Canada's Immigration Landscape: A Week of Express Entry Draws, Program Extensions, and New Benefits
- Gagandeep Singh
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
This week in Canadian immigration has been marked by significant developments, from new Express Entry draws and the extension of a key pilot program to the announcement of a new disability benefit and updated processing times. Here's a look at the key events that have shaped the past week.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held two targeted Express Entry draws this week. On Tuesday, June 10th, a draw specifically for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates saw invitations issued.
This was followed by a larger draw on Thursday, June 12th, which targeted candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). These back-to-back draws underscore IRCC's continued reliance on the Express Entry system to meet Canada's labour market needs, with a focus on candidates who have already integrated into the Canadian economy or have been selected by a province to address specific regional demands.
This was the first large, CEC-specific draw since February, offering renewed hope to the many skilled workers, former international students, and other temporary residents who have established their lives in Canada and are seeking a pathway to permanence.
In a move to bolster support for skilled refugees, IRCC announced the extension of the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) until December 31, 2025. This innovative program allows skilled refugees to immigrate to Canada through existing economic immigration streams, providing them with a safe and legal pathway to permanent residence while helping to fill labour shortages across the country.
Ontario Overhauls its Nominee Program (OINP)
The province of Ontario has announced a series of critical updates and changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which will significantly alter the application process for its popular employer-driven streams.
New Employer Portal and Process Shift
Effective July 2, 2025, the OINP is launching a new employer portal. This will shift the process for the Employer Job Offer streams (Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills) from being applicant-led to employer-led. Employers will now be required to initiate the process by submitting employment position details directly through the portal before a candidate can register an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Important Dates and System Downtime:
June 20 - July 2, 2025: No new EOIs can be created for the Employer Job Offer streams.
June 21 - 22, 2025: All existing EOIs in the affected streams will be automatically withdrawn. Candidates and their employers will need to resubmit them through the new portal after the launch.
June 27 - 29, 2025: The entire OINP system will be unavailable for all streams to accommodate the upgrade.
These changes are part of a broader legislative push under the proposed Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025, which also seeks to give the province authority to conduct in-person interviews to combat fraud and the flexibility to create or cancel nomination streams based on evolving labour market needs. This overhaul comes as Ontario also faces a significant reduction in its federal nomination allocation for 2025, a move expected to heighten competition for provincial nomination.
On the domestic front, the federal government announced that applications for the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) will open on June 20, 2025. This long-awaited benefit is designed to provide financial support to low-income, working-age Canadians with disabilities.
Earlier in the week, IRCC also updated its processing times as of June 5th. Prospective immigrants, as well as those with applications in progress, are encouraged to check the latest timelines on the IRCC website to have a clearer understanding of what to expect.
In legislative news, the government introduced Bill C-3, which proposes to amend the Citizenship Act to change the rules regarding citizenship by descent. The bill aims to provide a pathway to citizenship for certain individuals born abroad to a Canadian parent who could not previously pass on their citizenship.
At the provincial level, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) announced new monthly application intake dates for several of its streams, which commenced on June 11th. This new system is intended to manage application volumes more effectively.
For those navigating the ever-changing landscape of Canadian immigration, staying informed is crucial. For a deeper dive into the latest policy changes and what they mean for you, we recommend reading the insightful articles available at our website Elgin Immigration.
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