Maple News reports that Canadian provinces continued to engage actively in attracting skilled immigrants through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), issuing over 3,000 invitations to apply for provincial nomination in December 2021 alone.
PNPs are immigration pathways that enable provinces and territories—excluding Quebec and Nunavut—to nominate individuals who align with local labor market needs for permanent residency in Canada. Each province tailors its program according to its economic goals and talent shortages, working in parallel with federal immigration channels like Express Entry.
Since its inception in 1998, the PNP has become Canada’s second-largest route to permanent residence. By 2023, it’s expected that over 80,000 new permanent residents will arrive annually through these programs.
Ontario led the way in December, inviting 1,186 applicants through its Expression of Interest (EOI) system on December 7. These candidates were eligible under the Employer Job Offer streams, which include Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills categories. Some candidates were also considered under the province’s Regional Immigration Pilot, which targets specific communities facing workforce shortages.
British Columbia held five separate draws during the month, extending 632 provincial nomination invitations via its Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration streams. These programs are geared toward attracting skilled professionals in sectors ranging from tech to health care.
Manitoba conducted three draws during the month under its Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas, and International Education Stream categories. The province issued a total of 1,180 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), with 208 going to candidates in the federal Express Entry pool.
Prince Edward Island wrapped up the year with a scheduled draw on December 16, inviting 125 candidates. Of those, 114 were from the Express Entry and Labour Impact streams, designed for skilled workers and recent graduates. The remaining 11 invitations were allocated to Business Impact candidates, requiring a minimum score of 67 points. PEI’s total PNP invitations in 2021 reached 1,854.
These draws demonstrate the essential role of provincial programs in shaping immigration pathways tailored to regional needs. As Canada continues to recover economically post-pandemic, PNPs are becoming increasingly integral to ensuring a balanced and strategic distribution of newcomers across the country.