According to Maple News, Prince Edward Island (PEI) has conducted its second unexpected Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of the year, diverging from its usual monthly invitation schedule. Held on December 23, the draw invited 13 candidates through the Labour Impact and Express Entry streams.
In a notable shift from recent trends, this draw expanded its selection criteria to include applicants with weaker ties to the province. Previously, PEI had focused on international graduates from local Designated Learning Institutions and individuals already employed by PEI-based companies. This time, the province selected candidates based on their employment in occupations and sectors deemed critical to PEI’s economic growth, regardless of personal connection to the island.
From a total of 1,609 invitations issued by PEI in 2025, the vast majority—except one—were through the Labour Impact and Express Entry categories. Only a single invitation was issued via the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur stream, highlighting the province’s continued prioritization of skilled workers.
This unscheduled draw marks PEI’s second deviation this year from its published draw calendar, the first having taken place on October 27. While the provincial government has not publicly explained the additional rounds, sources familiar with Canadian immigration protocols suggest these extra draws may be aimed at maximizing the province’s federal nomination allocations before year-end. These allocations are distributed annually by the federal government under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan.
Each province receives a set number of nominations it can issue per year. However, unutilized spots cannot be carried into the following year, which can prompt provinces like PEI to hold unplanned draws late in the calendar to avoid leaving potential immigration opportunities unused.
The move is being interpreted as a strategic effort by PEI to fill immediate labor shortages and stimulate its local economy through more flexible immigration pathways. As the competition intensifies among provinces to attract skilled immigrants, adaptability in selection processes appears to be an emerging trend.
Maple News will continue to monitor PEI and other provinces for further updates on nomination allocations and draw strategies as Canada pushes forward with its evolving immigration goals.