Maple News reports that both British Columbia and Manitoba have issued new invitations to immigration candidates as part of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in the latest round of draws held between June 29 and July 5.
The PNP allows Canadian provinces and territories—excluding Quebec and Nunavut—to nominate individuals who are best suited to support their local economies. Under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to admit 110,000 new permanent residents through the PNP, making it a key pathway for skilled immigrants.
To help achieve these goals, IRCC allocates a set number of nominations to each participating province. These nominations are then used to invite candidates who align with regional labor market priorities and are likely to contribute to the province’s economic development.
In British Columbia, the provincial government conducted a draw on July 3, inviting over 72 candidates under the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). These candidates were selected from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, including those eligible for Express Entry BC.
The largest category in this week’s draw targeted tech professionals, with 36 invitations issued to candidates who had a minimum score of 122 in the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS)—a system unique to BC that functions similarly to the federal Comprehensive Ranking System.
Other targeted occupations included 14 invitations to individuals in childcare roles (minimum score of 95), 13 in construction (score of 98), 9 in healthcare (score of 106), and fewer than 5 invitations issued to veterinary professionals, with a minimum score of 80.
Meanwhile, Manitoba has also conducted a separate draw during the same period, although detailed results from that province’s draw have not yet been made public. Historically, Manitoba has used the PNP to address its continued demand for skilled workers across various sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, and education.
The latest draws underscore Canada’s strategic use of the PNP to decentralize immigrant selection and tailor it to provincial needs—providing newcomers with more pathways to permanent residence and faster integration into local job markets.
Maple News will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available from Manitoba and other provinces.