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BC and Manitoba Grant Provincial Nominations as Alberta Releases Candidate Pool Updates
This week, British Columbia and Manitoba issued new invitations to candidates seeking provincial nominations through economic immigration pathways. These invitations were based on factors such as employment, education, and business plans. Additionally, Alberta has shared updates on the status of its Expression of Interest (EOI) pools under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).
British Columbia
On January 28, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) invited candidates through its Entrepreneur Immigration streams, providing opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs to establish businesses in the province.
- Base Entrepreneur Stream: Candidates needed a minimum score of 123 to qualify. Fewer than five invitations were issued.
- Regional Entrepreneur Stream: Similarly, a minimum score of 123 was required, with fewer than five invitations sent out.
The Regional Entrepreneur Stream conducts monthly selection rounds for entrepreneurs referred by participating communities, while the Base Entrepreneur Stream follows a less frequent selection process. Candidates are assessed based on:
- Their registration score
- The business location and population size
- Whether the proposal involves a new business or purchasing an existing one
- Alignment with priority business sectors
Manitoba
On February 6, Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) conducted two separate draws for candidates in the International Education Stream and the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream.
- International Education Stream: 59 invitations were issued to candidates meeting the program’s eligibility criteria. Applicants needed at least four years of full-time work experience within the last five years and had to provide supporting documents for verification. The province did not disclose the minimum score required for selection.
- Skilled Worker Overseas Stream: 17 invitations were issued under a strategic recruitment initiative, with selected candidates requiring a minimum score of 612.
In total, 76 invitations were issued across both streams, including 18 candidates who also had a valid Express Entry profile.
Alberta
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has provided updates on the number of profiles currently in its EOI pools. However, the province has not yet conducted its first draw of 2025.
The table below outlines the current number of candidates in the selection pools for various streams of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Please note that the pathways for the Alberta Express Entry stream are presented in a separate table for clarity:
AAIP Streams and Candidate Numbers
| Stream or Pathway | Number of EOIs in the Selection Pool |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 28,830 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathways (Express Entry and Non-Express Entry) | 1,026 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 3,029 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 4,244 |
Alberta Express Entry Stream
| Stream or Pathway | Number of EOIs in the Selection Pool |
| Accelerated Tech Pathway | 2,403 |
| Family Connection and Occupation in Demand | 2,206 |
| Law Enforcement Pathway | 70 |
| Priority Sector Draws and Other Initiatives | 2,802 |
In total, there are 44,610 candidate profiles currently across all AAIP selection pools.