Maple News reports that Ontario has launched its first Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of 2022, inviting a total of 1,084 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on January 11. The invitations were issued through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to applicants registered in the province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
These candidates may be eligible under one of three streams within the Employer Job Offer category: the Foreign Worker stream, the International Student stream, and the In-Demand Skills stream. Here’s how the invitations were distributed: 264 to Foreign Worker stream candidates, 762 to International Student stream candidates, and 58 to those in the In-Demand Skills stream.
The In-Demand Skills stream specifically targets applicants with experience in critical sectors such as health care, agriculture, and manufacturing. Key occupations invited include nurse aides, home support workers, general farm workers, and various manufacturing machine operators—particularly in areas outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
This targeted focus comes as Ontario continues to address labor shortages in key economic sectors, making immigration an essential strategy for workforce development. Recognizing the demand, Ontario’s Immigration Minister Monte McNaughton revealed that the province is actively advocating for a higher allocation of nominations from the federal government.
In 2021, Ontario was granted 8,350 nominations, along with an extra 250 for foreign workers in intermediate-skilled jobs (classified under Skill Level C of the National Occupational Classification system). By November 10 of that year, Ontario had already issued a total of 8,600 nominations—surpassing its original target.
Looking ahead, Ontario has formally requested the federal government to double its nomination allocation for 2022. A final decision on the new allocation is expected later in the year by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The PNP system remains a vital pathway for skilled immigrants to obtain Canadian permanent residency while supporting local economic growth. As Ontario continues to expand its immigration targets, this latest draw sets the tone for a more aggressive and inclusive approach to addressing labor market needs in 2022.