Strategy in Action: A Landmark Week for Express Entry Shows Canada's New Focus

Welcome to your weekly immigration roundup from Elgin Immigration. As a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant, my job is to filter out the noise and give you the analysis you need to navigate your Canadian journey.

This week wasn't just busy; it was a revelation.

After the recent Fall Economic Statement and the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, we've been discussing the government's new focus on "absorptive capacity"—matching immigration to Canada's ability to provide housing, healthcare, and infrastructure. This week, IRCC stopped talking about the strategy and started executing it. In one of the most active weeks of 2025, IRCC held three distinct Express Entry draws, issuing 5,214 invitations.

Each draw was a perfect example of one of the new pillars of Canadian immigration. Let's break it down.

1. The Main Event: A Trio of Express Entry Draws

IRCC held three draws in five days, targeting three completely different groups of candidates.

Draw 1: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

• Date: November 10, 2025

• Invitations Issued: 714

• CRS Cut-off Score: 738

  
  

A CRS score of 738 may seem high, but remember that a provincial nomination automatically adds 600 points. This means a candidate only needed a base score of 138. This draw reinforces the single most powerful tool in the Express Entry arsenal: the provincial nomination. It shows the federal government's commitment to "regionalization"—allowing provinces to select the specific talent they need for their local economies.

Draw 2: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• Date: November 12, 2025

• Invitations Issued: 1,000

• CRS Cut-off Score: 533

This is the draw that in-Canada candidates were waiting for. For the first time in a while, IRCC held a draw exclusively for candidates with at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience. This is a direct fulfillment of the new immigration plan's promise to prioritize transitioning temporary residents to permanent status. The government sees these candidates as a low-risk, high-reward group: they are already employed, integrated, and contributing.

Canadian Immigration Blog

Draw 3: Healthcare Occupations (Category-Based)

• Date: November 14, 2025

• Invitations Issued: 3,500

• CRS Cut-off Score: 462
  

This was the blockbuster draw of the week. Inviting 3,500 healthcare workers with a CRS score as low as 462 is a massive, aggressive move. It's the lowest CRS score for a healthcare draw this year. This is IRCC's direct response to the "absorptive capacity" crisis in our healthcare system. They are digging deep into the pool to find every available doctor, nurse, and therapist to fill critical labour gaps. If you are a healthcare professional, this is the clearest sign yet that you are in high demand.

2. Analysis: This Week Is the New Immigration Plan

This week's trio of draws was not random. It was a calculated demonstration of Canada's new, multi-pronged immigration strategy.

1. Prioritizing In-Canada Talent: The CEC draw directly rewards those already working in Canada.

2. Filling Critical Labour Gaps: The healthcare draw targets a specific sector essential to our "absorptive capacity."

3. Supporting Regional Needs: The PNP draw empowers provinces to solve their unique economic challenges.

   
   

This is the new normal. The era of massive "all-program" draws with unpredictable CRS scores is likely fading. The future is targeted, strategic, and designed to solve specific problems. This approach is also directly linked to the budget, which prioritizes funding for processing in-Canada applications and pathways that fill urgent jobs.

3. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Updates

After a very active October, the provinces themselves were quiet in terms of new invitation rounds this week. No major draws were announced by Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP) for the period of November 10-16.

This is likely a temporary pause as provincial offices align their draw strategies and nomination allocations with the new federal-provincial targets outlined in the 2025-2027 Levels Plan. The main PNP news this week was the federal draw on November 10, which invited 714 candidates who already had their nominations in hand.

4. Business Immigration: The Start-Up Visa (SUV) Outlook

There were no new updates or announcements for the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program this week. Unfortunately, the outlook for this program remains challenging.

As we've previously discussed, the SUV program is facing significant headwinds:

• Processing Times: Now listed at over 10 years.

• Reduced Quotas: The 2025-2027 Levels Plan shows a reduction in business immigration targets.

• New Caps: IRCC has placed new caps on the number of applications that each designated organization can support.

  
  

The government's current priority is on immigrants who can fill an existing, immediate job (like healthcare workers, tradespeople, and CEC candidates). The SUV program, which involves long-term business development, is simply not the focus. We are advising clients to be extremely cautious and explore alternative pathways, such as the Entrepreneur streams of the PNPs, if available.

5. What to Expect Next Week (November 17-23)

After issuing over 5,200 invitations in one week, IRCC may take a well-deserved pause to manage the influx of applications and allow the Express Entry pool to recalibrate.

However, if a draw does occur, I would not be surprised to see another targeted, category-based selection. The two most likely candidates are:

1. Skilled Trades: This aligns perfectly with the government's other major "absorptive capacity" priority: building more houses.

2. French-Language Proficiency: This has been a consistent priority for IRCC all year.

Weekly Immigration Tip

Don't just be in the Express Entry pool—be active. Many candidates create a profile and wait. But you must be proactive. Provinces (especially Ontario) actively search the federal pool for candidates who fit their needs, even without you submitting a formal EOI to them. To be seen in these "passive" searches, your profile must be perfect. Ensure your NOC is accurate, your work experience is detailed with all key duties, and you indicate all provinces and territories you are willing to live in. A "passive" profile can become an active Invitation to Apply when you least expect it.