Newfoundland and Labrador gets more nominations, pauses intake

The provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador has successfully negotiated an increase of 1,000 nominations for its 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This boost brings the total number of nominations for the province to 2,525. The province’s allocation under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) will remain at 475 spaces, meaning the total number of nominations, including both programs, will be increased.

Earlier in the year, Newfoundland and Labrador faced a significant cut to its PNP nominations. Its annual allocation was reduced to just 1,050, which was a 50% drop compared to 2024 levels. This reduction was part of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) policy to reduce PNP landings across the country by half in 2025.

To address this, Newfoundland and Labrador negotiated with the federal government to secure more nominations. In return, the province committed to increasing its intake of humanitarian immigrants. This agreement will see 290 humanitarian migrants welcomed to the province over the next two years, with the federal government covering their relocation expenses, including housing and other support services.

As a result of these changes, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) has paused accepting new applications for nomination and job vacancy assessments until mid-February. During this temporary break, the 25-day service standard for processing applications will also be suspended. However, the NLPNP will continue to process applications for healthcare workers and other in-demand occupations on a case-by-case basis.

The NLPNP hopes this pause will allow the development of new tools to improve immigration processing and better match skilled workers with businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador. The increased allocation of nominations has been a positive step for the province, helping to offset the earlier reductions.

Although Newfoundland and Labrador managed to secure an increase in nominations, other provinces have seen significant cuts to their PNP allocations. The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), for example, saw its nominations halved from 430 in 2024 to 215 in 2025. Similarly, New Brunswick’s allocation was cut from 5,500 nominations in 2024 to just 2,750 in 2025.

These reductions are part of the IRCC’s broader plan to cut PNP landings by 50% in 2025. The decision reflects the federal government’s efforts to better manage domestic challenges, such as affordability and housing. Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasized that provinces willing to support more humanitarian immigrants would be able to negotiate higher allocations for PNP nominations.

Some provincial ministers, including those from Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, have voiced concerns about the impact of these cuts on their regional economies. They argue that the reduction in PNP nominations undermines their ability to attract skilled workers and manage their own immigration needs.

Despite the challenges, Newfoundland and Labrador’s successful negotiations show that provinces can secure increased nominations by working with the federal government, especially if they agree to take in more humanitarian migrants. For now, the province’s PNP allocations are looking stronger, though it remains to be seen how other provinces will fare in the coming months.