In the first week of August, three Canadian provinces have issued invitations for immigration through their respective programs. British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec have invited skilled candidates to apply, strengthening their commitment to attracting international talent.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
British Columbia invited over 144 candidates to apply for provincial nomination through its PNP this week. The province held a general draw for 52 candidates across the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled streams. Minimum scores required were 132 for most streams, with 110 for Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled candidates.
In addition, the province conducted four targeted draws for specific occupations:
- 32 candidates in childcare occupations with a minimum score of 88,
- 29 candidates in construction occupations requiring a score of 90,
- 24 candidates in healthcare occupations needing a score of 101, and
- Fewer than five candidates in veterinary care occupations, with a minimum score of 80.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
On July 30, Alberta held a draw focused on the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway under its job offer stream, inviting 54 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300. These candidates, once invited, gain an additional 600 points on their federal Express Entry profile, almost ensuring they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in future federal draws.
Alberta is also set to introduce a new expression of interest system on September 30, 2024. This system will allow for continuous application intake, ranking candidates based on provincial labor market needs and other factors.
Quebec Immigration Draw
On August 1, Quebec invited 1,490 candidates to apply for immigration. Applicants were required to have a minimum score of 580 and a level 7 oral proficiency in French, based on Quebec’s language scale for immigrants. Candidates with job offers outside the Montreal metropolitan area were also considered in the draw.
These recent invitations underscore the provinces’ ongoing efforts to meet labor market demands by attracting skilled international candidates.