British Columbia Picks More Candidates; Manitoba Halts open Work Permits For PNP

In recent updates to Canada’s provincial immigration systems, British Columbia has issued more invitations to apply (ITAs) under its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), while Manitoba is set to end a policy that allowed certain PNP candidates to apply for open work permits. These developments reflect the provinces’ evolving approaches to attracting skilled workers.

On December 10, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held two significant draws for candidates. The first draw focused on the Skilled Worker stream, which includes the Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) option, as well as the Entry Level & Semi-Skilled streams. The EEBC option allows the province to select candidates from the federal Express Entry pool, which can enhance the chances for eligible candidates to receive an invitation.

In total, six invitations were issued across these streams. The minimum scores required for each stream were as follows:

• Skilled Worker: 148 points
• Skilled Worker EEBC option: 148 points
• Entry Level & Semi-Skilled: 121 points

The second draw targeted candidates with professional experience in priority sectors of the British Columbia economy, including childcare, construction, healthcare, and veterinary care. This draw issued at least four invitations, with minimum scores varying based on the sector:

• Childcare: 101 points
• Construction: 112 points
• Healthcare: 121 points
• Veterinary care: 80 points

The emphasis on key sectors highlights British Columbia’s focus on addressing labor shortages in industries vital to the province’s economy.

Meanwhile, in Manitoba, significant changes are underway in the Provincial Nominee Program. On December 6, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) announced that it would end its temporary policy allowing certain PNP candidates to apply for open work permits. This policy, which was introduced in August 2024, had allowed immigration authorities to issue support letters to candidates in the Express of Interest (EOI) pool or application inventory of the province’s PNP. With this support letter, candidates could apply for an open work permit from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), provided they met other criteria.

The MPNP’s decision to end the policy means that, after December 18, 2024, no new applications for support letters will be accepted. The online submission form for the support letters will close at 11:59 PM CST on December 18, 2024 (12:59 AM EST on December 19). While the policy will end, eligible candidates can still apply for a support letter before the deadline. IRCC will continue to accept applications for open work permits under this policy until December 31, 2024.

The changes in both British Columbia and Manitoba will impact immigration candidates. In British Columbia, candidates in the skilled worker and semi-skilled streams may have new opportunities to apply for permanent residency. For those in Manitoba, the clock is ticking, and candidates who wish to apply for open work permits under the current policy must do so quickly before the deadline.