Canada PNP Monthly Roundup: February 2023

PNP’s play a vital role in Canadian immigration by allowing each province or territory the ability to nominate individuals they would like to immigrate to their respective territory or province. Here is our roundup of all the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw results for the month of February 2023.

What Are Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)?

Provincial Nominee Programs allow each Canadian province to set their own requirements for their different immigration streams. Each Canadian province, except Quebec and Nunavut, has different nominee programs that operate in different ways. Many have programs that target international graduates, businesspeople, or in-demand work experience. Other targeted factors often depend on labour market or demographic gaps in the province. For example, Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream targets skilled workers with a strong proficiency in French to help increase their Francophone population.

Immigration through a Provincial Nominee Program makes up a large portion of Canada’s total economic immigration. Of a quarter of a million economic immigrants targeted for 2022, about 83,500 are reserved for those applying under a Provincial Nominee Program.

How Do Provincial Nominee Programs Operate?

Many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) hold draws in which they invite candidates to apply to be nominated for Canadian permanent residence. Some PNPs require candidates to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile to be considered in these draws. Other programs invite candidates directly from the Express Entry pool that haven’t even applied for consideration.

Ontario

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), is a collection of immigration pathways enabling foreign nationals to become Canadian permanent residents. The PNP is strategically designed to attract immigrants in areas which will benefit the province: skilled workers, workers in sectors with labour shortages, entrepreneurs, and investors. The province operates several immigration streams divided among three categories:

• Ontario Human Capital
• Ontario Employer Job Offer
• Ontario Entrepreneur

February 2023 Draws:

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) candidates under four separate streams this February and invited a total of 2,878 candidates:

• Human Capital Priorities stream- Targeted health and tech workers draw
• Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades stream
• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream
• Economic Mobility Pathways Project (EMPP)

The following NOCs were targeted for Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades stream:

• NOC 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
• NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
• NOC 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
• NOC 72310 – Carpenters
• NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
•  NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
•  NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
•  NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
•  NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
•  NOC 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
•  NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
•  NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
•  NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
•  NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers
•  NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
•  NOC 72103 – Boilermakers
•  NOC 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
•  NOC 72105 – Ironworkers
•  NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
•  NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
•  NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
•  NOC 72300 – Plumbers
•  NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
•  NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
•  NOC 72321 – Insulators
•  NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
•  NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
•  NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
•  NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women
•  NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
•  NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
•  NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
•  NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
•  NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
•  NOC 72500 – Crane operators
•  NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
•  NOC 73101 – Tilesetters
•  NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
•  NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
•  NOC 73111 – Glaziers
•  NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
•  NOC 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
•  NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
•  NOC 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
•  NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
•  NOC 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

Manitoba

Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas includes the following streams:

• Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas Stream
• Manitoba Express Entry Pathway
• Manitoba Human Capital Pathway

Applicants who are successful through any of these Manitoba streams will receive an official provincial nomination from Manitoba. This provincial nomination makes applicants eligible to apply for Canadian permanent resident status.

In order to be eligible for all three streams included in the Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas category, candidates must score a minimum of 60 points on the MPNP Points Assessment Grid.

February 2023 Draws:

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued a total of 891 invitations through 2 nominee draws this month.

Manitoba’s draws invited candidates eligible under three nominee streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba;
• Skilled Workers Overseas; and
• International Education

MPNP also held a special Ukrainian draw for those affected by the war in Ukraine. A total of of 13 Letters of Advice to Apply were issued for this type in February. Expressions of Interest have only been considered for candidates that:

• are a citizen of Ukraine
• have a minimum of CLB 4 in each language band
• have a valid language test
• score at least 60 points according to MPNP assessment criteria

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), is a collection of immigration pathways enabling foreign nationals to become Canadian permanent residents. The PNP is strategically designed to attract immigrants in areas which will benefit the province: skilled workers, workers in sectors with labour shortages, workers with job offers, and entrepreneurs. The province operates several immigration streams divided among three categories:

• Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker
• Saskatchewan Experience
• Saskatchewan Entrepreneur and Farm

February 2023 Draws:

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) held 3 Expression of Interest (EOI) draws for candidates eligible under the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand categories. The 3 draws invited 420 candidates and targeted individuals with an Educational Credential Assessment and work experience in an in-demand occupation. In addition, 1 of these draws was special draw targeting Ukrainian nationals, a total of 1 candidate was invited through this special measure.

