This week, candidates were nominated through provincial immigration programs in five Canadian provinces. Immigration in Canada is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) enables provincial governments to select economic immigration candidates who are well-suited to establishing themselves economically in their respective provinces. These candidates often possess work experience in occupations that are in high demand in the province, such as healthcare, agriculture, and technology, which are facing labor shortages.
The federal government, specifically the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has also adopted a similar approach on a federal level. They have started conducting category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates. For instance, they recently invited 500 Express Entry candidates based on their healthcare occupations, with an expectation of inviting an additional 1,500 candidates in early July who specialize in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations.
Unlike other provinces, Quebec does not have a Provincial Nominee Program. Instead, it has a separate agreement with the federal government that grants the province the authority to select all of its economic immigrants. Quebec has recently proposed changes to its provincial immigration criteria, requiring newcomers to possess strong French-speaking abilities upon arrival.
In Alberta, three draws were conducted under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) between June 20 and June 22. These draws targeted candidates in priority sectors such as construction, designated healthcare pathways, and those with family connections and primary occupations in demand.
British Columbia regularly conducts draws for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). In a recent series of draws, they invited over 180 candidates from various streams, including skilled workers, international graduates, and entry-level and semi-skilled workers, with specific minimum score requirements based on the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
Manitoba issued invitations to 49 individuals under a special measure for Ukrainians affected by ongoing unrest. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) requires these individuals to meet specific criteria related to citizenship, language proficiency, connections to Manitoba, settlement funds, and other requirements.
Prince Edward Island (PEI) invited 90 candidates on June 29 under its Labour and Express Entry categories. PEI tends to hold draws every two weeks, prioritizing candidates with local job offers or who have graduated from a PEI institution, as well as those in the Express Entry pool.
