Maple News reports that between March 22 and 28, the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec extended new invitations to immigration candidates through their respective provincial immigration programs. These selections were made under various economic, humanitarian, and human capital streams aimed at supporting regional labor market and demographic needs.
In British Columbia, the Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is undergoing strategic changes. On March 19, the province announced a significant overhaul of its International Graduate and International Post-Graduate categories. Starting in January 2025, these streams will be replaced by three new pathways:
– The Bachelor Stream: For international graduates with a bachelor’s degree from an eligible institution and a valid full-time job offer.
– The Master’s Stream: For recent master’s graduates who also hold a full-time job offer in a skilled occupation lasting at least one year.
– The Doctorate Stream: For individuals currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a doctoral-level program at an approved institution.
Applicants to these new academic streams must meet a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 8. Additionally, language requirements across all BC PNP streams will be raised, although the Health Authority stream remains unaffected by this update.
On March 26, British Columbia invited at least 127 candidates through its Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories, including those aligned with the Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) stream. These invitations targeted applicants across a variety of priority occupations.
In Manitoba, the provincial government issued nominations through multiple streams under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). While details on the specific number of invitations and streams have not yet been publicly disclosed, the province typically selects candidates who demonstrate strong ties to Manitoba, language proficiency, and relevant work experience.
Quebec, operating under its own unique immigration system independent of the federal PNP structure, also issued invitations during the same period. Quebec continues to prioritize skilled workers and French-speaking candidates who can economically and socially integrate into the province’s labor market and society.
Maple News emphasizes that provinces use individual scoring systems tailored to their specific program objectives. Therefore, nomination scores are only comparable within a province’s own framework and should not be cross-compared with other jurisdictions.
These recent immigration developments underscore Canada’s ongoing commitment to regionalized immigration strategies—allowing provinces to respond quickly to evolving economic and demographic needs while offering newcomers diverse pathways to permanent residency.