Canadian provinces and territories are on track this year to welcome a record
number of immigrants selected under their own nominee programs. There has been a rapid growth in provincial nominee programs in recent years. Canada plans to admit about
40,000 immigrants in the provincial nominee category in 2011, five
times more than the 8,000 welcomed in 2005. The previous high was
36,428 provincial nominees in 2010. Â
The Provincial Nominee
programs is very beneficial to the country as it helps in spreading out the benefits of immigration around the
country. Traditionally, Toronto (Province of Ontario), Montreal (Province of Quebec) and Vancouver (Province of British Columbia) has attracted a disproportionate share of skilled immigrants coming to
Canada. However, the top three provinces for provincial nominees are
Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Thanks in large part to the
provincial/territorial nominee programs, 26% of economic immigrants
accepted as permanent residents of Canada are now destined for
provinces or territories other than Ontario, British Columbia or
Quebec, compared to just 11% in 1997.
The provincial nominee program is also a good way to get
workers in quickly. Applications are processed within 12 months on
average, as are federal skilled worker applications under recent
ministerial instructions.
The Provincial Nominee Program is part of an agreement set up between
the federal government and certain provincial governments to encourage
workers skilled in a field that is of high demand immigrate to the
province. The Provincial Nominee program allow the provinces and territories to
identify their own economic immigrants. Canada is also committed to working
with their provincial and territorial counterparts to continue to improve
the program design, integrity, selection standards and management of
the nominee programs.
