAs. Between March 17 and 24, the following PNP results were reported:
✔ Ontario – The Ontario PNP (OINP) held a Skilled Trades stream draw on March 23rd, issuing 746 NOIs to candidates with CRS scores between 250 and 489. These candidates had created profiles in the Express Entry pool from March 23rd, 2022, to March 23rd, 2023. The economic streams of the OINP target specific professions outlined in the OINP program updates.
✔ British – Columbia On March 21st, the British Columbia PNP (BCPNP) conducted a draw, distributing at least 254 NOIs across 6 streams. The BCPNP held three targeted draws within the Skilled Worker International Graduate stream for early childhood educators and assistants, healthcare professionals, and candidates in other priority occupations.
✔ Manitoba – On March 23rd, the Manitoba PNP (MPNP) held a draw, sending out 566 NOIs (referred to as Letters of Advice to Apply in the Manitoba PNP). The NOIs were issued as follows:
- Occupation-specific selection: 266 NOIs for candidates in specific in-demand professions with a minimum CRS score of 612
- All occupations: 200 NOIs for profiles not selected in the specific profession draw with a minimum CRS score of 672
- International Education Stream: 52 NOIs
- Skilled Worker Overseas stream: 48 NOIs to candidates invited by the MPNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative with a minimum CRS of 708
✔ Saskatchewan – The Saskatchewan PNP (SINP) held two draws on March 23rd, inviting candidates from the Express Entry and Occupations in-demand streams. A total of 184 Express Entry candidates with a minimum score of 82 received NOIs, while 312 NOIs were issued to candidates in the Occupations in-demand stream with the same cut-off score. To be eligible for the Occupations in-demand stream, a candidate's profession must not be on the SINP excluded occupation list.
Future PNPs are expected to play an increasingly significant role in Canadian immigration. Following a recent meeting of the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI), provincial immigration will have its own multi-year levels plan, allowing provinces to know their immigration allocation years in advance and plan accordingly. As a result, many provinces have seen increases in future immigration allocations, including Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.