Maple News reports that Canadian provinces issued a total of 3,744 invitations to immigration candidates through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in November 2020. These programs allow provinces and territories to nominate individuals for permanent residence based on local labor market needs and demographic priorities.
Launched in 1998 with just 200 admissions, the PNP now facilitates over 80,000 new permanent residents annually. Today, more than 80 PNP streams operate across 11 provinces and territories, accommodating a wide range of skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and international graduates.
Many PNP streams are linked with the federal Express Entry system—these are called Enhanced PNPs. Candidates nominated through these streams receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency from the federal government. Base PNPs, on the other hand, operate independently of Express Entry and follow separate selection procedures.
British Columbia led with four separate invitation rounds across November, engaging over 870 candidates through both general and Tech Pilot-specific streams. Manitoba invited over 400 candidates via its Skilled Workers and International Education streams, including dozens already in the federal Express Entry pool.
Ontario’s program was notably active, issuing over 1,100 invitations through streams such as Human Capital Priorities, Skilled Trades, and French-speaking Skilled Workers. The province also opened and closed several intake streams such as the International Student and In-Demand Skills categories, citing technical and capacity challenges.
Saskatchewan made headlines by awarding additional ranking points to bilingual candidates fluent in both French and English—responding to Canada’s goal of boosting Francophone immigration. The province also invited over 1,080 applicants through its Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand pathways.
Smaller provinces also contributed. Prince Edward Island sent out 254 invitations through its Labour Impact, Express Entry, and Business Work Permit Entrepreneur streams. Newfoundland and Labrador announced a new Priority Skills PNP aimed at professionals in high-demand sectors such as technology and healthcare.
These developments underscore Canada’s commitment to regional immigration as a tool for economic development. As immigration plans remain a priority, PNPs continue to serve as a strategic bridge between newcomers and local labor markets.
Maple News will continue to provide timely updates on provincial draws and pathways for permanent residency across Canada.