British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program

After a year of conducting draws excluding certain occupations, British Columbia returned to almost normality in 2021.

While it returned to general draws for all occupations, it also conducted separate draws targeting two NOC codes: 0621 for Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers and 0631 for Restaurant and Food Service Managers. These were considered in high demand.

The province also took the step of making the BC PNP Tech Pilot a permanent program in 2021. B.C. was one of the first provinces to introduce tech-targeted draws, which have been highly successful.

BCPNP: Key Articles and Pages

British Columbia Immigration
British Columbia Immigration Draws
BC PNP Tech
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in British Columbia
How to Immigrate to Canadian Province of British Columbia
BC PNP Tech Pilot Becomes Permanent

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Ontario was another province to have a busy year on immigration, including launching a new Expression of Interest system.

The EOI system covered Ontario’s Employer Job Offer stream, plus its extremely popular streams for Masters and PhD Graduates, with several draws taking place and thousands of invitations issued.

Ontario also became the first province to try to make it easier for immigrants in regulated professions to find employment, by ending the need for Canadian work experience, as well as softening other requirements.

Summary of Ontario NOIs/ITAs 2021

Ontario officials also repeated calls for its nomination allocation through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to be double in 2022.

Later in the year, the province announced a new drive to attract $20 million investment through its existing Entrepreneur Stream.

OINP: Key Articles and Pages

Ontario Immigration
Ontario immigration Draws
Here are the Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Ontario
Ontario Aims To Attract $20 Million Investment From Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Ontario Wants To Double Annual Intake Of Skilled Immigrants
Ontario Ready To End Canadian Work Experience Requirement For Several Regulated Professions
Ontario Immigration Launches Expression of Interest System
Ontario Plans Entrepreneur Stream Changes To Make Application Process Easier

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Manitoba, which operates Canada’s oldest provincial nominee program, had a quiet year on the immigration front in terms of program developments.

However, the provincial government did set up a new immigration department with the aim of boosting the numbers of newcomers to the province.

Regular draws have continued throughout the year under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

MPNP: Key Articles and Pages

Manitoba Immigration
Manitoba Immigration Draws
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Manitoba Boosted By COVID-19
Manitoba Government Launches New Department With Aim to Boost Immigration
Manitoba Predicted To Offset COVID-19 Losses In 2021 Economic Recovery

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program had a quiet year, before a flurry of activity in November and December.

First, it launched a new Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot targeting 23 low-skilled and entry-level occupations in sectors including health, manufacturing, agriculture, ag-tech, construction, hospitality and retail.

Saskatchewan Hard-To-Fill Skills Pilot: Eligible Occupations

Then, it launched a new International Healthcare Worker EOI Pool, design to match qualified newcomers to health jobs in Saskatchewan.

Candidates matched with a job can then apply for immigration from the SINP’s International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer sub-category or the Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot.

International Healthcare Worker EOI: Eligible Occupations

The province has also continued to conduct regular draws throughout the year.

SINP: Key Articles and Pages

Saskatchewan Immigration
Saskatchewan Immigration Draws
Saskatchewan Launches New EOI Pool Targeting 21 Healthcare Occupations For Canada Immigration
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Canadian Province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Announces New Canada Immigration Program
Saskatchewan Immigration Resumes Entrepreneur Stream Draws For First Time In 16 Months

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program

Alberta announced in December that it had reached its nomination allocation of 6,250 through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.

Alberta was the only province to announce it was limiting immigration in 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. However, regular draws returned in 2021, with CRS scores as low as 300 through Alberta Express Entry.

The province also moved to ease requirements for its two international graduate entrepreneur streams later in the year.

AINP: Key Articles and Pages

Alberta immigration
Alberta Immigration Draws
Alberta Reaches 2021 Canada Immigration Nomination Allocation
Alberta Eases Requirements For International Graduate Entrepreneur Streams

Nova Scotia Nominee Program

Nova Scotia earned the feather in its cap of one of its MPs becoming the new Canada immigration minister in 2021.

Sean Fraser took over from Marco Mendicino following the October election victory for Justin Trudeau’s Liberals.

In terms of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, the province has been active, and not just in terms of regular draws.

It launched a new International Graduates in Demand stream in July, initially targeting nurse aides, orderlies and early childhood educators.

It then twice added occupations to its Occupations In-Demand stream, firstly heavy equipment operators and then restaurant workers.

NSNP: Key Articles and Pages

Nova Scotia Immigration
Nova Scotia Immigration Draws
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Canadian Province of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Adds Restaurant Occupations In Demand To Fast-Track Canada Immigration Stream
Nova Scotia MP Sean Fraser Replaces Marco Mendicino As Canada’s Immigration Minister
Nova Scotians Bullish on Immigration With 75% Wanting More Newcomers
Nova Scotia Targets Heavy Equipment Operators and Labourers As Occupations In Demand
Nova Scotia Launches New Immigration Stream Targeting International Graduates

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program

New Brunswick was another of the smaller, lower-immigration provinces to have an active year in 2021.

After introducing a specific pathway for truck drivers in late 2020, it moved to reduce the work experience requirement in 2021.

It then moved to create a new route to permanent residence for international graduates doing lower-skilled jobs, such as fruit pickers, cleaners and oil field workers.

In August it launched a new pilot program for international graduates from four private career colleges in New Brunswick.

The program allows the graduates to work and live in the province while they wait for permanent residency.

Targeted occupations for this pilot include:

• social and community service workers;
• early childhood educators and assistants;
• educational assistants;
• health-care aides;
• home support workers;
• licensed practical nurses;
• paramedics and related occupations;
• medical laboratory technologists;
• medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants;
• medical administrative assistants;
• computer programmers and interactive media developers;
• web designers and developers;
• computer network technicians;
• user support technicians;
• accounting technicians and bookkeepers;
• payroll clerks;
• shippers and receivers;
• supply chain and logistics supervisors; and
• production logistics co-ordinators.

NBPNP: Key Articles and Pages

New Brunswick immigration
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Canadian Province of New Brunswick
New Brunswick Announces New Immigration Pathway For Private Career College Graduates
New Brunswick Offers Permanent Residence Route For International Graduates in Lower Skilled Jobs
New Brunswick Immigration Reduces Work Experience Requirement For Truck Drivers (NOC 7511)

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nomination Program

Prince Edward Island has had the quietest of years on the immigration front, with no program changes.

Regular draws continued through the province’s Labour Impact, Express Entry and Business Impact streams.

PEI PNP: Key Articles and Pages

Prince Edward Island Immigration
Prince Edward Island Immigration Draws
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program

Newfoundland & Labrador made some important PNP changes in 2021.

First it moved to create a new program to match immigrants to available jobs in the province.

Under the new program, employers are able to fill full-time jobs and newcomers can find work more easily.

Later in the year, the province also enhanced the healthcare available to international students, allowing them to stay covered after graduation so they can look for jobs.

Key Articles and Pages

Newfoundland & Labrador Immigration
Newfoundland Enhances Healthcare Available To International Students
Canada Labour Shortage: Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland Launches New Pathways Job Matching Program For Immigrants