Maple News reports that Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) continued their strong momentum in July 2021, issuing more than 6,000 invitations to apply for provincial nominations. These programs are key to Canada’s strategy for attracting skilled immigrants who meet specific regional labor market needs.
Except for Quebec and Nunavut, all Canadian provinces and territories operate their own PNPs, tailoring immigration criteria to align with their economic and demographic priorities. Through these programs, provincial governments nominate candidates for permanent residency who possess the skills, education, and work experience needed locally. Between now and 2023, PNPs are projected to account for over 80,000 permanent residents annually.
Many PNP streams are aligned with the federal Express Entry system, a central platform used to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. This alignment allows provinces to invite candidates directly from the federal pool, expediting the immigration process for those who receive a provincial nomination.
In July 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held two Express Entry draws specifically targeting candidates nominated through PNPs. These draws took place on July 7 and July 21, during which 627 and 462 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, respectively. While these numbers were slightly lower than June’s totals, the trend throughout the year has been one of larger draws and declining Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoffs. IRCC has now issued nearly 100,000 ITAs by mid-2021—a record pace.
Ontario was one of the most active provinces in July, conducting six separate draws under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). On July 7, the province issued 21 invitations through the Entrepreneur Stream. This was followed by a major draw on July 13 that invited 1,685 candidates under two employment-focused streams: Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student.
On July 15, Ontario introduced its first-ever draw under the In-Demand Skills stream via its new intake system, inviting 55 applicants skilled in high-demand sectors. On July 21, the province also sent out invitations to 115 bilingual candidates from the Express Entry pool, tapping into Canada’s push for increased Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
The robust activity in July highlights the importance of Provincial Nominee Programs within Canada’s broader immigration framework. As the federal government looks to hit ambitious immigration targets in the coming years, PNPs will play an increasingly vital role in attracting global talent where it’s most needed.
Maple News will continue tracking the latest in Canada’s immigration trends and provincial updates, providing readers with accurate and timely insights to aid in their migration journey.