By admin (May 21, 2024)
Why Provincial Nominee Programs Exist?
A question that roams across every individual looking to migrate to Canada must have wondered a few times about “Why Provincial Nominee Programs exist?”
Provincial Nominee Programs set a record by inviting 40,000 candidates to Canada, even more than Express Entry programs which are considered to be the fastest way to immigrate to Canada. First time since 2015, such a phenomenon was observed when more candidates arrived through PNP rather than Express Entry.
There is an interesting history behind the establishment of Provincial Nominee Programs and it is crucial to know about how the program runs to have an understanding of what province is suitable for you to settle in if you are ever planning to permanently settle in Canada through any one of the Provincial Nominee Program.
88% of the Canadian population was residing in just three provinces in the mid-1990s, which are still popular to this date, namely British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario.
Due to this, there was a global non-uniform distribution of population as a significantly lesser population was residing in Prairie (Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan) and Atlantic provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edwards Island). It means that among 8 provinces, Yukon, and Northwest Territories, only 12% of the population was residing.
As a result, Provincial Governments started to look for a way to attract immigrants to their respective provinces with better job opportunities and various other offers so that the provinces can meet economic and social goals without facing labour shortages. We need to dive deep into the history little bit to know elaborately about why Provincial Nominee Programs exist.
Loss of Winnipeg Jets and Institution of PNP
Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba’s hockey team, transitioned to Phoenix, Arizona when they were forced to move from Manitoba province due to financial concerns in 1996 causing widespread heartache among residents.
It drove a group of ten businessmen to band together and create the Business Council of Manitoba (BCM). BCM was created with the underlying belief that more people are beneficial for the growth of Manitoba and to meet the economic needs of the province by fulfilling labour shortage.
For retaining youth and economic and social growth of the province, immigration was considered the best way possible to the prevention of settlement of people in other provinces due to the financial crisis.
As a result, the Provincial Government signed the Canada Manitoba immigration Act in 1996 with the help of BCM. Further developments followed quickly after the stage was set for the implantation of a new immigration policy that could aid Manitoba. So if you were wondering about why Provincial Nominee Programs exist, this was the event that lead to a chain of events resulting into formation of PNPs. PNPs provide an easy pathway for a lot of people to come to the Land of Maple Leaf and earn their bread, which is also one of the Top Reasons for Immigrants to Move to Canada.
Launch of MPNP and other provinces’ provincial nominee programs
A pilot program was launched for immigration in rural areas of Manitoba in 1997, then Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) first ever provincial program in Canada’s history was created in the year 1998.
First, 418 nominees arrived in the province in 1999. Between 2004-2006 six new skilled workers streams were introduced for expanding the availability up to 10,000 applicants. Winnipeg Jets return to their home province in 2011. Other provinces took a cue from the success of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program and launched their own Provincial Nominee Programs.
British Columbia and Saskatchewan joined Manitoba and started their own Provincial Nominee programs in 1998. Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick launched their own PNPs in 1999. Other provinces and territories followed fast and today each province, except for Quebec and Nunavut, with overall Provincial Nominee Programs growing over to 80. Now when you know why Provincial Nominee Programs exist, we can move further to discuss their impact over the years.
Impact of PNPs over the years
PNP has seen massive growth in recent years and exceeded the record of Express Entry in 2022 despite Express Entry being the fastest way to enter Canada, and likely to do that in 2023 also.
PNPS are beneficial for people who are looking to migrate to any particular province in Canada. Immigrants need to consider economic conditions and the labour force of a particular region they are considering immigrating to, to understand where the demand for their skill is highest and where the best possible monetary gains are available for them.It will further help you to better position your application for higher chances of permanent residency. It’s important to know why Provincial Nominee Programs exist so that you can evaluate what province is better for you in order to fulfill your long-time dream of Settling in Canada.