Maple News reports that five Canadian provinces — British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island — have conducted new immigration draws between April 27 and May 3, inviting skilled individuals to apply through their respective provincial programs.
Canada’s provinces and territories, except Quebec and Nunavut, use Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to select immigrants based on regional labor needs and demographic goals. Quebec, however, operates under a unique immigration agreement with the federal government, granting it full control over its economic immigration stream.
On April 30, British Columbia held two rounds of invitations through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). In a general draw across five key streams, 47 invitations were issued. These streams included Skilled Workers, International Graduates, their respective Express Entry options, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled workers. Most streams required a minimum score of 131, except for Entry Level and Semi-Skilled applicants who needed at least 107 points.
BC also conducted four targeted draws focusing on priority sectors. Nine invitations each were issued to candidates in the childcare (minimum score: 91), construction (93), and healthcare (100) sectors. Fewer than five invitations were sent to candidates in the veterinary field, with a minimum score of 80.
Quebec, which releases its draw results retrospectively, has recently disclosed the outcomes of two rounds of selections. While specific details of these draws were not available at press time, Quebec typically selects candidates through its own immigration pathways, which are separate from federal or other provincial programs.
Alberta, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island also conducted selection rounds during this timeframe, though detailed summaries of their draws have not yet been fully released. It is common for these provinces to invite candidates from both the Express Entry-linked streams and occupation-specific categories.
These latest updates highlight Canada’s continued commitment to regionalized immigration strategies aimed at addressing local workforce shortages. Candidates seeking permanent residence through PNPs benefit not only from provincial endorsement but also often gain a stronger candidacy for federal Express Entry immigration, if applicable.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report on the latest developments from provincial and federal immigration programs across Canada.