This Week in Canadian Immigration: Express Entry Draws, PNP Updates, and a Shifting Landscape
- Gagandeep Singh
- Oct 12
- 4 min read
This week in Canadian immigration has been eventful, with significant developments in Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and the business immigration landscape. For those navigating the Canadian immigration system, staying informed is key. Here’s a breakdown of the most important news and what it means for you.
Express Entry: A Week of Targeted Draws
It was another week of targeted draws in the Express Entry system, with no all-program draw in sight. IRCC continues to focus on selecting candidates with specific skills and qualifications to meet Canada's economic needs.
October 6: French Language Proficiency Draw: In a significant draw, IRCC issued 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with strong French language skills. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off for this draw was 432, a notable decrease from previous French-language draws. This continues to be excellent news for French-speaking and bilingual candidates.
October 1: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Draw: Earlier in the week, IRCC held a draw specifically for candidates in the Canadian Experience Class, inviting 1,000 applicants with a CRS score of 534 or higher.
The trend of category-based and program-specific draws is now firmly established. The lower CRS score for the French-language draw demonstrates the government's commitment to promoting Francophone immigration. For candidates in the Express Entry pool, this means that having an in-demand skill, strong French language abilities, or Canadian experience is more important than ever. Those with lower CRS scores should be actively looking at Provincial Nominee Programs as a viable pathway to permanent residence.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Updates
The provinces have been active this week, holding draws and issuing invitations to candidates who meet their specific labour market needs.
Ontario (OINP): On October 9th, Ontario held a large draw, inviting 1,680 candidates in the healthcare and education sectors, as well as through the Regional Immigration Pilot (REDI). This is a positive sign for those with experience in these in-demand fields.
Manitoba (MPNP): Manitoba held its first health-focused draw of 2025, inviting 862 candidates. This highlights the ongoing need for healthcare professionals in the province.
Alberta (AAIP): Alberta has been busy, issuing over 1,300 invitations in a series of draws in early October.
British Columbia (BC PNP): On October 2nd, British Columbia held an Entrepreneur Immigration draw, issuing 11 invitations to high-net-worth individuals looking to establish businesses in the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador (NLPNP): In late September, Newfoundland and Labrador invited 217 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
The PNPs continue to be a vital component of Canada's immigration strategy. They allow provinces to target candidates with the specific skills and experience needed in their local economies. If you have a connection to a particular province or your occupation is in high demand there, the PNP could be an excellent option for you.
Business Immigration and the Start-up Visa Program: A Cause for Concern
There is concerning news this week regarding the Start-up Visa (SUV) program. The processing time for new applications has now exceeded 10 years, and the backlog of applications continues to grow. This is a significant deterrent for international entrepreneurs who are looking to bring their innovative ideas to Canada.
The government has taken some steps to address these issues, including capping the number of applications per designated organization and introducing priority processing for certain applications. However, the long processing times and the reduced intake for the program remain significant challenges.
The current state of the Start-up Visa program is a major concern. The long processing times and uncertainty are making it a less attractive option for the very people it was designed to attract. For now, entrepreneurs may want to explore other options, such as the Entrepreneur Streams of the Provincial Nominee Programs.
Other Important News
Conservative Party Proposes End to Birthright Citizenship for Children of Temporary Residents: The Conservative Party of Canada has put forward a proposal to end automatic birthright citizenship for children born in Canada to temporary residents. This is a significant potential change to Canada's citizenship laws and will be a topic of much debate in the coming months.
Expansion of Low-Wage LMIA Processing Freeze: The freeze on processing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage positions has been expanded to six more regions.
Closure of Home Care Worker Pilots for Overseas Applicants: The "applicants not working in Canada" stream of the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots has been closed.
What to Expect in the Coming Week
Looking ahead, we can expect the trend of targeted Express Entry draws to continue. We may see draws for candidates in other in-demand categories, such as healthcare, STEM, or the trades. At the provincial level, we can expect to see more PNP draws as provinces work to fill their nomination allocations for the year.
The current immigration landscape is dynamic and ever-changing. It is crucial for prospective immigrants to stay informed and to be strategic in their approach. This may mean improving your language skills, gaining Canadian work experience, or exploring provincial nominee programs.
Immigration Tip of the Week
Don't forget to update your Express Entry profile! If your circumstances change – for example, if you get a new language test result, complete a new educational credential, or gain more work experience – be sure to update your Express Entry profile immediately. These changes could increase your CRS score and improve your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply.
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