Maple News reports that Ontario has resumed its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws after a four-month pause, issuing 3,719 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination on June 3, 2024. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted a total of 10 targeted draws under three Employer Job Offer streams: Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills.
These latest draws reflect Ontario’s continued commitment to regional workforce development and targeted immigration strategies aimed at filling labor shortages and supporting economic growth. All candidates invited had submitted their Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles between June 3, 2024, and June 3, 2025.
Under the Foreign Worker stream, Ontario conducted three separate targeted draws:
– 391 invitations were issued to candidates with job offers in Northern Ontario, with a minimum EOI score of 56.
– 411 invitations were issued under the REDI (Regional Economic Development Through Immigration) initiative, focusing on communities such as Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay. Candidates needed a score of 32 or higher.
– An additional five invitations went to career development practitioners and career counsellors (outside of the education sector), with a minimum required score of 45.
Northern Ontario continues to be a strategic focus for the province, covering Census Divisions such as Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Algoma, where labor shortages persist across several industries.
Maple News notes that this large-scale issuance signals Ontario’s intent to attract skilled workers and international talent to bolster its local economies, especially in underrepresented regions. These draws serve as an important opportunity for foreign nationals seeking Canadian permanent residence through a province-led immigration pathway.
As Ontario seeks to align immigration with economic goals, the heightened emphasis on regional and occupational targeting within the PNP could also inform future trends in Canada’s broader immigration framework.