Maple News reports that the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has issued a total of 2,049 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) over two consecutive days—December 10 and 11—breaking a two-month period of inactivity in its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams.
On December 10, 1,133 invitations were extended across five targeted draws under three key Employer Job Offer (EJO) streams: Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills. These draws focused on candidates with professional backgrounds in early childhood education, health care, and skilled trades, many of whom were also eligible under Ontario’s Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot. This initiative aims to stimulate economic growth and support population sustainability in smaller communities.
Importantly, these draws emphasized candidates already residing in Canada and with active profiles in Ontario’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Special attention was given to occupations aligned with NOC 2021 codes, including roles such as registered nurses, pharmacists, early childhood educators, and heavy-duty equipment mechanics. One specific REDI draw issued 29 invitations to individuals in professions like marketing, bookkeeping, and health care, provided they were willing to work in targeted regions such as Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville.
The largest single group from December 10’s draws included 398 invitations sent to candidates in health occupations and early childhood education. The minimum required score for this draw was 49. Meanwhile, the REDI-related draw had a lower threshold, issuing ITAs to candidates with a score of at least 45.
On December 11, Ontario issued an additional 916 invitations across three further draws. These draws continued to target candidates in specific high-demand occupations, further underlining the province’s commitment to addressing critical labor shortages, particularly in the health care and skilled trades sectors.
Together, these back-to-back draws demonstrate Ontario’s strategic use of the Provincial Nominee Program to support regional economic development and meet urgent labor market demands. It also indicates a significant resurgence in provincial immigration activity heading into the new year.
As the province’s largest PNP, the OINP remains a vital immigration pathway for skilled workers seeking Canadian permanent residence. According to Maple News, these recent draws may signal a consistent pattern of targeted invitations in priority sectors, especially as Ontario continues adjusting to evolving workforce challenges.