IRCC’s CFP 2024 for settlement services to contain 4 major themes
IRCC’s CFP 2024 for settlement services to contain 4 major themes

British Columbia, Alberta and PEI issue provincial nominations this week

British Columbia, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island have issued invitations to apply (ITAs) seeking applicants in a number of in-demand vocations through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and the Alberta PNP, formerly known as the Alberta Advantage Immigrant Program (AAIP), are two of Canada’s largest PNPs. These programs provide immigration opportunities for experienced entrepreneurs, workers with in-demand talents, overseas graduates, and other immigrants living in and outside of their provinces.

Provincial immigration results February 10th—16th

Note: Provinces and territories implement different scoring systems for their PNPs independent of each other. This results in different scoring grades and criteria, which should not be compared.

British Columbia

This week, the BCPNP issued invites under its Skilled Worker, International Graduate (which includes the Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) option) stream. This stream is aimed at foreign students with in-demand skills for the British Columbia employment market.

The province awarded at least 200 ITAs to qualified workers and overseas graduates in five distinct high-demand job categories. They were:

  • Childcare—requiring a minimum score of 60 to be invited;
  • Construction—requiring a minimum score of 75 to be invited;
  • Healthcare—requiring a minimum score of 60;
  • Tech—requiring a minimum score of 108; and
  • Veterinary care—requiring a minimum score of 60.

Alberta

On February 6th, Alberta sent 44 Notifications of Interest—the equivalent of ITAs under the AAIP—to individuals with professional healthcare expertise via the “Dedicated Healthcare Pathway with Alberta job offer”.

To be invited, candidates must have healthcare experience in the province and have received a job offer from an Alberta business. The minimal cut-off score for receiving an ITA was 302.

Prince Edward Island

PEI submitted 121 Expressions of Interest to Labour and Express Entry candidates for the PEI PNP.

Candidates were considered if they worked for a PEI employer and had an EOI score of at least 65. Over the last 12 months, the province has welcomed 2,307 applicants, with 2,253 Expressions of Interest coming to Labour and Express Entry candidates and 54 to Business Work Permit Entrepreneurs.

How can I improve my chances of obtaining an invitation under a PNP?

While many PNPs have reserved pathways for those with a connection to the province (e.g., having graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), receiving a job offer letter, or having personal family ties to someone in that PNP’s province or territory), all PNPs have streams for in-demand professions that meet the labour market needs of their location.

Thus, individuals seeking to move to Canada may profit by adapting their professional expertise to a province or territory that demands it. In fact, this is a major reason for the creation of PNPs throughout Canada. Provinces even advertise in-demand occupations to entice newcomers who can fill these critical labour shortages.

By 2025, PNPs will have surpassed Express Entry as Canada’s primary gateway for welcoming new immigrants, demonstrating their sustained relevance to the country’s broader economic plan.