Last week five Canadian provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island, released the results of PNP draws.

In Canada, immigration is a joint responsibility of the federal and provincial governments. The PNP or Provincial Nominee Program enables provincial governments to invite candidates who they think can easily and economically establish themselves within the province inviting them. This is believed as candidates have work experience in an in-demand occupation within the province. The majority of the PNPs feature specific streams that invite candidates from different fields like healthcare, technology, agriculture, etc., all of which have labor shortages.

Recently, on a federal level, IRCC has taken a similar approach for express entry candidates and started hosting category-based selection draws. On June 28, from the healthcare occupations, 500 Express Entry candidates were invited by IRCC. In addition to this, IRCC intends to invite 1,500 more candidates from healthcare occupations on July 5, alongside holding a draw for STEM occupations in the same week.

Since the province of Quebec has a separate agreement with the federal government that permits it to invite economic immigrants to the province, Quebec does not have a Provincial Nominee Program. Quebec has recently suggested changes to its provincial immigration standards. One of the major changes that the province will demand is that all candidates intending to enter Quebec must have high-French proficiency.

Provincial Nominee Program results from June 23-29

Discover the PNP results of five Canadian provinces, including BC, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, and PEI, from June 23 to 29.

Quebec

The Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration invited 1,006 skilled workers on June 22, with a minimum score requirement of 626.

The candidates who were invited by the province had an oral proficiency of level 7 or higher in the French language. This was as per the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants, which is the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes, or its equivalent.

The province may also have invited the candidates if they had a job proposal outside the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal territory.

Alberta

Alberta held three draws between June 20 and June 22 under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

In its first draw on June 20, the minimum required CRS score was 301. In this draw, Alberta issued 68 notifications of interest (NOIs) to candidates in the Priority sector – Construction occupation with the Alberta job offer stream.

In its second draw on June 21, a total of 19 NOIs were issued by the province in the Designated Healthcare Pathway, Alberta job offer. The lowest-required CRS score was 318.

Finally, in its third draw on June 22, Alberta issued 125 NOIs in the Family connection and primary occupations in demand. The lowest required CRS score was 306. In this stream, the candidates are required to have work experience in an occupation-in-demand and already have a family member, such as a parent, spouse, or sibling, living in the province.

British Columbia

Generally, British Columbia holds draws on Tuesdays every week. The province, on June 27, invited more than 180 candidates over four draws.

The largest draw held by the province was a general draw, including tech occupations, in which it invited 130 candidates. This draw targeted candidates from the International Graduate, Skilled Worker, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled streams. The lowest required SIRS score for International Graduates was 109; for Skilled Workers, it was 106 and for Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled candidates, it was 87.

The other three draws held by BC targeted Skilled Workers, International Graduates, as well as Express Entry candidates. BC invited 30 early childhood educators and assistants, 20 healthcare professionals, and less than five candidates from other priority occupations.

Manitoba

In a special effort for Ukrainians affected by the ongoing unrest, the province of Manitoba invited 49 candidates.

Candidates who were invited must satisfy certain requirements. They must be eligible for the Skilled Workers Overseas pathway of the Manitoba PNP, along with the following requirements:

  • They must be Ukrainian citizens;
  • In each language band, they must have a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4;
  • They must have an existing connection to Manitoba (have a close relative, family-like, or community connection, studies, or previous employment in Manitoba);
  • They must have a valid language test;
  • They must have a score of at least 60 points (as per MPNP assessment criteria); and
  • They must be able to meet all other conditions of the Skilled Worker Overseas pathway, including sufficient settlement funds.

According to the province, CUAET holders may apply to the MPNP through the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway if they are working in Manitoba for a period of at least six months in any occupation.

PEI

Prince Edward Island (PEI), on June 29, invited 90 candidates under its Labour and Express Entry categories. PEI is Canada’s smallest province and holds draws almost every two weeks. It targets candidates with a local job offer or who graduated from a PEI institution. In addition, it also focuses on candidates in the Express Entry pool.