More provincial nominees planned for B.C. in 2012

The Government of Canada will continue to provide British Columbia with a record amount of space in the country’s immigration program in 2012.

In 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) plans to welcome 42,000 to 45,000 people under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), including nominees themselves, their spouses and dependants.

CIC is on track to welcome a record number of provincial nominees this year and could set another milestone in 2012 if provinces submit enough nominations early on to fill their allotted space in the program.

BC’s proportion of nominations was 17 per cent this year. The PNP allotments for 2012 are still being finalized and will be released later.

British Columbia’s PNP has jumped more than eight-fold, from approximately 600 people admitted in 2004 to 4,900 people in 2010. Provincial nominees accounted for 16 per cent of economic class admissions and 11 per cent of total immigration to BC in 2010.

Immigration is a shared responsibility between the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories. The PNP gives provinces and territories an active role in immigrant selection by authorizing them to nominate for permanent residence individuals who meet specific local labour market needs.

Each jurisdiction is responsible for the design and management of their respective program, including the development of nomination criteria. 

CIC conducted a national evaluation of the PNP last year and expects to release the results in 2012.