Why does the Provincial Nominee Program exist?

 Why does the Provincial Nominee Program exist?

Exploring the reasons behind one of Canada's most popular immigration programs.

 

 This year, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) welcomed more than 40,000 newcomers to Canada; even more applicants than were accepted through programs administered by Express Entry – the first time since Express Entry was established in 2015. Canada's PNP, an increasingly popular method of obtaining permanent residence (PR), has an interesting history and is essential to understanding how to obtain permanent residence. How the program works, its priorities, and how you can use this information to help you with your immigration opportunities.

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Immigration in the ’90s

The PNP exists to spread the benefits of immigration throughout Canada, and (by extension) to help provinces fulfill their economic needs.

In the mid-1990s, the majority (88%) of Canadian immigrants were concentrated in three provinces (still the most populous) - Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. As a result, the Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and the Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Raab Ladeau) realized that a much smaller proportion of immigrants (the remaining 12 percent of immigrants) were spreading between those eight provinces, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

This poses serious problems for the social and economic goals of these provinces and sets the stage for innovation to come; as provincial governments look for a way to make immigration to their provinces more attractive to foreign workers.

The loss of the Winnipeg Jets

In 1996, Manitoba's hockey team, the Winnipeg Jets, was forced out of the province due to financial problems and moved to Phoenix, Arizona (becoming the Phoenix Coyotes); a reason.

The loss of a beloved sports team is the impetus for a group of 10 Manitoba businessmen who have banded together to create the Business Council of Manitoba (BCM). The group is led by the Honorable Jim Carr, now MP, who was Minister for Natural Resources and (later) Minister for International Trade Diversification.

BCM is united not only by the loss of the Winnipeg Jets, but also by a shared belief that with a growing population, Manitoba will be better able to grow its economy and retain immigrants who would otherwise Young people to other provinces. They believe this is the underlying problem that has caused the province's economy to shrink and is the root cause of the jet's departure.

Instituting the PNP

Manitoba would prove to be a forerunner in developing and implementing the PNP; starting with the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

With the help of BCM, the provincial government will sign the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Act of 1996, the first bilateral framework of its kind. The groundwork was laid to implement a new immigration policy that could help Manitoba, and has since grown rapidly:

• 1997 saw Manitoba launch a pilot program to encourage immigration to rural areas of the province;
• In 1998 Manitoba signs the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Annex, implementing the first-ever PNP in Canada’s history;
• In 1999 the first 418 nominees arrive in Manitoba;
• Between 2004 – 2006 the MPNP expands to six new skilled worker streams, increasing flexibility and expanding availability to 10,000 applicants;
• In 2008 Manitoba signed the Worker Recruitment & Protection Act, the first legislation of its kind in Canada to protect foreign workers;
• In 2010 “Manitoba Start”, a settlement service for temporary workers and residents opens; and
• In 2011 the Winnipeg Jets return to their home province.

In subsequent years, other provinces would take inspiration from Manitoba's success and choose their own PNP; today, every province (except Quebec and Nunavut) has its own program, increasing the total number of PNPs to more than 80.

Wider adoption

After the great success of Manitoba's PNP, other provinces are looking to implement similar programs to meet their own economic needs.

While Quebec essentially established its own PNP (under the 1991 Canada-Quebec Agreement) by controlling economic immigration; the federal government's reluctance to replicate its agreement with Quebec was the impetus for implementing the PNP across provinces.

• In 1998, British Columbia and Saskatchewan joined Manitoba in implementing the PNP;
• In 1999, both New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador would follow suit with their PNPs;
• In 2001 Prince Edward Island and the Yukon Territory would start their own PNPs;
• In 2002 both Nova Scotia and Alberta instituted their PNPs;
• 2005 saw Ontario start its own PNP, today the province has the most nominee programs out of any other Canadian province or territory; and finally
• In 2009 the Northwest Territories joined the fold, putting their own PNPs into effect.

Why does this matter to you?

The PNP has recently seen massive growth as one of the main ways Canada will welcome immigrants in 2022, and likely in 2023 as well.

Immigrant hopefuls may see a lot of value in researching which PNP categories they are most eligible for and which provinces may need them. Knowing more about the economic goals and labor conditions of the province you are considering immigrating to will greatly help you and your application to best position you and your application for potential immigrant sponsorship or even PR.

Applicants may find it helpful to keep in mind that Manitoba (and other provinces, with notable exceptions) will address their economic needs with the help of the PNP and economic immigration streams - doing so according to their labor market conditions and requirements.

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