Maple News reports that three Canadian provinces—Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan—issued new invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence this week through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). These invitations are part of Canada’s ongoing efforts to address regional labour market needs and demographic priorities, and they highlight the increasingly targeted nature of provincial immigration strategies.
On March 7, Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) sent out 2,104 invitations under the Human Capital Priorities stream, specifically targeting healthcare professionals. Candidates required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores between 352 and 421. This stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, meaning eligible candidates must hold an active Express Entry profile, have at least one year of full-time work experience, hold a Canadian undergraduate degree or higher, and meet a language requirement of CLB/NCLC level 7 in English or French.
Meanwhile, British Columbia conducted both targeted and general draws on March 5 through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), issuing at least 156 invitations in total. The general draw invited candidates across five streams, including Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories (both regular and Express Entry-aligned), with cut-off scores ranging from 99 to 126. Targeted draws focused on key sectors facing labour shortages in the province.
Specifically, the BCPNP invited 32 candidates in childcare (minimum score: 70), 30 in construction (score: 80), 39 in healthcare (score: 70), and fewer than five in veterinary care (score: 70). These draws reflect British Columbia’s ongoing strategy of addressing critical workforce gaps by attracting skilled international talent.
Although detailed results from Saskatchewan were not explicitly outlined in the source article, that province also issued ITAs during the first week of March. Saskatchewan typically uses the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) to select candidates under tight labour market alignment, often focusing on occupations in demand.
Each province uses its own selection criteria and scoring model, which explains the variance in minimum required scores from province to province. Enhanced PNP streams, such as Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities and B.C.’s Express Entry options, offer candidates a faster route to permanent residence through the federal Express Entry system, while base streams operate separately.
Candidates who receive a provincial nomination earn 600 additional CRS points, significantly improving their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw. This makes provincial nominations an increasingly attractive option for skilled professionals seeking to settle in Canada.
Maple News will continue to monitor these draws and report new developments as provinces refine their immigration strategies to meet evolving economic needs.