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By Jessica Thakur, February 03 2025
After a slow start to the year, two Canadian provinces have kicked off their provincial immigration processes for 2025, marking a return to activity after a quieter-than-usual January. Manitoba and Ontario have both begun issuing invitations for candidates to apply for provincial nominations, which are key steps in gaining permanent residency in Canada.
Manitoba Takes the Lead with First Draws of 2025
Manitoba was the first province to hold draws in 2025, with the first two taking place on January 9. The province followed up with a third draw on January 23. On that date, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued 128 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under its Skilled Worker Overseas Stream, part of the Strategic Recruitment Initiative. The lowest score among invited candidates was 609.
A notable aspect of the draw was that 22 of the 128 invitations were extended to candidates who had a valid Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code, aligning with Manitoba’s focus on attracting skilled workers who have already expressed interest in settling in Canada through the Express Entry system.
Ontario Issues Invitations Under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
Ontario, meanwhile, issued its first invitations of 2025 on January 15, with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) extending four invitations under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream. This targeted draw was specifically for candidates eligible under the Economic Mobility Pathways Project (EMPP), a federal initiative aimed at helping skilled refugees and displaced persons build new lives in Canada.
The EMPP is part of Canada’s broader efforts to offer permanent residency pathways to people who have been forced to flee their home countries due to conflict or other crises, aligning with Canada’s commitments to humanitarian immigration.
Challenges Ahead: Reduced Provincial Nominee Program Allocations
While the return to provincial immigration draws is encouraging, the outlook for 2025 remains complicated by significant cuts to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocations. The Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027, released in October 2024, revealed a steep reduction of about 50% in the overall PNP allocations compared to 2024.
As a result, several provinces and territories are grappling with fewer available nominations. This includes a significant cut to the Northwest Territories' PNP, which was slated to reopen on January 16 but has since been postponed due to the reduced allocations. Provincial immigration ministers have expressed concerns over the reduced numbers, with some signaling their intention to negotiate with the federal government for higher allocation targets.
Looking Ahead
With 2025 now in full swing, more provinces are expected to announce further draws in the coming weeks. However, the overall reduced quota may mean a more competitive process for prospective immigrants looking to settle in Canada. It remains to be seen how provinces will adjust their strategies to cope with the reduced allocations and whether the federal government will revisit the targets set for PNPs.
For now, candidates in Manitoba and Ontario who received invitations in January can move forward with their application processes, while others will be keeping a close eye on future developments and opportunities within Canada's provincial immigration streams.
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