Canada’s Immigration Ministers Convene in Toronto as Four Provinces Conduct PNP Draws

Immigration Minister Marc Miller met with provincial and territorial immigration ministers in Toronto to discuss shared priorities. After the meeting, he held a press conference where he reiterated many of the points made during the release of the Immigration Levels Plan 2024- 2026 and explained that his department believes the plan will help create sustainable population growth in Canada while providing much-needed healthcare and support.

Federal and provincial immigration ministers released a statement after the conference summarizing major discussion areas, including:

• Streamlining federal-provincial economic immigration programs and decreasing processing times
• Promoting Francophone immigration outside Quebec
• Creating a client-centered economic immigration system
• Simplifying foreign credential recognition and reducing hurdles
• Investigating government collaboration to solve housing, infrastructural, and social service pressures
• Expanding settlement service eligibility, especially for asylum seekers and temporary residents with a clear path to permanent residency
• Enhancing Canada's International Student Program Integrity
• Meeting provincial-territorial labour market needs via work permits

New Canada immigration plan

IRCC released a new strategy: An Immigration System for Canada's Future. IRCC recommends more engagement with province governments and other stakeholders to adopt a whole-of-government approach to support sustainable immigration levels that benefit Canada's economy and workforce in the strategy.

Recent PNP draw results

The FMRI conference followed a week of PNP draw results from four provinces. The results are listed below:

British Columbia

More than 219 candidates were invited to participate in the most recent BC PNP draw on November 16, 2023. The general draw, which included 116 candidates from the skilled worker, international graduate, entry level, and semi-skilled streams, was the most substantial of the five. 94 to 115 were the minimum scores required, contingent upon the stream.

The remaining four draws targeted international graduates and skilled workers in particular occupations.

• 59 early childhood educators and support staff
• Medical care: 32
• Other priority occupations: Less than five

A minimum score of 60 was required of candidates for these draws. Additionally, British Columbia hosted its first targeted draw for construction workers. Twelve skilled workers and international graduate candidates with a minimum score of 75 were extended invitations by the province.

Manitoba

On November 9, 16 candidates for Express Entry were invited by Alberta. These applicants needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of more than 300 in order to be considered for the Alberta Job offer stream in the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway. Candidates in this stream may anticipate waiting up to two months for a final decision after submitting their final application, according to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

Prince Edward Island

The PEI PNP extended invitations to 141 candidates on November 16, 2023. The province invited 134 Labour and Express Entry candidates who were working for a PEI employer with a minimum EOI score of 55.

There was also a small draw for individuals with a Business Work Permit Entrepreneur. To be considered, these seven contenders required to have a minimum score of 80. In the last 12 months, PEI has welcomed 2527 candidates using these two channels.

Alberta

Alberta invited 16 candidates for Express Entry on November 9, 2023. These applicants needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of more than 300 in order to be considered for the Alberta job offer stream in the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway. Candidates in this stream may anticipate waiting up to two months for a final decision after submitting their final application, according to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

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