Maple News reports that on June 10, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted another major Express Entry draw, inviting 6,000 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) was 368 — one of the lowest thresholds in recent history for a CEC-only draw.
This significant draw continues a pattern by IRCC, which has consistently prioritized candidates likely to be already based in Canada amid ongoing international travel restrictions. To qualify under the CEC, candidates must have completed at least one year of skilled full-time Canadian work experience and demonstrate at least intermediate proficiency in English or French. These requirements underline the government’s strategy of selecting candidates who can quickly integrate into the Canadian workforce.
The draw operated under standard Express Entry procedures, including the tie-break rule. As such, only candidates who submitted their Express Entry profile before April 28, 2021, at 05:45:14 UTC and had the minimum CRS score were considered. This mechanism ensures transparency and fairness in processing high volumes of applications.
This draw marks another milestone in a year filled with aggressive recruitment under Express Entry-managed streams. In February, a historic draw shocked the immigration community by inviting every single CEC-eligible candidate in the pool — over 27,000 individuals. That move has significantly contributed to the government’s ambitious immigration targets for 2021.
Despite uncertain timelines for reopening borders, Canada remains committed to welcoming a record number of newcomers. In 2021 alone, the Express Entry system is expected to bring in over 108,500 new permanent residents, showcasing Canada’s reliance on immigration to address labor market needs and drive economic recovery.
The contrasting requirements between Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and CEC draws are also worth noting. PNP candidates automatically receive a 600-point boost to their CRS score, naturally placing them in a stronger position. In contrast, CEC-only draws see much lower cutoffs due to the narrower, domestic-based applicant pool and fewer competing programs.
While discussions around relaxing travel restrictions continue, the IRCC’s ongoing focus on candidates within Canada reflects a strategy rooted in pragmatism and public health priorities. Health officials have indicated that fully vaccinated travelers may soon be exempt from the 14-day quarantine requirement, but no concrete reopening date has been announced.
As Canada navigates its phased reopening, Maple News will continue to monitor updates from IRCC and provide timely insights into immigration policy shifts and Express Entry developments.