Provinces and territories in Canada have made changes in their immigration arrangements so that new immigrants can become permanent residents during the epidemic.
Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs) have been in operation throughout the coronavirus outbreak, and there is no sign of stopping by 2021. These programs serve an important purpose for the regional economy. They are designed to fill vacancies in the labor market by foreign workers who want to relocate to Canada.
The PNPs are still holding on to immigration and are issuing nominations in the province even between the closure of services and tourism restrictions by 2020. The provincial government has funded provincial programs by holding Express Entry draws in which only PNP recipients were invited to apply for permanent residency. In addition, Canada plans to bring in more than 80,000 new migrants a year through PNPs in line with the new migration rates system 2021-2023.
Let’s take a look at some of the important provinces, which have set out rules for future PNP applicants:
- British Columbia (BC) – The British Columbia Nominee Program (BC PNP) still holds weekly immigration drawings. They do not cover applications in the affected areas such as tourism, hospitality, retail, and personal services.
- Alberta – The provincial government is reviewing the Labor Market Impact Assessment for all but 27 jobs in Alberta. Graduate work permit holders who apply to Alberta Opportunity Stream on or after 1 November, are eligible to apply. It is still possible to apply for immigration under the Alberta Immigration Program.
- Ontario – The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) will consider all relevant information when reviewing your PNP application. In 2020 Ontario proposed 8,050 immigrants to live permanently, exceeding its annual budget by more than 400 names. Later this year, Ontario is expected to launch the Expression of Interest program for the Employer Job Offer Category.
- Manitoba – Immigrants who apply for nominations for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) will be able to apply for temporary jobs based on their eligibility. In other words, the nominees have lost their jobs and started working and do not have to work for six consecutive months in order to bring up the expression of interest. The MPNP will also accept incomplete jobs, as long as you submit a letter of explanation. Manitoba will still need all the documents to process the application. Documents such as paystubs, employment records, and letters from the employer may support an application where the applicant is retrenched, or if their hours are reduced.
Other territories and provinces have also introduced such new streams to aid current work permit applicants and PNP applicants as well.
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