B.C. and Manitoba issue PNP nominations, Alberta updates candidates

This week, British Columbia and Manitoba invited more candidates to apply for provincial nominations, helping skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and international graduates take a step closer to Canadian permanent residency. Meanwhile, Alberta released updates on the number of candidates in its Expression of Interest (EOI) pools for various immigration streams.

British Columbia’s Entrepreneur Invitations

On January 28, British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) issued invitations to foreign entrepreneurs under its Base and Regional Entrepreneur streams. Both streams required a minimum score of 123 to qualify.

The Base Entrepreneur stream invites candidates less frequently and considers factors such as business location, population size, and whether the proposal involves a new business or purchasing an existing one. The Regional Entrepreneur stream, on the other hand, conducts regular monthly draws for candidates referred by participating communities.

Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program Draws

On February 6, Manitoba held two separate draws under its International Education Stream and Skilled Worker Overseas stream.

• International Education Stream: 59 candidates were invited, all of whom had at least four years of full-time work experience in the past five years. Candidates had to provide supporting documents to verify their experience. The province did not disclose the minimum score required for selection.
• Skilled Worker Overseas Stream: 17 invitations were issued to candidates who were selected under a strategic recruitment initiative. These candidates needed a minimum score of 612 to qualify.

Out of the 76 total invitations issued in both draws, 18 candidates also had a valid Express Entry profile, which could help speed up their immigration process.

Alberta’s Candidate Pool Updates

Although Alberta has not yet held its first immigration draw of 2025, the province provided an update on its candidate pools under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The total number of candidates in various selection pools currently stands at 44,610.

Here’s a breakdown of some key streams:

• Alberta Opportunity Stream: 28,830 candidates
• Rural Renewal Stream: 3,029 candidates
• Tourism and Hospitality Stream: 4,244 candidates
• Dedicated Healthcare Pathways: 1,026 candidates

For the Alberta Express Entry stream, the candidate pool includes:

• Accelerated Tech Pathway: 2,403 candidates
• Family Connection and Occupation in Demand: 2,206 candidates
• Law Enforcement Pathway: 70 candidates
• Priority Sector Draws and Other Initiatives: 2,802 candidates

As Alberta prepares to conduct its first draw of the year, candidates in these pools await potential invitations to apply for permanent residency.