Coming to Canada via its Provinces

By Colin Singer

Canada’s Provincial Nomination Programs are fulfilling their objectives by bringing in immigrants with the right skills for local labour markets. PNP immigrants generally find jobs quickly in their chosen fields. They also stay in their province of arrival and earn more than Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program candidates.

These are the central findings of a new federal report into how PNPs operated between 2010 and 2015.

Philippines (27 percent), India (19 percent), China (13 percent), South Korean (four percent) are the top source countries for the PNP program.

The report outlines how PNP immigrants perform well in many of the most important success metrics used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Most candidates were retained in the province that nominated them. They earned more than FSW candidates, but less than Canada Experience Class (CEC) immigrants.

Candidates reported quickly finding work matching their qualifications, showing the important selection power of PNPs.

Concerns raised in the report include an increasing overlap between PNPs and federal programs due to use of the same human capital selection factors. Geographically, retention rates were lower in the Atlantic provinces.

PNPs could do more to help increase francophone immigration numbers outside Quebec. Just one percent of PNP immigrants in the period studied were French-speaking.

The report also criticized processing times, finding that provinces were regularly exceeding stated goals. A lack of information sharing between federal and provincial governments was also highlighted.

Many of the concerns raised have been addressed since 2015, with processing times falling due to Express Entry and PNP francophone immigration levels rising. Information sharing has also improved thanks to agreements like the one recently announced between Ontario and Ottawa.

10 things about provincial nominees admitted from 2010 to 2015

247,796 provincial nominees, spouses, and dependents admitted, representing 25 percent of the total economic class.

43 percent were principal applicants.

Gender: Majority male (66 percent).

Age: five percent between 18 and 24; 81 percent between 25 and 44, 14 percent 45 years or older.

Education: Approximately half (54 percent) had a university degree.

Country of citizenship: Philippines (27 percent), India (19 percent), China (13 percent), South Korean (four percent) and British (three percent).

Knowledge of official languages: English (90 percent), some knowledge of French (0.2 percent), both (3.2 percent), neither (6.6 percent).

Intended province of destination: Manitoba (24.2 percent), Alberta (22.4 percent) and Saskatchewan (19.0 percent).

Intended occupation by NOC level: High-skilled (69.5 percent, NOC level 0 12.6 percent, NOC A 21.4 percent and NOC B 35.5 percent). Semi-skilled or low skilled (26.4 percent, 15.1 percent in NOC C and 11.3 percent in NOC D). No skilled level specified (four percent).

The transition from temporary status: Majority had previous temporary status in Canada (64.7 percent). The majority had received a work permit (64 percent) and/or study permit (23 percent).

The foremost finding of the report is that Canada’s Provincial Nomination Programs are performing well.

Candidates are being brought in to meet labour market needs as they find jobs quickly, in skilled positions with at or above average salaries. That PNP candidates earn on average more than FSW candidates is an indicator of the success of the program.

Important areas of concern include increased overlapping between federal and provincial programs, lengthy processing times, a lack of francophone PNP immigrants and the need for better information sharing.

Action has already been taken since 2015, with processing times falling, a growing francophone intake and better information sharing through federal-provincial agreement.

PNPs are an essential part of the Canada immigration landscape and will continue well into the future.

Colin Singer is immigration counsel for www.immigration.ca.