Maple News reports that three Canadian provinces—British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island—have issued new rounds of invitations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) between October 13 and October 27, 2023. These invitations are part of Canada’s ongoing strategy to attract skilled workers and graduates to meet regional economic and labor market needs.
Under the PNP, provinces and territories (with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut) have the authority to nominate foreign nationals for permanent residency. Nominees are typically selected based on their skills, work experience, and potential to contribute to the province’s economy.
British Columbia (BC) held multiple provincial draws during this period. On October 17, BC invited over 152 candidates through four separate streams. The largest was a general skills-based draw, targeting candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled categories. Minimum Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) scores required were 111 for Skilled Workers, 113 for International Graduates, and 91 for Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled candidates.
Targeted draws were also conducted on the same day to address labor shortages in key occupations. These included 31 invitations to Early Childhood Educators and Assistants, 17 to healthcare professionals, and fewer than 5 to other priority occupations.
On October 24, another series of targeted draws took place in BC. The largest draw focused on tech-sector workers, with 101 individuals invited. These candidates needed a minimum score of 90 and were selected from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories.
Details about Saskatchewan’s and PEI’s recent draws have also emerged, although the provinces have not released full specifics at the time of reporting. Typically, these provinces prioritize candidates aligned with in-demand occupations and regional development goals.
These regular PNP draws reflect the Canadian government’s commitment to regional immigration as a tool to balance demographic needs and empower local economies. Individuals nominated through a PNP gain a significant advantage when applying for permanent residency, especially those aligned with in-demand skills.
As the Canadian immigration landscape evolves, Maple News will continue to provide up-to-date coverage on provincial immigration trends and key notices from immigration authorities.