British Columbia and Ontario have issued invitations to apply to candidates through their Provincial Nomination Programs this week.
Although provincial nomination is not in itself the same as a permanent residence, it can act as the first step towards gaining permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Most Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own Provincial Nomination Programs. Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination.
Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration
Quebec’s immigration programs are administered by the province and are distinct from Canada’s immigration programs.
The PNP was launched in 1998 and now accounts for over 80,000 PR admissions per year. The increase in the number of PNP admissions in Canada is because the federal and provincial governments consider it an effective tool to promote the economic development of the country outside of the provinces and urban centres with already high immigrant populations.
Provincial immigration results September 30-October 7
Ontario
On September 29, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited 1,340 candidates from the Express Entry Skilled Trades stream. Candidates required a score of 266.
To be eligible for this stream, candidates must already live in Ontario and require at least one year of cumulative paid full-time work experience (or the equivalent in paid part-time work) in Ontario in a skilled trade that is listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Work experience should be obtained within the past two years.
Eligible candidates also need a valid license or certificate for their trade from an Ontario authority and a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 5 or higher in English or French.
British Columbia
More than 229 candidates were invited to apply for provincial nomination in British Columbia on October 4.
Most candidates, 184, were invited in a general draw that included tech occupations. The invitations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduates categories and included Express Entry candidates.
Candidates in the general draw had minimum SIRS scores that ranged between 82 and 120. SIRS acts much like the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but is only used for British Columbia’s PNP.
The province also held rounds of invitations for candidates working in the following occupations.
- 32 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 60 points; and
- 13 Healthcare workers from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (includes EEBC option) with scores of at least 60 points
- Healthcare assistants from the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category with minimum scores of 60 and;
- Other priority occupations with minimum scores of 60
There are several factors taken into consideration for the BC PNP, depending on the labour force needs of the province. British Columbia considers:
- Education – level and field of education and where it was completed
- Language skills
- Occupation
- Duration and skill level of work experience
- Wage and/or skill level of job offer
- Intent to live, work and settle in a specific region
- Strategic priorities – factors that address specific labour market needs in B.C. or support government pilot projects and initiatives
This will be one the last draws of October as BC is pausing draws between October 12 and November 16 due to the transition from NOC 2016 to NOC 2021, an updated method of assessing a candidate’s skill level in economic immigration programs.
