PNP draws were held the week of March 22 2021 in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia under numerous streams and categories. A total of 848 of the highest ranked immigration candidates received invitations. B.C. also announced the extension of its Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot program.
335 candidates invited in Manitoba’s newest draw
New PNP draw in Manitoba brings up the total number of LAAs issued so far in 2021 to 1,627.
The province of Manitoba held a new draw on March 25 2021 and issued invitations (referred to as Letters of Advice to Apply) to 335 immigration candidates.
The invitations were issued through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) and the candidates were selected from one of the following three streams:
- Skilled Workers in Manitoba
- International Education Stream
- Skilled Workers Overseas
Candidates who received the LAAs can now apply for a provincial nomination and if they are successful, they will automatically receive an additional 600 points on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This will dramatically increase their chances of being selected during the next round held by IRCC.
In order to qualify for the MPNP, hopeful applicants were required to create and register an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the MPNP and meet the score requirements.
Two of the three streams required a minimum EOI. The Education Stream was exempt.
| Streams | Number of LAAs Issued | Min. Score Required |
| Skilled Workers in Manitoba | 285 | 423 |
| International Education Stream | 41 | None Required |
| Skilled Workers Overseas | 9 | 711 |
| Total | 335 |
49 of the LAAs were issued to candidates with a valid Express Entry profile and job seeker validation code.
PNP draw held in Saskatchewan: 418 invitations issued
Immigration candidates in Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand sub-categories were eligible in newest SINP draw.
A new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw was held in Saskatchewan on March 24 2021.
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) issued invitations to 418 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
The invitations were broken down as follows; 183 were issued through SINP’s Express Entry sub-category and 233 through the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.
In order to be eligible for either stream, candidates needed to meet a minimum Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 70 and over. SINP scores candidates out of 100 points using an International Skilled Worker’s Points Assessment Grid. The highest ranked candidates are issued invitations during draws.
Interested applicants were also required to provide proof via an Educational Credential Assessment that their foreign education met the Canadian education standards and show work experience in one of the province’s In-Demand Occupations.
Examples of eligible occupations include social workers, counsellors and medical laboratory technicians.
Candidates who received their invitations through the Express-Entry subcategory will be awarded an additional 600 points on their CRS score, which will go a long way the next time IRCC holds a draw.
Given Canada’s 2021 Immigration Levels Plans, IRCC will likely be holding numerous draws in the coming months.
95 invitations issued by B.C. in new Tech Pilot draw
B.C. holds new Tech Pilot draw and extends the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot program by another three years.
As planned, British Columbia held its weekly PNP draw on March 23 2021.
Every second week, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) holds a Tech Pilot draw.
The latest Tech Pilot draw selected candidates from the Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration categories.
A total of 95 invitations were issued to eligible candidates from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories.
In order to qualify, applicants were required to have a minimum provincial score of 80 or higher and have to show they have a valid job offer in one of the province’s 29 eligible tech occupations.
Entrepreneur Immigration update:
British Columbia also announced changes to its Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional Pilot program.
The program launched in 2019 allows the province to work with regional communities with a population of less than 75,000 people and approves immigrant entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business in the area.
Entrepreneurs who are interested in this program have to visit the community to get a feel for it and must also obtain a community referral prior to registering for the pilot.
If successful, candidates are given a temporary work permit and when the province feels they met all the criteria outlined in the performance agreement, they can issue a nomination for permanent residency.
This program will be extended by another three years, until March 31 2024.