In a significant development for those looking to immigrate to Canada, three major provinces—British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec—have recently issued invitations to candidates seeking provincial immigration. This move highlights ongoing opportunities within Canada’s provincial immigration pathways, each with its own unique criteria and processes.
British Columbia: A Week of Diverse Invitations
Between August 3 and 9, British Columbia (B.C.) rolled out invitations for more than 144 candidates through its Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). The province’s approach this week was multi-faceted, targeting a range of skilled professionals and workers.
- General Draws: B.C. extended invitations to 52 candidates across the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled streams. For this general draw, candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams needed a minimum score of 132, while those in the Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled categories required a score of 110.
- Occupation-Specific Draws: In addition, B.C. conducted four targeted occupation-specific draws:
- Childcare Occupations: 32 candidates with a minimum score of 88.
- Construction Occupations: 29 candidates with a minimum score of 90.
- Healthcare Occupations: 24 candidates with a minimum score of 101.
- Veterinary Care Occupations: Less than five candidates with a minimum score of 80.
These draws reflect B.C.’s focus on addressing labor shortages in key sectors, aiming to attract professionals who can contribute to the province’s economic growth.
Alberta: Focused Draws and Upcoming Changes
Alberta made headlines with its July 30 draw, which targeted candidates in its Dedicated Healthcare Pathway aligned with the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). This draw was aimed at individuals with job offers in Alberta’s healthcare sector, requiring a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300.
An important aspect of Alberta’s provincial immigration system is its alignment with Canada’s federal Express Entry system. Candidates who receive an invitation through Alberta’s program are awarded an additional 600 CRS points, significantly enhancing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in future Express Entry draws.
Looking ahead, Alberta will introduce a new expression of interest system on September 30, 2024. This system will replace the current monthly application intake with a more dynamic, ongoing intake process. Applicants will be placed in a selection pool and invited to apply based on their ranking and the province’s labor market needs.
Quebec: A Strong Push for French-Speaking Candidates
Quebec, which operates independently from the Provincial Nominee Program through a special agreement with the federal government, issued invitations on August 1. The province invited 1,490 candidates this week, requiring a minimum score of 580 in the Quebec immigration system.
Candidates needed to demonstrate a high level of French proficiency, with a requirement of level 7 or higher on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (Quebec’s scale for assessing French proficiency). In addition, those with a job offer outside the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal were also considered, reflecting Quebec’s aim to distribute its immigrant population more evenly across the province.
