Maple News reports that Ontario has invited 502 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw held on January 12. This marks the province’s second targeted draw within 48 hours, signaling Ontario’s proactive approach to attracting skilled professionals in priority sectors.
The latest invitation round was issued through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) under the Human Capital Priorities Stream—a category aligned with Canada’s federal Express Entry system. Invited candidates had Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores between 464 and 467. To qualify, candidates were required to have at least one year of work experience in one of 18 high-demand occupations.
These occupations ranged across leadership, healthcare, engineering, and business sectors. Some of the roles included registered nurses, medical laboratory technologists, corporate sales managers, engineers, human resource professionals, and administrative service managers. These targeted selections reflect the province’s effort to fill urgent labor shortages and strengthen its economic resilience.
Candidates invited through this draw are now eligible to apply for a provincial nomination from Ontario. If successfully nominated, they will receive an additional 600 CRS points toward their Express Entry profile. This significant boost almost guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw.
Express Entry is Canada’s flagship immigration management system, designed for skilled workers under three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). It uses a point-based system to rank candidates based on age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other human-capital factors.
Maple News notes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) emphasized Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. As international travel rebounds, provinces like Ontario are intensifying their efforts to attract top global talent to meet local labor market demands.
This draw highlights the province’s commitment to strategically selecting candidates who not only meet job market needs but are also more likely to integrate successfully into Ontario’s workforce and communities.