Maple News reports that on May 13, 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held another Express Entry draw focused exclusively on Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff was set at 401—just one point above the previous CEC-only draw, maintaining the historically low thresholds we’ve seen in recent rounds.
To qualify for this round, candidates needed at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada, as well as intermediate proficiency in English or French. Additionally, anyone with the minimum score of 401 was only invited if they had submitted their Express Entry profile on or before April 29, 2021, at 11:48:14 UTC, due to the IRCC’s tie-break rule procedure.
These CEC-focused draws allow IRCC to issue invitations to candidates who are already familiar with the Canadian labour market—an approach that aligns closely with the government’s aim to integrate applicants who are more likely to succeed economically in the country. “Having Canadian experience correlates with higher instances of employment and higher earnings,” said David Cohen, Senior Attorney at Campbell Cohen.
So far in 2021, IRCC has issued 66,475 invitations through Express Entry—significantly more than at the same point last year. This surge is largely due to the government’s strategy to fulfill its ambitious target of admitting 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, a goal made more challenging by ongoing global travel restrictions.
Notably, these CEC-specific draws feature much lower CRS cutoffs compared to draws targeting Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, who automatically receive an additional 600 points for their provincial nomination. This scoring advantage makes PNP draw thresholds substantially higher than those in CEC-specific rounds.
IRCC’s focus on inland candidates continues, with both CEC and PNP draws frequently prioritizing applicants likely already living in Canada. The strategy reduces pandemic-related challenges while maximizing the immediate contribution of new permanent residents to the labour market.
The latest draw reaffirms Canada’s commitment to skilled immigration and its evolving strategies to meet immigration goals amid global uncertainties. As Express Entry rounds continue throughout the year, trends suggest IRCC will maintain its emphasis on workers with Canadian credentials.