Ontario to Double the provincial Immigration allocation to 13,300 by 2021

The province of Ontario has intimated the Federal Government of Canada (IRCC) to double the allocation of provincial Immigrants it welcomes each year. Due to the shortage of skilled labour, the province wants the OINP’s (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program) allocation to be 13,300 by the year 2021 from 7,000 this year. The provincial Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli has requested the same to Canada’s new federal Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino via an official letter. This happened after the province receiving an increased allocation of mere 50 in 2019, in spite of a request for an increase of 1,000.

The provincial program works by nominating candidates to the federal government for permanent residence. Recent immigration level plans, published in October 2018, forecast an increase with respect to 10,000 PNP by 2021. The target for 2021 is 71,300 from 61,000 in 2019. But, the division among provinces aren’t known.

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program Immigration Levels Targets

The government recently introduced the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot to help communities that has greater struggle with low number of labour availability and also population that is ageing.

11 communities have signed up for the RINP program. Among them, three have launched the pilot. The communities of Sault St. Marie and Thunder Bay – are currently open to applications from candidates and employers. The table below shows the websites of communities that are participating.