Record Year for BC PNP: Report Highlights Growth and Strategic Focus

In 2023, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) marked a record year by nominating 8,200 individuals for permanent residency, showcasing a commitment to adapting and expanding to meet the province’s economic needs.

The BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2023, released this week, offers an in-depth look at the program’s achievements, strategic initiatives, and future directions.

The BC PNP, initiated in 2001, aims to select and nominate skilled economic immigrants for permanent residency in Canada. Governed by the Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement (CBCIA) and the Provincial Immigration Programs Act, it remains the only tool for the province to directly select economic immigrants.

The program is structured around two primary components: Skills Immigration (SI) and Entrepreneur Immigration (EI). Each component plays a unique role in attracting and retaining individuals who can contribute significantly to British Columbia’s economic growth and development.

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Skills Immigration (SI)

Skills Immigration (SI), the program’s largest component, saw significant enhancements in 2023. The SI stream focuses on skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, and semi-skilled workers in crucial sectors like tourism and hospitality.

Key Highlights:

• Record Nominations: 8,168 nominations were made under SI, representing 99% of the total program nominations.
• Regional Distribution: A notable shift saw over a third of the nominees settle outside Metro Vancouver, with significant increases in regional community settlements.
• Sector Prioritization: Targeted draws for healthcare, childcare, veterinary care, and construction occupations ensured the program met critical sector needs.

The SI component is divided into five streams: Skilled Worker, Health Authority, International Graduate (IG), International Post-Graduate (IPG), and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS). Each stream caters to different categories of workers, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the province’s labor market needs.

The Registration Pool and Invitations to Apply (ITAs)

The BC PNP employs an online, points-based expression of interest system to manage application intake for the Skilled Worker, IG, and ELSS streams. Prospective applicants complete a registration that establishes a point score based on factors such as level of education, experience, language proficiency, hourly wage offered, and job location.

Periodically, the BC PNP conducts draws and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest scoring registrations. In 2023, a total of 10,009 ITAs were issued, leading to 7,545 applications. The minimum score necessary to receive an invitation fluctuates based on various factors, including BC PNP processing capacity and the size and scores in the registration pool.

Entrepreneur Immigration (EI)

The Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) stream targets experienced entrepreneurs aiming to establish or purchase businesses in B.C. The EI stream includes Base, Regional, and Strategic Projects sub-streams, each designed to support innovation and economic growth.

Key Highlights:

• Entrepreneur Nominees: In 2023, 32 entrepreneurs were nominated, creating 45 new jobs and investing over $22.6 million in the province.
• Regional Focus: The EI Regional Pilot transitioned into a permanent stream, enhancing support for smaller communities and encouraging entrepreneurial activity outside major urban centers.

The EI selection process involves several steps. Approved entrepreneurs receive a work permit support letter, allowing them to come to B.C. as temporary residents. They then have up to 20 months to establish their businesses and become eligible for nomination. In 2023, the BC PNP approved 31 entrepreneurs at the work permit stage, including 20 in the Base stream and 11 in the Regional Pilot.

Strategic Initiatives and Performance Measures

The BC PNP’s strategic initiatives in 2023 included:

• Targeted Selection: Enhanced focus on occupations critical to the province’s economic health, such as technology, healthcare, and childcare.
• Program Integrity: Ongoing improvements in anti-fraud measures and public awareness campaigns to ensure the integrity of the nomination process.

The program continues to develop and refine key performance measures to quantify its contribution to B.C.’s economic development. Reporting includes information on nominee wages, regional nominations, and nominations in essential occupations like healthcare and early childhood education.

Performance Measures:

• Wages: SI nominees’ median wage was significantly higher than the provincial average, reflecting the program’s focus on attracting highly skilled workers.
• Regional Nominations: 34% of SI nominees settled outside Metro Vancouver, surpassing the target and reflecting the program’s success in supporting regional development.
• Essential Services: A sharp increase in nominations for healthcare and early childhood education workers, crucial for maintaining essential services in the province.

Wages

The median wage of SI nominees in 2023 was $34.25 per hour, significantly higher than the provincial median wage of $30.00 per hour. This increase highlights the program’s focus on attracting highly skilled workers who can contribute to the province’s economic growth. Over 99% of SI nominees with job offers had hourly wage rates above the provincial minimum wage.

Regional Nominations

The BC PNP has successfully increased the proportion of nominees settling outside Metro Vancouver. In 2023, 34% of SI nominees were based in regional communities, surpassing the target of 30%. This achievement was driven by the prioritization of occupations in healthcare and childcare, as well as additional points awarded to candidates with job offers outside Metro Vancouver.

Essential Services

The BC PNP prioritized care economy occupations in healthcare and early childhood education, leading to a significant increase in nominations in these sectors. In 2023, 779 healthcare workers and 842 early childhood educators were nominated, representing a 160% and 97% increase, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Conclusion

The BC PNP’s 2023 achievements underscore its pivotal role in supporting British Columbia’s economic development and addressing labor market needs. With a record number of nominations, enhanced focus on strategic sectors, and a commitment to regional development, the program is well-positioned to continue driving the province’s growth and prosperity.

The success of the BC PNP is reflected in the diverse and skilled individuals it attracts, helping to build a stronger, cleaner economy that benefits all British Columbians. The program’s ongoing efforts to prioritize essential services, support regional communities, and maintain high standards of integrity ensure that it remains a cornerstone of the province’s immigration strategy.