Prince Edward Island’s First PNP Draw Of 2023 Sees 223 Canada Immigration Invitations Issued

Colin Singer
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Prince Edward Island’s First PNP Draw Of 2023 Sees 223 Canada Immigration Invitations Issued

Prince Edward Island has conducted its first provincial draw of 2023, issuing invitations to apply to 223 skilled worker and entrepreneur Canada immigration candidates.

The January 19 draw saw invitations issued through the Labour Impact, Express Entry and Business Impact Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) streams.

It saw 216 invites issued to Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates, while Business Impact candidates received 7 invitations.

Business Impact candidates required a minimum score of 62 points.

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PEI PNP Immigration Draw

Date Category Invites Issued Minimum Score
19-01-2023 Labour Impact/Express Entry 216 N/A
Business Impact 7 62

PEI launched its Expression of Interest system at the start of 2018, and has made monthly draws ever since, with some disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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PEI issued a total of 1,853 invites during 2022, compared to 1,933 invites in 2021.

Of the 2022 invites, 1,729 went to Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates, with the remaining 124 going to Business Impact candidates.

Prince Edward Island Express Entry Stream

PEI’s Express Entry category operates by considering candidates already in the federal Express Entry Pool for a provincial nomination.

Such a nomination adds 600 points to a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration.

The PEI Express Entry Category features two pathways to Canadian permanent residence, one for candidates with a job offer and one for those without.

Prince Edward Island Labour Impact Category

1) Skilled Worker Stream

This employer driven stream allows skilled workers with an employment offer in PEI to be nominated for Canadian Permanent residence if they meet the following criteria:

  • A full time employment offer from a Prince Edward Island business in an occupation classified as TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC);
  • Completion of a post-secondary education, with a minimum of 14 years of formal education;
  • Between 21 and 55 years of age;
  • At least 2 years of full time work experience in the past 5 years;
  • Sufficient proficiency in English or French to occupy the employment offered;
  • Sufficient settlement funds;
  • Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

2) Critical Worker Stream

This category is designed to resolve labour shortages and is open to foreign workers already in PEI with employment in specific critical demand occupations. The primary criteria for nomination are:

  • A full time offer of employment from a Prince Edward Island business in one of the following occupations:
    • Truck driver;
    • Customer service representative;
    • Labourer;
    • Food & beverage server;
    • Housekeeping attendant.
  • 6 months of work experience with the Prince Edward Island business offering employment;
  • Current valid Canadian work permit;
  • High school diploma and minimum of 12 years of formal education;
  • Between 21 and 55 years of age;
  • At least 2 years of full-time work experience in the past 5 years;
  • Demonstrate basic proficiency in English or French language;
  • Sufficient settlement funds;
  • Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

Prince Edward Island Business Impact Category

Work Permit Stream

Individuals applying under the P.E.I. Work Permit Stream must obtain a Canadian work permit and work for a P.E.I. business for a certain amount of time as designated in a Performance Agreement.

After the Performance Agreement is fulfilled, the applicant must make a minimum $150,000 investment in the business and commit to managing the business on a daily basis from within P.E.I.

Previously, Prince Edward Island operated direct permanent residence business streams, but these were closed in September 2018 over immigration fraud concerns.

 

Canada Permanent Residence For Double Number Of Out-Of-Status Toronto Construction Workers

Colin Singer
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Canada Permanent Residence For Double Number Of Out-Of-Status Toronto Construction Workers

Double the number of out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are now eligible for Canada permanent residence after a temporary pathway was expended.

“This pilot program is a significant step forward in addressing critical labour shortages for the Greater Toronto Area by supporting stability in the construction industry and bringing workers out of the underground economy,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“By providing regular pathways for out-of-status migrants, we are not only protecting workers and their families, but also safeguarding Canada’s labour market and ensuring that we can retain the skilled workers we need to grow our economy and build our communities. 

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“This initiative is a testament to our government’s commitment to finding innovative solutions to support Canada’s workforce and strengthen our economy.”

Construction industry employers and the sector’s labour unions in Canada’s biggest city were delighted with the announcement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

“The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is pleased to continue assisting another 500 out-of-status construction workers and their immediate families in finding a pathway to permanent residence that will end the insecure nature of their employment and immigration status in 2023,” said Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

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“The out-of-status construction workers contribute greatly to the economy and society and continue to fill labour shortages. Without status, the workers live and work in fear of detection, detainment and deportation. Out-of-status workers are vulnerable to employer exploitation and abuse and they and their families live with limited access to education, health and social programs.”

The labour union president said the organization is proud to contribute to building the momentum and work towards a broad regularization program for undocumented people in Canada with the out-of-status construction workers in the GTA initiative.

