Canada’s provinces continued to be actively involved in strengthening Canada’s immigration system in 2020.
Over the past year, and despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) have kept the number of provincial nominees constant and continued adding new immigration streams to meet their most pressing and specific needs.
The PNP is an immigration program jointly administered by the federal, provincial and territorial governments. It offers Canadian provinces and territories the opportunity to create their own immigration streams to better meet their labour market needs and economic development objectives. The PNP also aims to spread the benefits of economic immigration more equitably across Canada.
Ontario has issued more than 8,000 nominations to immigration candidates this year, more than filling the number of spots the province was originally allowed.
The federal government originally allocated 7,600 provincial nomination for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) out of the 61,000 that were expected to be welcomed through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in 2020.
But, Ontario has finished off the year with 8,050 successful nominations across all streams, including 400 additional nominations that the province received through an in-year reallocation, and 50 more for intermediate skilled occupations, or NOC skill level C.
All new applications, and those that are in processing, will be considered under the 2021 nomination allocation. Ontario’s allocation for 2021 is not yet available, but we know that the PNP is expected to bring in upwards of 80,800 immigrants over the next three years, according to the new immigration levels plan.
Ontario’s latest Tech Draw took place on December 15. A total of 668 Express Entry candidates were invited to apply for a provincial nomination.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued targeted Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to candidates who may qualify for the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream. These candidates must have profiles in the federal Express Entry system.
The 668 principal applicants received NOIs from the Tech Draw. Express Entry candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 460 and 468 in order to be invited. Candidates did not need to have a job offer lined up, but they needed at least one year of work experience in one of the following tech occupations: