Alberta and British Columbia released Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw results this week.

Most Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own PNPs. Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

Following its launch in 1998, the PNP welcomed only 400 immigrants, but due to its success, it now welcomes more than 80,000 per year. The increase in the number of PNP admissions in Canada is due to the fact that the federal and provincial governments consider it an effective tool to promote the economic development of the country.

Express Entry draws are held every two weeks. After a long pause, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is now once again holding all-program Express Entry draws. The first all-program draw since 2020 was held on July 6, and a total of 1,500 Express Entry candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 557 received invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence. The most recent Express Entry draw was held on August 3 with 2,000 invitations issued and a minimum CRS of 533.

PNP draw results from July 29 -August 4

Alberta

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) issued 120 invitations to apply for provincial nomination through the Alberta Express Entry Stream on July 29. Candidates required a minimum CRS score of 473, an increase over the last draw on June 16 where the minimum CRS score was 300.

Although provincial nomination is not in itself the same as a permanent residence, it can significantly increase the chances of obtaining permanent resident status.

For instance, PNP candidates with Express Entry profiles who receive a nomination get 600 points added to their CRS score. In this instance, those who have received provincial nomination from Alberta will now have a minimum overall CRS of 1073, making it highly likely they will receive an ITA from IRCC.

To be eligible for provincial nomination through Alberta’s Express Entry stream, candidates must already be in the Express Entry pool and be able to demonstrate strong ties to Alberta such as a family member already living in Alberta, or a job offer. They must also intend to move there permanently.

British Columbia

This week, more than 164 candidates were invited to apply for provincial nomination in British Columbia in the draw that occurred on August 3. British Columbia typically holds a provincial nomination draw each week.

There was no general draw this week. Instead, the province invited candidates from targeted categories, designed to fill gaps in BC’s labour force.

A total of 133 candidates from the skilled worker and international graduate category were invited in a targeted draw for tech occupations. Candidates required a minimum Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS) score of 90.

SIRS acts much like the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but is only used for British Columbia’s PNP.

The province also held rounds of invitations for candidates working in the following occupations. These draws are identical to the draw that took place on July 26:

• 22 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 60 points; and
• 9 healthcare workers with scores of at least 60 points.

Age is an important factor in immigration through Express Entry and certain applicants are penalized for their age. Here are several strategies one can employ to maximize their Express Entry CRS score as an applicant over 30 years old.

When applicants apply to immigrate to this country through Express Entry, eligible Express Entry applicants are scored through a point-allocation grid called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Introduction to Express Entry and the CRS

The CRS is a points grid that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to rank Canadian immigration hopefuls that apply through any of the three programs contained within the Express Entry system application management system — the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

The CRS starts by assessing what the Canadian government refers to as “core human capital factors”, which include the following characteristics: age, education, first language ability (English or French), second language ability (English or French) and Canadian work experience.

For these purposes, we will be focusing on the first item in the above list, age.

Canada’s CRS system provides the most age points to Express Entry applicants aged 20-29 (100). If you are 30 or older, the points you receive in the age category will progressively decrease every year (95 points for an applicant aged 30, 90 points for a 31-year-old applicant and so forth). Applicants aged 45 or older receive 0 points in the age category under the CRS.

Thankfully, simply being 30 or over does not mean an applicant’s Express Entry hopes are gone with the wind. There are many ways prospective Express Entry applicants can maximize their CRS score if they are applying at or after age 30.

Strategy 1: Getting a provincial nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

One way for applicants to increase their CRS score is by receiving a nomination through any of Canada’s enhanced Provincial Nominee Program streams that are tied to Express Entry. In fact, a provincial nomination through a PNP is the single best way to maximize a CRS score and receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence because receiving a nomination before applying through Express Entry can earn an applicant an extra 600 points.

PNPs exist in all Canadian provinces and territories (excluding Quebec and Nunavut) as a tool for each individual region to nominate permanent residence candidates who are interested in settling in a particular area within Canada.

Designed to spread the benefits of immigration across Canada — especially because Canadian immigration has historically been disproportionate to Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec — there are currently over 80 country-wide PNP streams available for prospective Canadian immigrants across Canada’s 11 PNPs.

If an Express Entry hopeful applies to a PNP and receives an invitation to apply, then applies and receives a provincial nominee certificate, they can proceed to upload their certificate to their Express Entry profile and receive the 600 available CRS points. Again, this will practically guarantee they receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Strategy 2: Getting a job offer

Another way that an applicant can maximize their CRS score is by applying through Express Entry while holding a valid job offer that is in writing and details all job requirements, including pay, duties, and employment conditions. In fact, this strategy is one of the best ways to boost an applicant’s CRS score because candidates with a valid offer of employment can obtain either 50 or 200 additional CRS points depending on the position.

Strategy 3: Evaluating work experience

Work experience can help improve an applicant’s CRS score in several different ways. Firstly, simply obtaining additional work experience can aid an applicant in improving their score. Moreover, doing a better job of articulating current work experience can do much of the same to help applicants.

Strategy 4: Improving language ability

Language ability is another crucial element of CRS scores that falls under the category of “core human capital factors”. As mentioned above, language as a larger category is split into first language ability and second language ability to test an applicant’s proficiency in English and French. This component of an applicant’s CRS score can add up to a significant number of points, making it an essential part of any Express Entry application.

Language — broken down into proficiency with writing, reading, speaking, and listening — can earn a single applicant between 128 and 136 points (depending on spousal/partner status, but more on that later).

Additionally, the language category is valuable for maximizing CRS scores because of its ability to count for points across multiple sections. More specifically, language as an individual element of the CRS can count for points within the following four larger categories: human capital factors; spousal factors (if applicable); skills transferability and “additional factors”.

Furthermore, language can also be combined with other factors such as education to further improve an applicant’s CRS score.

Strategy 5: Strengthening educational credentials

Education, another element of “core human capital factors”, can count for between 200 and 250 CRS score points depending on where the applicant received their credential (inside Canada or outside of Canada). Therefore, earning additional credentials such as another degree or obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for an existing degree can help applicants maximize their Express Entry CRS score.

Strategy 6: Considering using spouse/partner as the principal applicant (if applicable)

In certain cases, Express Entry applicants may find that their spouse or common-law partner has a better CRS score. In situations such as this, it may be advisable to consider swapping the principal applicant and the dependent spouse or common-law partner.

Statistics Canada has released its monthly payroll employment, earnings, hours, and job vacancy report for May 2022. Based on the report, the number of employees in Canada receiving pay or benefits from their employer has decreased for the first time since May 2021.

The survey, compiled with data from the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours, shows that as of last May, 26,000 jobs are no longer on payroll. The biggest decreases were seen in Ontario and Manitoba, which reported 30,000 and 2,500 job vacancies, respectively. British Columbia was the only province that reported an increase in payroll employees.

Payroll employees decrease across most sectors

Some of the most significant decreases were seen in the services producing sector which reported a loss of over 17,000 jobs on payroll in areas such as educational services, healthcare, and social assistance.

There was also a significant decrease in jobs in construction across all industries in the sector. Over 17,500 jobs were lost in May, marking the first decrease since July 2021. Most construction jobs were lost in Ontario, accounting for nearly two thirds of the employment decrease in that sector. This loss is largely attributed to strikes throughout the province which caused significant delays on several projects.