Five provinces have invited candidates to apply for provincial nomination this week.

Because immigration is a shared responsibility of the federal and provincial governments, the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP) was established in 1998 to allow provinces to nominate economic immigration candidates who they believe have the best chance of establishing themselves economically within the province.

Each year, the federal government publishes the overall number of PNP nominations and divides it among the provinces in the Immigration Levels Plan. The current immigration levels plan calls for 117,500 new permanent residents to be accepted each year under the PNP by 2025.

Provincial immigration ministers authorised a new multi-year immigration plan for the provinces on March 10, allowing them to see the number of new permanent resident admissions that may be expected for the next three years.

Quebec has no PNP and is the only province in Canada that picks all economic immigrants. This is because of a one-of-a-kind arrangement between the province and the federal government.

Results of provincial immigration April 15-21, British Columbia

In the most recent BC PNP draw, held on April 18, more than 203 individuals were invited.

In a general draw, the largest draw invited 158 individuals from five streams, implying that no occupations were targeted. Candidates in the skilled worker category (including Express Entry) needed a minimum score of 104. International Graduate candidates needed a score of 104, while Entry Level and Semi-Skilled candidates needed an 85.

In addition, the province sought 29 individuals in the skilled worker and foreign graduate streams for early childhood educators and helpers (NOC 42202), 16 in healthcare occupations, and less than five in other priority occupations. A minimum score of 60 was required for all targeted prospects.

Alberta

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Programme (AAIP) has had two lotteries in April thus far, with the results finally being released this week. Candidates with profiles in the Express Entry application management system received invitations.

The first drawing was held on April 5. The Designated Healthcare Pathway: Alberta Job Offer stream recruited 53 candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores ranging from 300-600.

The second occurred on April 18 and invited 68 candidates with CRS scores ranging from 300 to 700 from the Sector priority - Agriculture occupation with Alberta job offer stream.

Saskatchewan

Through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Programme (SINP), Saskatchewan invited a total of 1067 applicants on April 20. 444 of them were chosen from the list of in-demand professions, and the remaining 623 were Express Entry applicants.

A score of 69 was required for all candidates.

The March 23 SINP draw, in which only 496 applicants got nominations, was the last draw in a month and was far smaller than this one.

Manitoba

In accordance with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) exceptional immigration provisions for persons affected by the ongoing violence in the region, Manitoba welcomed 28 candidates from Ukraine on April 17.

Candidates still need to meet some qualifying requirements in order to participate in the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Programme. For instance, they need a relationship to the province already established and a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 4 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Additionally, they must be able to demonstrate that they have enough settlement money.

Prince Edward Island

In its most recent draw for the PEI PNP, held on April 20, PEI accepted 189 applicants. 180 of those invited were in the Labour and Express stream, and the last nine nominees were in the Business and Entrepreneur stream and had at least 72 points.

This draw signifies a return to the province's typical draw pattern. Every month, PEI conducts PNP lotteries; however, in March, the province invited candidates in three draws, the final of which was held on March 30.