Hey Roy,
They generally enlist or draw for the express entry pool and send out invites (Notification Of Interest - NOI) and then you need to respond to that within a stipulated timeline, which differs from Province to province. Once you reply/Apply to the NOI through the respective province website, it takes anywhere between 30-60 days to respond to your application. Once they accept your applicationand you get the Nomination, they award you 600 points to your Express Entry profile and this can help with you getting an ITA (Invitation to Apply) for a PR in Canada. Hope this helps.