The Provincial Nominee Program: Provincial differences

In recent years, more economic immigrants entered Canada via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) than through any other immigration program. Each province or territory is responsible for the design and management of its PNP. The importance of the PNP as a source of immigrants varied considerably among the provinces: it was almost the sole source of economic immigrants in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, while it was much less significant in Ontario. The other provinces fell in between these provinces. Provincial differences in the sociodemographic characteristics of provincial nominees reflect the differences in eligibility requirements and selection processes. As the PNP evolved, the characteristics of provincial nominees changed substantially. The share of new provincial nominees with pre-landing Canadian work experience increased significantly in most provinces. However, by 2019, there were significant differences between provinces, with most new provincial nominees in Alberta, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador having previously been temporary foreign workers, compared with relatively few of those in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Saskatchewan. There was also a rise in the share of new provincial nominees who were former international students in some provinces, notably Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Provincial nominees with pre-landing Canadian work or study experience tend to have better economic outcomes than other immigrants without such a background. Significant provincial variation in the types of intended occupations of new provincial nominees was also evident. In 2019, skilled and technical provincial nominees dominated in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Alberta, while British Columbia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had larger shares of professionals, though less than a majority. In Manitoba, lower-skilled provincial nominees outnumbered either professionals or skilled and technical nominees.