Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has allocated 197 nomination slots to the Northwest Territories for 2026, the same total the territory ended 2025 with after a post-nomination increase. The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) is also updating its selection process by adopting an Expression of Interest (EOI) model for all pathways under its Employer-Driven Stream. The intake period will open on March 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time, for both the Employer-Driven Stream and the Francophone Stream.
Under the new EOI system, the change applies specifically to the Employer-Driven Stream, which includes the Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations, Skilled Worker, and NWT Express Entry pathways. The process begins with the employer: registering and creating an online account, then selecting the relevant Employer-Driven stream. After the employer completes their portion, the candidate completes an EOI survey to generate a profile that is entered into a candidate pool.
Candidates are scored based on factors such as work experience, language ability, in-territory connections, and alignment with local labor market needs. Profiles are ranked by score, and the highest-scoring candidates receive invitations to apply in upcoming EOI draws. The NTNP announced these changes on February 18, 2026.
The shift to an EOI-based selection reflects a move toward prioritizing candidates with stronger local ties and job-readiness, which could streamline processing for both employers and applicants. Maple News will monitor developments and provide updates as the program evolves.