Canada’ immigration department teamed up with Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in 2019 to launch a permanent residence pilot program for 500 out-of-status workers in the construction industry in the GTA.

Canadian Labour Congress Is Pre-Qualifying Applicants For Out-Of-Status Construction Worker Pilot

This month, on Jan. 20, the IRCC announced it is extending and expanding the pilot program, doubling its scope to 1,000 out-of-status construction workers in the GTA.

“The extension and expansion of the initiative to regularize the status of construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area will help address labour shortages in this key industry while providing opportunities for workers who have been contributing to our economy to find a permanent home in Canada,” said Peter Fonseca, Member of Parliament for Mississauga East-Cooksville.

“By taking away the fear of removal, this program truly improves the lives and communities of those who have fallen out-of-status.”

Under the temporary public policy, out-of-status construction workers have until Jan. 2 next year to apply for permanent residence and can include their spouses, partners and dependent children in their application. 

The CLC determines their eligibility before referring them to the IRCC.

Under the pilot, applicants who have significant work experience in construction occupations in the GTA, family members in Canada, a referral letter from the CLC and no reason for being inadmissible other than overstaying their work permit and working without authorization may be able to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Since its launch in July 2019, 452 people have been accepted as permanent residents through this program, including 190 principal applicants and 262 dependents.

Ottawa Aiming For Record Immigration Levels Again This Year

Now, the IRCC is exploring broader regularization pathways for undocumented migrants and their families, pledging to offer more opportunities for people to enter or stay in the job market and fill labour shortages.

Canada is bullish on immigration.

In its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa has set the target for 2023 at 465,000 new permanent residents. The country is to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and another 500,000 in 2025.

That’s a total of 1.45 million immigrants to Canada over the coming three years.

Canada Francophone Immigration Five Times Higher Than 16 Years Ago

Colin Singer
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Canada Francophone Immigration Five Times Higher Than 16 Years Ago

Canada’s ongoing efforts to ensure the vibrancy of French-language communities across the country has seen francophone immigration outside Quebec jump by almost five times since 2006.

During those 16 years, the number of francophone immigrants coming to live in Canadian communities outside Quebec jumped from about 2,800 in 2006 to hit more than 16,300 new francophone permanent residents in 2022.

Even with the massive rise in immigration levels to Canada during that time, the growth in francophone immigration to minority francophone communities in the country has still risen on a per capita basis. 

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In 2006, francophone immigration represented 1.38 per cent of all immigration to the country. Last year, that percentage rose to 4.4 per cent.

That means Ottawa has hit its francophone immigration target for 2022.

“Francophone immigration plays a key role in restoring the demographic weight of francophone minority communities in addition to contributing closely to the economic development of our country,” said Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser and Petitpas Taylor announced that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) hit that target for francophone immigration at the École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité in Sturgeon Falls.

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“Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction and will give us the momentum we need to adopt a robust new francophone immigration policy, presented in Bill C-13, with objectives, targets and specific indicators that will ensure the sustainability of the French language,” said Petitpas Taylor.

In the past five years, the number of francophone immigrants in Canada has increased by 42,470 permanent residents. 

“Francophone immigration is at the heart of the values that make Canada rich, both culturally and through the distinct character of its two official languages,” said the immigration minister.

Ottawa Earmarked $40.7m For Francophone Immigration Initiatives In Its Five-Year Plan

“We have achieved our target. It is a significant milestone and reflects the importance and contribution of French-speaking immigrants to the vitality and development of francophone communities outside Quebec. 

“We will continue to welcome French-speaking immigrants to ensure the viability of these key communities that are helping to shape the future of our country.”

Through the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018–2023, Ottawa allocated nearly $500 million over five years to support official languages, including $40.7 million for francophone immigration initiatives.

“Newcomers are essential to the development and vitality of francophone communities,” said Marie-France Lalonde, the immigration minister’s parliamentary secretary.

“This is especially true in minority communities. Canada has always been a pioneer in its efforts to create more opportunities to help these communities prosper culturally and economically and, in doing so, increase their demographic weight.”

Although the number of Canadians who speak French as their mother tongue has grown steadily, the percentage of francophones in Canada nudged down in the five years that ended in 2021. The proportion that French-speaking Canadians dropped from 22.2 per cent in 2016 to 21.4 per cent in 2021. 

The number of Canadians who speak mostly French at home increased in Quebec, British Columbia and Yukon, but decreased in the other provinces and territories during those five years.

In a bid to reverse that trend, the IRCC released its Meeting Our Objectives: Francophone Immigration Strategy, in 2019 with one of its objectives being to reach a target of 4.4 per cent of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2023.

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