More Provincial Nominees Planned for Alberta in 2012

algary, November 7, 2011 — The Government of Canada will continue to provide Alberta with a record amount of space in the country's immigration program in 2012, Minister of State (Democratic Reform) Tim Uppal, announced today on behalf of Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

In 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) plans to welcome 42,000 to 45,000 people under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), including nominees themselves, their spouses and dependants. CIC is on track to welcome a record number of provincial nominees this year and could set another milestone in 2012 if provinces submit enough nominations early on to fill their allotted space in the program. Alberta's proportion of all nominations was 24 percent this year. The PNP allotments for 2012 are still being finalized and will be released later.

Alberta's PNP has increased by more than 18-fold in recent years, from just over 400 people admitted in 2004 to almost 7,500 in 2010. Provincial nominees accounted for 33 percent of economic class admissions and 23 percent of total immigration to Alberta in 2010.

"“The Government of Canada recognizes the crucial role the Provincial Nominee Program plays in meeting local labour market needs,”" said Minister of State Uppal. "“The Government will continue to work with provinces and territories in order to continue to spread the benefits of economic immigration across the country.”" Today, 26 percent of all economic immigrants are now destined for provinces other than Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, compared with only 11 percent in 1997. The PNP has also become the second largest source of economic immigration to Canada.

Immigration is a shared responsibility between the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories. The PNP gives provinces and territories an active role in immigrant selection by authorizing them to nominate for permanent residence individuals who meet specific local labour market needs. Each jurisdiction is responsible for the design and management of their respective program, including the development of nomination criteria.

CIC conducted a national evaluation of the PNP last year and expects to release the results in 2012.