British Columbia

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), is a collection of immigration pathways enabling foreign nationals to become Canadian Permanent Residents in BC. The PNP is strategically designed to attract immigrants in areas which will benefit the province: skilled workers, workers in sectors with labour shortages, entrepreneurs, and investors. The province operates several immigration streams divided among two categories:

• British Columbia Skills Immigration
• British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration

February 2023 Draws:

The British Columbia Nominee Program (BCPNP) held a total of 8 nominee draws this February 2023, 6of which targeted a set of in-demand occupations such as health care workers and tech occupations.

British Columbia issued more than 889 invitations in Expression of Interest (EOI) draws in February.

A majority of the BCPNP’s nominee draws this month targeted certain in-demand occupations, including:

• Early Childhood Educators and Assistants (NOC 42202)
• Healthcare workers (in 35 healthcare-related occupations)
• Other priority occupations including NOCs 31103, 32104)
• BCPNP tech occupations

Prince Edward Island

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), is a collection of immigration pathways that target immigrants with business acumen, skilled workers, and young graduates who are fresh from post-secondary education.

The PEI PNP gives prospective newcomers the chance to receive a provincial nomination through one of its many immigration streams, which may fast-track their path to Canadian permanent residence. The province operates several immigration streams divided among three categories:

• PEI Express Entry
• PEI Labour Impact
• PEI Business Impact

February 2023 Draws:

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) held one nominee draw this month.

The PEI PNP issued a total of 222 invitations through the Express Entry & Labour streams.

An additional 6 candidates were invited under the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur stream.

Alberta

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held one Express Entry stream draw this February 2023.

The AAIP issued a total of 100 invitations to apply for nomination in the February 16th draw. The lowest-ranking candidate had a CRS score of 357.

Quebec

Quebec operates a number of different immigration programs enabling eligible candidates to secure Canadian permanent residence. The federal government has granted the province of Quebec significantly more autonomy in immigration policies and procedures, which is why Quebec’s immigration programs are often treated separately from other provinces’.

February 2023 Draws:

There were two draws held in February 2023 to apply for Quebec permanent selection. A total of 2,022 persons were invited to apply. Applicants had a score of 619 or higher.

February 16th’s draw also targeted applicants with in-demand work experience. Applicants who indicated the following NOC codes and had a score above 583, were selected to apply:

• 6221 Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade
• 2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
• 2282 User support technicians
• 2281 Computer network technicians
• 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
• 2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
• 2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
• 0213 Computer and information systems managers
• 5241 Graphic designers and illustrators
• 2173 Software engineers and designers
• 2175 Web designers and developers
• 2172 Database analysts and data administrators
• 2283 Information systems testing technicians
• 4031 Secondary school teachers
• 4032 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
• 2131 Civil engineers
• 2231 Civil engineering technologists and technicians
• 2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
• 2132 Mechanical engineers
• 2233 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
• 2141 Industrial and manufacturing engineers
• 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
• 3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
• 3233 Licensed practical nurses
• 4214 Early childhood educators and assistants
• 3413 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

How Can I Increase My Chances of Receiving a Nomination?

Just by submitting an Express Entry profile, you can increase your chances of receiving a provincial nomination. Provinces frequently scan the Express Entry pool and invite profiles that help respond to labour or demographic gaps. Ensuring your profile is strong and indicates your interest in multiple provinces can also help increase your chances of being invited through an Express Entry PNP.

Since many PNPs require candidates to have a connection to the province, studying or working in Canada can also help to increase your chances.

What Is The Ideal PNP Candidate?

The ideal PNP candidate is one that has work experience and skills that help a province respond to labour market or demographic needs. Other factors that may increase one’s chances include:

• Strong ties to the host province (ex. previous work experience, job offer, previous studies, family)
• Work experience in an in-demand occupation
• Strong English proficiency
• Proficiency in French

Interested in learning more about your options to immigrate to Canada through a Provincial Nominee Program or any other immigration program? Complete our free online assessment form today!