British Columbia and Manitoba recently extended invitations to immigration candidates through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Each PNP employs a unique scoring system to assess eligibility, making direct score comparisons across provinces irrelevant.
British Columbia
On November 20, British Columbia conducted a category-specific draw through its Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, including the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option. A total of 16 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, with the cut-off scores varying by targeted industries and occupations.
| Draw type | Minimum score | Number of invitations |
| Childcare | 102 | 3 |
| Construction | 107 | 4 |
| Healthcare | 116 | 4 |
| Tech | 141 | 4 |
| Veterinary care | 80 | <5 |
Candidates have two application pathways the first is Base PNP it Submits directly to the BC PNP and the second is Express Entry BC (EEBC) it links their PNP application to an Express Entry profile for faster processing. The EEBC stream offers an accelerated pathway, enabling successful nominees to expedite both their provincial nomination and permanent residence applications.
Manitoba
On November 8, Manitoba held three separate draws, inviting a total of 274 candidates under its Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The first draw was focused on skilled workers in Manitoba on occupation-specific selection, targeting NOC 2021 unit group 60030 (restaurant and food service managers).
41 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) issued, with the minimum cut-off score: 672.
The second draw was under the International Education Stream in which 188 letters of advice had been issued.
In the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream, the MPNP had issued 45 letters of advice to apply. Invitations issued through strategic recruitment initiatives. Candidates must have a minimum score required of 703 for invitation.
What Are PNPs?
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are designed to address regional labor market needs by selecting skilled and experienced workers for in-demand roles. Launched in 1998, the PNP was created to ensure immigration benefits are distributed across all provinces and territories in Canada.
These programs allow provinces to nominate candidates who wish to settle in their region and contribute to its economy. Today, there are over 90 provincial immigration streams, offering a variety of pathways for foreign nationals to find opportunities that align with their skills and goals.
