Maple News reports that Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) resumed its Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream on October 6, issuing new invitations for the first time in two months. This latest draw invited 486 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination—a key pathway to securing Canadian permanent residence.
To be eligible for this targeted draw, candidates needed to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 463 and 467. In addition, they were required to demonstrate at least one year of work experience in one of 18 in-demand occupations, ranging from healthcare and engineering to business management and skilled trades.
The occupations included roles such as registered nurses, medical laboratory technologists, corporate sales managers, construction managers, and human resources professionals, among others. This occupation-focused selection highlights Ontario’s strategy of addressing pressing labor shortages in critical sectors.
Candidates who receive a provincial nomination through the Express Entry-linked PNP streams are awarded an additional 600 CRS points. This considerable boost essentially guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in upcoming federal Express Entry draws, fast-tracking their path to permanent residence.
This draw brings the total number of candidates invited through Ontario’s HCP stream in 2021 to 4,851. The stream remains the most active among Ontario’s Express Entry-aligned PNPs. In 2020, it led all other streams by inviting 6,716 candidates.
Maple News notes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) often conducted PNP-only Express Entry draws, requiring candidates to hold a provincial nomination. This trend underscores the growing importance of nomination programs in Canada’s evolving immigration landscape.
Through initiatives like the HCP stream, Ontario continues to utilize immigration as a tool to meet labor market demands and attract skilled workers who are well-positioned to contribute to the province’s economy.
The reopening of the HCP stream offers renewed hope for skilled professionals seeking permanent residence in Canada through Ontario’s strategic and highly competitive pathway.