Maple News reports that four Canadian provinces—Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island—have extended new invitations to immigration candidates through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in the week of January 13–19.
The Provincial Nominee Program allows provinces to select immigration candidates who align with their economic priorities. Except for Quebec and Nunavut, all provinces and territories participate in the PNP. Candidates are typically chosen based on their ability to contribute to the local workforce, with targeted pathways for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, international graduates, and French-speaking applicants.
A provincial nomination significantly bolsters a candidate’s chances in the federal Express Entry system, awarding them an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points—often enough to receive a formal invitation to apply for permanent residency from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
In Ontario, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued 984 invitations on January 18 through its Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream. This was a general draw, not tied to specific occupations, with CRS scores ranging from 317 to 469.
British Columbia held five targeted draws on January 16 under its Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, issuing over 193 total invitations through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). Each draw focused on specific high-demand occupations such as healthcare, child care, and engineering roles, with minimum scores varying by stream.
Alberta also made selections through its dedicated healthcare pathway, part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. While the specific number of candidates and selection criteria were not publicly released this week, the province continues to prioritize applicants with work experience in key fields, especially those already in Canada.
Meanwhile, Prince Edward Island followed its regular schedule with a draw on January 18 through the PEI Provincial Nominee Program. The province invited 134 candidates, primarily under its Labour Impact and Express Entry categories. PEI maintains its focus on retaining international graduates and skilled workers who meet local labor market needs.
These draws signal Canada’s continued commitment to regional immigration and the strategic use of the PNP to fill critical workforce gaps. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor each province’s nomination streams and eligibility criteria closely, as demand often varies.
For more updates on Canada’s immigration landscape, stay connected with Maple News.