Mohanad Moetaz - 05 October, 2021
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) invited almost 6,500 immigration candidates to apply for provincial nomination during September 2021.
All provinces and territories operate its own PNP except for Quebec and Nunavut. This helps provincial governments to choose candidates who are most suitable to address the province's labour market needs and job shortages.
Granted, the Canadian federal government have the final say on who is allowed into Canada, but the provinces have a key role in selecting immigrants through the PNP.
In fact, the PNP has become the second most important route to permanent residence in Canada. Over 80,000 immigrants are expected to come to Canada as a result of the PNPs alone, between now and 2023.
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Most provinces and territories in the PNP have at least one stream that is enhanced. This means that it is aligned with Canada's federal Express Entry system. This is Canada's main source of economic immigration.
In September 2021, Canada held three PNP-specific Express Entry draws inviting a total of 1,917 immigration candidates. These draws were held on September 1, September 15 and September 29.
Ontario held five draws in September through its PNP, officially called the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
On September 14, 2021, Ontario invited 691 candidates through the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams.
A total of 627 candidates were invited under the Masters Graduate stream. These candidates needed to have an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of at least 35. In addition, the province invited 64 candidates through the PhD Graduate stream. They needed to have an EOI score of at least 16.
The province also issued invitations on September 21 under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student streams. A total of 995 candidates were invited, 66 of which were registered for the Regional Immigration Pilot.
One day later on September 22, the province invited 65 immigration candidates through the In-Demand Skills stream. Candidates needed job offers in certain targeted sectors.
In total, Ontario invited 1,751 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in September 2021. This is much more than the 875 invited during the previous month.
Alberta's PNP, officially the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) held three large invitation draws. Immigration candidates were invited through the province's Express Entry Stream.
It held its largest draw on September 7 inviting 500 candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300. Two more draws on September 14 and September 21, a total of 835 immigration candidates.
This brings the total invitations issued in September to 1,335.
Manitoba held two draws through the following streams this month:
The province held the draws on September 2 and September 23. In total, the province issued a total of 1,252 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs).
British Columbia held six draws in September 2021, inviting 994 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. Invitations were issued through the Express Entry B.C. and Skills Immigration streams.
Saskatchewan's PNP is called the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
The province held draws on September 8 and September 27, for the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand sub-categories of the International Skilled Worker Category.
In addition, the province held an Entrepreneur stream draw on September 21, issuing a total of 41 invitations. Candidates needed to have a minimum score of 110.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) held a draw on September 16, issuing a total of 143 invitations. Nine invitations went to Business Impact candidates who had a minimum point score of 72. The rest of the candidates, 129, were Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates.
Nova Scotia held new business immigration draws on September 13, inviting 30 candidates through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. Candidates needed to have a minimum score of 120 points.
In addition, two invitations were issued through the International Graduate Entrepreneur stream. These candidates needed to have scored a minimum score of 57.
The PNP allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate immigration candidates who are more likely succeed in the province.
There are two types of PNPs. Enhanced PNP streams are those that are aligned with Canada's federal Express Entry system. The Processing standard for these applications is around six months.
Base streams on the other hand are not aligned with Express Entry and are managed by the province. The processing standards differ depending on the province, but may be more than 12 months.
Through a base nomination, a candidate will have to go through two steps. First, the candidate must go through the process to receive a nomination certificate. Once they get this certificate, they will have to apply for permanent residence with the Canadian federal government.
Through enhanced streams, provinces search the Express Entry pool for those who match certain criteria that the province needs. The province may then apply these candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
Those who are nominated get an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, effectively ensuring that they will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.
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