Ontario nominates high number of tech, skilled workers in 2020

Ontario nominated a large number of new immigrants in 2020 despite the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. 8,054 principal applicants got nominations through the OINP in 2020. These applicants were accompanied by their spouses and children, which increased the number of nominations to 15,303.

A nomination is just the beginning of the process of considering the applicant eligible to be given a Canada PR visa. The nomination only meant that a Canadian province was in support of approving the application for Canada immigration. The final decision of nominated candidates to be given the status of a Canada PR lies with the federal government.

Even though the Canadian government permitted Ontario to nominate 7,350 new immigrants, the province closed the year with 300 more applicants via the NOC C Pilot. This was meant for low-skilled workers. There were also additional nominations of 450 candidates.

Ontario’s PNP is at work to address the labor market requirements by giving Canada PR pathways to foreign workers who are willing to migrate to Ontario. In 2020, Ontario issued nominations to foreign workers in occupations in the technology field besides skilled trades. It was these sectors that had the most requirement for skilled individuals as well as a high number of applicants.

About 20% of all nominations were issued to those with work experience or an offer for a job in a high-tech occupation. These include:

• software engineers & designers
• interactive media developers
• computer programmers
• technology consultants
• IT systems analysts

Additionally, over 20% of nominees had skilled trade work experience. The OINP issued over 1,100 nominations under the Skilled Trades stream of Express Entry.

48% of the nominees had an offer to work in Canada with a job in Ontario prior to getting a provincial nomination. About 96% had a post-secondary degree. A minimum of 43% had language fluency of intermediate to fluent in at least one of the official languages: English and French.

Ontario issued nominations to 3,499 Express Entry candidates via its 3 enhanced PNPs. It went like the following:

• 1,106 candidates from the Skilled Trades Stream
• 1,996 candidates from the Human Capital Priorities Stream
• 397 candidates from the Skilled Worker Stream who speak French

The federal government uses Express Entry as its application management system. Most of the new immigrants to Canada arrive in the country via one of the 3 programs managed by Express Entry namely:

• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program

Express Entry candidates may also be nominated by a PNP where the candidates get a provincial nomination. This will fetch them 600 extra CRS points granting them the high chance to receive an ITA to apply for a Canada PR visa in a federal immigration draw.

OINP issued 437 nominations to French-speakers in 2020. 5% of the total number of nominations was Ontario’s target for French immigration. But the province exceeded this target and had 5.4% of the total nominations issued to individuals with high proficiency in the French language.

In 2019, Ontario gave shape to the 2-year Regional Immigration Pilot. It allowed Canadian employers in 3 communities to recruit skilled foreign workers. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the province to begin this intake of foreign workers only from the middle of the year.

Out of 150 spaces allotted, only 67 went to immigration candidates via the Regional Immigration Pilot in 2020. Hence, the OINP has made an allocation of up to 233 spaces to applicants under this pilot. By doing so, OINP will make up for the shortage in 2021.

The first nomination Ontario issued was under its Entrepreneur stream. 18 other applicants were in the final stage of the process of compliance monitoring by the closure of 2020. OINP expects the 18 candidates to invest more than $22.4 million dollars besides hiring 92 natives of Ontario after setting up their businesses in the province. OINP is now processing 64 more applications it got in 2020.

OINP will also be launching an EOI system in the spring of 2021 for its streams namely:

• International Graduate Student
• Employer Job Offer

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System

EOI – Expression of Interest

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

ITA – Invitation to Apply