Maple News reports that British Columbia and Manitoba have issued fresh rounds of provincial nominations this week, reinforcing their ongoing efforts to attract skilled and entrepreneurial newcomers. These invitations are part of each province’s efforts to meet tailored labor market needs and drive economic growth through immigration.
British Columbia extended invitations under its Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), specifically targeting foreign entrepreneurs. On January 28, the province issued at least two invitations—one through each of its Base and Regional Entrepreneur Immigration streams. Candidates in both streams needed a minimum score of 123 to be considered. Fewer than five invitations were issued per stream.
The Regional Entrepreneur stream primarily caters to smaller communities and conducts monthly invitation rounds, but only for entrepreneurs who are referred to the BC PNP by a participating community. The Base Entrepreneur stream, in contrast, operates on a more flexible schedule, with invitations based on factors such as business location, regional population size, type of business (start-up or purchase), and alignment with provincial economic priorities.
Meanwhile, Manitoba also issued new invitations this week under its provincial nominee program, targeting applicants with strong employment ties, educational backgrounds, or clear business intentions in the province. While detailed figures were not disclosed, the invitations highlight Manitoba’s consistent approach to building a labor force that matches regional demands.
In Alberta, immigration authorities shared updates related to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The province released current figures for its Expression of Interest (EOI) pools across different immigration streams. These updates provide clearer insights for prospective applicants on processing volumes and candidate pools and help manage expectations for those seeking nomination.
The AAIP includes several streams aimed at skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and graduates, and it continues to be an important avenue for candidates looking to establish careers and businesses in one of Canada’s most economically robust provinces.
These developments underscore Canada’s diversified immigration strategy, where provinces play a critical role in tailoring programs that align with local economic and demographic needs. Provincial nominee programs remain a vital pathway to permanent residency for individuals who meet targeted labor and business requirements.