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Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) By Inna Rabinovich
Many of the provinces of Canada have agreements with the Federal government that allow the provinces to recruit immigrants with specialized skills that they are unable to find in Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The PNP is generally driven by employers needs, and is a means to help provincial employers obtain the skilled workforce they need. Employers that participate in the PNP usually have to be approved by their province. Through the PNP applications for permanent residency or landed immigrant status are expedited.
Applying to immigrate to Canada through the PNP is a two step process. Applicants must meet the criteria set out by the province they wish to immigrate to and be nominated. Then, the nominee, their spouse and dependant children may apply for permanent residency or landed immigrant status with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
CIC grants priority to processing provincial nominee applications, and makes the final decision. The benefit of applying through the PNP is a faster processing time than other Federal immigration classes, and specialized entry criteria. The various PNP criteria are outlined briefly below.
Alberta
Applicants to Alberta’s PNP must be chosen by an employer that meets Alberta’s employer eligibility criteria. The candidate must have a permanent, full-time position with the employer and must meet the required education, accreditation, licenses, training and experience relevant to the occupation. The Alberta PNP currently recruits immigrants from the following categories: skilled workers, international graduates, semi-skilled workers, food and beverage processing industry, hotel and lodging industry, food and beverage servers and room attendants, front desk agent/clerk, manufacturing industry, trucking industry, self-employed farmer. Manitoba (MPNP)
Applicants must show that they are employable in Manitoba and have potential to settle successfully and permanently. Applicants should demonstrate adequate training and work experience in their field, language ability, settlement supports and proof of legal status in country of residence. Applicants must then apply to one of the Priority Assessment Streams; Employer Direct Stream- those that have a full time job offer, International Student Stream- those that have a full-time job offer after completing a post secondary program, Family Support System- those that have a close relative in Manitoba that has signed an affidavit of support, Community Support Stream- those that have a letter from a community which has signed an agreement with the MPNP, Strategic Recruitment Initiative- those that meet specific criteria described for a strategic Recruitment initiative. Manitoba provides immigrants with settlement services such as help learning English, adjusting and finding employment.
Ontario Pilot PNP Ontario's launched a pilot PNP on May 24, 2007. In this first year, the Pilot PNP will nominate 500 individuals. Nominees may only apply if the employer and position are approved. Categories of application are; employer (450 positions) and multinational investor (50 positions). Applications are processed on a first-come-first-served basis.
Saskatchewan
Applicants may apply as the following: Skilled Workers- Those with a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer. Family Members- Immigrant families living in Saskatchewan may help their family members live and work in the province. Families must provide settlement assistance which may include financial support. Entrepreneurs- those who wish to establish a businesses in Saskatchewan. Farm Owners/Operators- those with sufficient experience and capital who wish to purchase and operate a farming operation in Saskatchewan. Health Professions- Internationally-trained health professionals, who have been working in Saskatchewan for at least six months under a temporary work permit, may apply for landed immigrant status. Students- those who have graduated from a recognized, Saskatchewan post-secondary educational institution and worked for at least six months for a Saskatchewan employer under a CIC post-graduation work permit in a field related to their schooling may apply for landed immigrant status. Long Haul Truck Drivers- Saskatchewan trucking firms may bring workers to the province for occupations requiring a high school diploma or on-the-job training under Service Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker policy. New
Brunswick Applicants may apply under the following categories; Skilled Worker- those with a permanent, full-time job offer from an established New Brunswick company. The job must meet provincial employment standards and offer competitive wage rates. The employer must usually show that the skills are unavailable in the local labour market. Business plan applicants- those with successful management experience, relevant business and language skills and sufficient funds that plan to participate in active management of a New Brunswick business. Applicants must sign a statement of intent to settle permanently in New Brunswick. Nova Scotia
Applicants may apply under the following streams; Skilled Workers- those who have expertise and permanent full-time job offers in specific sectors. Family Business Workers- allows family-owned businesses to hire close relatives who have skills that couldn't be found in Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Community Identified Stream- those who are employable, have strong ties to a Nova Scotia community, and can add to the labour market and economy of that specific community. International graduates- recent international graduates with needed skills that have strong connections to Nova Scotia and intend to settle there.
British
Columbia Applicants may apply in the following category;
Skilled Workers- Offers of employment must be permanent and full-time, at competitive BC wage rates from an employer that has been operating for at least a year and has at least five employees. The field of employment offers good long-term prospects and employment of a foreign worker must be economically beneficial to BC. The employer and the nominee must submit a joint application to the program. The following strategic occupations are considered priorities for economic development; construction, information technology and new media, film and television production, life sciences, clean energy technologies, manufacturing and processing, aerospace, engineering and environmental services, international financial and business services, health services and post-secondary education, tourism and hospitality, oil and gas, mining. Prince
Edward Island
Applicants may apply under the following categories: Immigrant Partner– Those who propose to invest in and take an active managerial role in an existing Prince Edward Island company. Immigrant Entrepreneur–Those who intend to found a feasible new business in Prince Edward Island. Immigrant Connections Category – An applicant recommended by a Prince Edward Island based “champion” who meets settlement and employability criteria. Skilled Worker–Those with specific expertise that fills a labour market need in Prince Edward Island. Newfoundland and Labrador
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