Canada Immigration Year In Review Part 2: PNPs Continue To Grow As Study and Work Permit Numbers Surge

a) Ontario Immigration

Ontario, as Canada’s most populous province, remains the primary recipient of federal immigrants within the nation. Statistic reports up to November 2023 reveal that Ontario successfully settled 191,570 new immigrants during the initial 11 months of the year, constituting over 44 percent of the nationwide immigrant influx.

Among these newcomers, a portion, numbering 20,465 individuals, accessed Ontario through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). These nominees contributed to Ontario’s overall economic immigrant tally, which exceeded 95,000 newcomers. Within this category, 54,700 individuals were admitted via federal skilled programs, while 18,624 newcomers availed themselves of the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway.

In addition to the economic stream, Ontario extended its hospitality to 52,265 individuals through the family class category and provided support for 36,000 refugees in their settlement endeavors.

Throughout the year, the province diligently conducted regular draws through the OINP, extending invitations to candidates linked to both Express Entry and those expressing provincial Expression of Interest.

Furthermore, Ontario built upon the earlier launch of the Entrepreneur Success Initiative, a strategic program aimed at welcoming 100 business newcomers to regions outside of Toronto, while fostering investments amounting to $20 million in these designated areas.

b) British Columbia Immigration

British Columbia emerged as the second most prominent province in terms of the number of newcomers in 2023. As Canada’s westernmost province, it extended its hospitality to a substantial count of over 64,200 new permanent residents up to November.

Among these arrivals, 38,360 individuals belonged to the economic class, further categorized into 13,080 federal skilled worker newcomers, 15,905 individuals who accessed the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), and 8,840 newcomers who embraced the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway.

Additionally, British Columbia welcomed 16,490 individuals within the family class and provided support to 6,700 refugees throughout the year.

Notably, the BC PNP maintained its position as the most active Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in terms of draws, which included the BC PNP Tech category, specifically designed to expedite the arrival of technology workers, demonstrating the province’s commitment to attracting talent in the technology sector.

c) Alberta Immigration  

In 2023, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program played a pivotal role in welcoming a substantial number of newcomers. Over the course of the initial 11 months of the year, the province successfully received 52,185 newcomers, encompassing an economic contingent of 22,465 individuals.

Within this economic category, there were 6,140 federal skilled workers, 15,630 individuals admitted through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), and an additional 2,700 newcomers who entered via the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway.

In addition to the economic stream, Alberta also extended its hospitality to 13,100 individuals within the family class category, and provided refuge to 12,875 refugees during the same period.

The AAIP maintained a consistent schedule of draws throughout the year, ultimately reaching its allocated nomination quota of 9,750, further contributing to the province’s immigration efforts.

d) Saskatchewan Immigration

In the 11-month period leading up to November, Saskatchewan embraced the arrival of 23,345 new immigrants.

Within this demographic, the economic category took precedence, encompassing 19,770 individuals, predominantly owing to the influence of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), which facilitated the entry of 18,345 newcomers. A modest number of 630 federal skilled workers and 785 individuals through the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway also contributed to the province’s economic immigrant total.

In addition to the economic stream, Saskatchewan accommodated 2,110 individuals within the family class category and extended a welcoming hand to 1,405 refugees during the same timeframe.

The SINP conducted a series of routine draws throughout the year, issuing invitations to both Express Entry-linked candidates and direct provincial nominees based on specified National Occupational Classification codes.

It is noteworthy that Saskatchewan remains eager to assert more control over its immigration intake and consistently advocates for increased authority from the federal government in this regard.

e) Manitoba Immigration

Not far behind Saskatchewan in terms of immigration numbers and sharing a border on the map, Manitoba received a total of 22,760 newcomers during the period spanning from January to November 2023.

In a breakdown similar to Saskatchewan’s, this influx comprised 16,750 individuals in the economic category. Within this category, there were just 785 federal skilled workers, while the majority, 14,165 newcomers, gained entry through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). An additional 1,680 individuals accessed Manitoba via the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway.

Furthermore, the province extended its welcome to 3,165 newcomers through family class programs and provided refuge to 2,600 refugees during the same time frame.

Given the notable proportion of provincial immigrants in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan, it can be argued that the Prairie provinces exert a significant degree of control over the selection and admission of newcomers. The MPNP, being the oldest provincial program in the region, regularly conducts draws targeting skilled workers both within Manitoba and abroad, as well as international graduates, further contributing to the province’s immigration strategy.

f) Nova Scotia Immigration

Nova Scotia, leading among the Atlantic provinces in terms of immigration figures, welcomed a total of 10,490 newcomers during the initial 11 months of 2023.

Within this demographic, 7,965 individuals belonged to the economic class, with 1,865 of them gaining entry through federal programs. Notably, the Atlantic Immigration Program, a collaborative federal-provincial initiative unique to the region, contributed 1,065 out of the 1,865 immigrants in this category.

Nova Scotia also extended its hospitality to 5,140 newcomers through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) and facilitated the entry of 925 individuals via the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway.

Additionally, the province welcomed 1,075 family class immigrants and offered refuge to 1,380 refugees during the same period.

Despite the diversity of its immigration streams targeting skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs, it was a relatively subdued year for the NSNP, which conducted only a limited number of draws throughout its various streams.

g) New Brunswick Immigration

New Brunswick, situated adjacent to Nova Scotia in Atlantic Canada, received a total of 10,225 newcomers in the initial 11 months of 2023.

Among these newcomers, 8,460 individuals fell within the economic class category, with 1,690 of them gaining entry through federal programs. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot was responsible for 945 of these admissions.

The most substantial component of the province’s economic category comprised almost 5,995 newcomers who accessed New Brunswick via the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). Additionally, the province accommodated 760 candidates through the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) Pathway.

h) Newfoundland & Labrador Immigration

Newfoundland & Labrador is arguably the Canadian province that has the most difficulty attracting immigrants.

It welcomed 5,040 newcomers in the first 11 months of 2023, of which 3,740 were through economic streams.

Its 885 federal newcomers were dominated by 740 Atlantic Immigration Program candidates. 

The province also welcomed 2,635 PNP immigrants, 220 TR to PR candidates, 255 in the family class and 1,005 refugees.

i) Prince Edward Island Immigration

At 3,215 newcomers, Prince Edward Island welcomed the fewest number of immigrants of any Canadian province in 2023.

Almost all of them – 2,930 – were through the economic stream, including 2,320 PEI PNP candidates.

Of PEI’s 440 federal economic immigrants, 365 came through the Atlantic Immigration Program.

The province welcomed 135 family class immigrants and 135 refugees.

Despite the low numbers, PEI conducted monthly PNP draws throughout 2023, targeting skilled worker and entrepreneur candidates.