[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) provincial nomination quota increases by around 70% for 2023.
For 2023 quota increases to 16,500 as compared to only 9,750 in 2022 and 9,000 in 2021.
This allocation for Ontario in 2023 makes up 36% of the total national allocation for provincial nominations.
Federal government immigration department allots number of nominations per year to all the provinces.
Recently, Alberta also announced that their provincial nomination quota also increases by 50% for 2023.
Ontario has been repeatedly calling on the Federal government to increase Ontario PNP quota since 2021 and now it is heard.
Furthermore, this quota is set to double by the year 2025 as per the OINP official press release on March 18, 2023.
So, the province will have more than 18,000 slots available under the OINP in 2025.
IEC 2023 Working Holiday Category
| Year | OINP Quota |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 18,361 |
| 2024 | ~17,000 |
| 2023 | 16,500 |
| 2022 | 9,750 |
| 2021 | 9,000 |
As per official Ontario data, there were around 300,000 open jobs in December 2022 and this new increase will help in addressing the labour gap.
In 2022, Ontario exhausted all of its allotted number of 9,750 immigrants under the OINP, including 3,900 skilled trades employees, 2,200 software and IT professionals, and approximately 100 nurses and personal support workers.
Focus Shift Towards Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are operated by each of the province in Canada, but annual nomination allocation is provided IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).
During pandemic, IRCC halted the Federal Express Entry all program draws and only held the PNP draws.
So, applicants started focusing on different PNPs across Canada. Now that Express Entry is moving towards the targeted draws this year, the focus tends to remain on provincial nominations.
As per immigration levels plan of 2023, PNPs have target of 105,500 as compared to only 82,800 for the Express Entry.
Moreover, provincial nomination adds 600 extra points to Express Entry profiles making it almost 100% to be selected in the next draw.
So far, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario has announced that their annual PNP allocation has been increased.
More than 40% increase in provincial nominations is expected for other provinces as well.
Foreign Workers in Canada as well as skilled workers outside Canada should assess their profile merits for different provincial nominee programs for better prospects.
New Announcement To Help Immigrant Workers
Today, Ontarian labour and immigration minister announce the Working for Workers Act of 2023, if passed would maintain its national leadership in offering ground-breaking rights for employees.
Changes to the Act, which were announced today, will increase safeguards for vulnerable and migratory workers by introducing the highest possible sanctions in Canada for organizations.
Furthermore, individuals found guilty of withholding a foreign national’s work permit or passport will be fined between $100,000 and $200,000.
With the help of legislation today, these penalties might be enhanced, meaning that these criminals would soon have to pay millions of dollars in fines for their unlawful conduct.
In addition to the penalty for each passport, anyone found guilty of keeping their passports would also face a fine of up to $500,000, a sentence of up to 12 months in jail, or both.
Companies found guilty might face fines of up to $1 million.
The maximum penalties for businesses found guilty of violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) will rise from $1.5 million to $2 million if the government’s proposed revisions are approved.
As a result, Ontario would have the largest possible corporate penalties under Canadian occupational health and safety laws.
The government increased the maximum punishment for individuals to $500,000 and for corporate directors to $1,500,000 last spring.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
