The Provinces’ participation in selecting candidates from the Express Entry pool has seen a sudden steep rise in this fourth quarter of 2019. Experts opine that this could be because IRCC is trying to fill its intake gap before the year ends – the multiyear immigration target.

Q4 2019 has seen Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick make changes that directly discerns the fate of many applicants in the Express Entry pool whose CRS score were well below 400. The province of Ontario, in particular, with its introduction of the Tech Pilot program, helped many eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool whose National Occupational Classification (NOC) code matched one (or more than one) tech job NOCs identified under the pilot program to obtain permanent residence with much ease. Here, the fact that many of the invited candidates had their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score below 345 would be noteworthy as well as hope-installing to aspirants engaged in tech/IT sectors jobs.

Alberta, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island (PEI) also held multiple invitation rounds, inviting candidates from the Express Entry pool.

Other provincial programs that are not Express Entry-aligned nominate candidates who can then apply directly to Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. These so-called “base programs” are designed by the provinces to address specific, often lower-skilled labour needs. Express Entry manages the pool of candidates for three of Canada’s main Economic Class immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, and Canadian Experience Class.