HELP...I WILL CRY

[rjessome]

The real question is, what is the intent of the stream? I believe the intent is to enable international student get into the workforce as soon as they graduate from their Masters program. Hence, if the OP decides to undergo the PhD program, he/she does not fulfill the requirements; thus he/she will not be eligible. Remember, the PNP only pre-screens the applicant. Buffalo makes the final decision based on the pre-screening criteria.

I just did a search on the FAQs:
I have recently graduated from a Master's program and I plan to continue with my full-time studies (for example: PhD, additional Master's degree). Do I qualify for the Pilot International Masters Graduate Stream?
No. The Master's Graduate Stream is for individuals who have graduated or are in the last semester of a Master's program at an eligible publicly funded university in Ontario. In order to apply to Opportunities Ontario as an international student graduate from an eligible Master's program students must “intend to live and work” in Ontario and be ready to enter the labour market on a full time basis. It is not intended for international students who are continuing their studies.

An exemption to this rule is made for Master's Graduates who are continuing to study:

•But are working on full time basis in Ontario;
•Towards meeting licensure requirements in a regulated occupation in Ontario.
http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/pnp/OI_PNPQUESTIONS.html#_students_masters

I've read this too and still have the issue with the OP already having the PNP nomination. Sometimes just one word can change the whole landscape. However, as we both have stated, the OP needs to call Opportunities Ontario for clarification.

You are incorrect that the PNP only does "pre-screening". They do selection for their programs. They don't do pre-screening for eligiblity for PR as they don't require background/security checks or medicals for inadmissibility issues. Each program has very different functions. In fact, CIC can't refuse a provincial nominee based on eligibility requirements for the nominee program except under R87 - have nomination, intend to settle in province that nominated them and ability to become economically established or non-qualifying investment scheme. http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/page-46.html#h-41

Per OP Manual 7, there are three bases upon which a provincial nominee who meets all statutory admissibility
requirements can be refused a visa:
 The officer has reason to believe that the applicant does not intend to live in the province that
has nominated them;
 The officer has reason to believe that the applicant is unlikely to be able to successfully
establish economically in Canada;
 The officer has reason to believe that the applicant is participating in, or intends to participate
in, a passive investment or an immigration-linked investment scheme as defined in R87(5) to
R87(9) of the Regulations.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op07b-eng.pdf

However, the OP needs to be aware that Opportunities Ontario can revoke their nomination if they believe the OP is no longer eligible. This would put an end to their application for PR and needs to be their biggest concern at the moment.