Maple News reports that Canadian provinces and territories held over 10 draws in October 2020 through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), collectively issuing close to 3,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence.
The Provincial Nominee Program enables provinces and territories to select candidates who meet their specific economic and labor market needs. These selections are made through two main types of nomination streams: enhanced nominations, which are linked to the federal Express Entry system, and base nominations, which operate independently of Express Entry.
All nine provinces and two participating territories operate enhanced nomination streams under Express Entry, which manages applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Candidates who are nominated through an enhanced stream receive an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
Base nomination streams, although not connected to Express Entry, provide provinces with greater flexibility to address unique regional labor demands and demographic goals.
Canada’s commitment to expanding immigration through provincial pathways remains strong. According to the federal government’s recently announced 2021–2023 Immigration Levels Plan, the PNP is set to continue growing, with targeted admissions of 80,800 in 2021. These targets are expected to rise to 81,500 in 2022 and 83,000 in 2023.
This increase underscores Canada’s strategy of using immigration as a tool for regional economic development, with the PNP playing a key role in attracting skilled workers to communities beyond the country’s major urban centers.
The October results suggest continued momentum in Canada’s efforts to decentralize immigration and empower local governments to select candidates who will thrive in their labor markets. As Maple News observes, the PNP remains a critical cornerstone of Canada’s immigration policy, growing in importance as levels continue to rise year over year.