The Express Entry Immigration System is the conventional route to immigrate to Canada. After express entry, we have Provincial Nominee Programs that are popular among immigrants to get permanent residence.
Except for Nunavut and Quebec, all Canadian provinces and territories operate their own Provincial Nominee Programs to nominate potential immigration candidates for permanent residence.
Even during the pandemic, several provinces were regularly conducting the PNP draws. On this page, we will analyze how did Provincial Nominee Programs perform in August.
August was a grand month for PNPs
In the month of August, Canada has issued 3,400 ITAs to apply for permanent residency through the Provincial Nominee Programs.
IRCC has been conducting program-specific express entry draws only this year. It has conducted two express entry draws in August that solely focused on PNP candidates.
Overview of each Provincial Nominee Program
Now, let us have a look at the results of each province’s Provincial Nominee Program.
- Alberta
Alberta held the biggest draw on 10th August. The province invited 396 candidates through the Express Entry category of the AINP: Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.
- British Columbia
British Columbia has issued over 900 invitations last month through its various streams, such as Skills Immigration and Express Entry British Columbia.
- Saskatchewan
In August, the SINP (Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program) has managed to hold four draws. It invited candidates through the International Skilled Worker category. And the immigration subcategories included were Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry. The province sent a total of 948 invitations last month. The performance of the SINP in August is significantly better than in the month of July.
- Manitoba
Manitoba held one draw and issued 275 LAAs (Letters of Advice to Apply). The province invited candidates through the three streams of the MPNP. These are:
- International Education Stream;
- Skilled Workers in Manitoba;
- Skilled Workers Overseas.
- Prince Edward Island
PEI has invited 161 invitations under the Express Entry, Business Impact, and Labor Impact streams of the PEI Provincial Nominee Program. The province held the draw on 19th August.
- Ontario
Ontario has been the most active province in August, as it conducted a total of five draws. The OINP (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program) held the first draw under the two immigration categories of the Employer Job Offer stream. Ontario included the Foreign Worker and the International Student stream in the first draw. The province targeted these streams to be in line with the economic Mobility Pathways Project.
Then, the province invited In-demand skills candidates according to the new Expression of Interest system. Candidates required job offers in the targeted in-demand occupations.
Further, Ontario invited 479 international graduate students by conducting another PNP Draw.
The province included Masters Graduate and Ph.D. Graduate streams in the new EOI system and held the invitation round for these two streams. Then, on 25th August, Ontario issued 326 invitations specifically to candidates registered with the Masters Graduate stream.
Furthermore, Ontario has recently invited 20 entrepreneurs to apply for a provincial nomination under the Entrepreneur Stream. Each province has its own immigration program. This allows the provincial government to invite candidates and select them as per the labor market and economic needs of the province. All Canadian provinces have their own criteria and eligibility requirements for the selection of foreign



