Provincial Immigration August 2023 Highlights : Canada’s Provinces Nominate Candidates for Permanent Residency
In a significant move towards boosting Canada’s immigration landscape, five provinces – Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island – have selected candidates for provincial immigration programs this week. These nominations play a crucial role in strengthening candidates’ applications for permanent residency, especially those in the Express Entry system. This article delves into the recent provincial immigration updates, highlighting key streams, criteria, and outcomes.
Ontario’s Diverse Invitations:
Ontario leads the way by inviting a total of 5,450 candidates across multiple streams. These include:
Employer Job Offer: International Student
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills
Human Capital Priorities
In particular, the province attracted 853 international students with scores of at least 61, specializing in technology, healthcare, and skilled trades. For the Foreign Worker stream, 375 candidates with job offers in skilled trades and a score of 30 were invited. Additionally, 1,131 skilled candidates in health and tech roles received invitations with scores of 46. The In-Demand Skills stream targeted 256 skilled candidates with job offers in specific occupations like agriculture and construction, scoring 23 or above. Notably, Ontario also invited 2,835 candidates in the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream, focusing on technology and health-related professions with scores of 473 or above.
Saskatchewan’s Selective Approach:
Saskatchewan took a selective approach by issuing Expressions of Interest (EOIs) over six draws for candidates in its Express Entry and Occupations-In-Demand streams. These draws were based on candidates’ residence countries and occupations. With a minimum score of 60, the province invited individuals residing in countries like Ireland, India, and various European nations, aligning with labor market needs.
Quebec’s Unique Path:
Unlike other provinces, Quebec operates independently in immigration through a unique agreement with the federal government. In its recent round, Quebec invited 1,384 candidates to apply for permanent selection. A score of 591 and a level 7 oral proficiency (or higher) in French were prerequisites for candidates. The province also extended invitations to candidates with valid job offers outside the Montreal metropolitan area.
British Columbia’s Targeted Draws:
British Columbia held four targeted draws for candidates in its Skilled Worker and International Graduate Streams, including Express Entry candidates. The draws prioritized tech occupations, inviting 107 candidates with a minimum Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) score of 88. Additional draws targeted early childhood educators, healthcare professionals, and other priority occupations. All candidates needed a minimum score of 60 to qualify.
Prince Edward Island’s Dual Streams:
Prince Edward Island (PEI) showcased its commitment to provincial immigration by inviting 142 candidates across two streams. The Labour and Express Entry stream received 138 invitations, focusing on individuals working for PEI employers with a minimum EOI score of 50. Notably, over the past year, a significant majority of PEI PNP invitations have been directed towards these candidates. Additionally, PEI extended invitations to four candidates in the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur category, meeting a minimum point threshold of 102.
Provincial immigration continues to be a driving force in Canada’s approach to welcoming skilled individuals for permanent residency. The recent selections from Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island highlight the diverse pathways and strategies that provinces employ to align immigration with their unique economic and societal needs. As Canada embraces immigrants through these programs, individuals seeking permanent residency have an array of opportunities to explore, enhancing the nation’s cultural diversity and economic growth.
