the CanadaVisa Team - 20 July, 2015
The Ontario government has introduced the Ontario Pilot Provincial Nominee Program(PNP) designed to help Ontario employers to attract and retain the skilled immigrants needed in the provincial labour market.
The program is designed toattract highly skilled workers and specialized professionals in the education, health care, manufacturing, and construction industries. The program alsofocuses on retaining recent international student graduates from Ontario universities and colleges. Approximately half of all nominations will be reservedfor businesses outside the Greater Toronto Area, to encourage growth in regional economies.
Ontario has now joined every other provincial government in offering a provincial immigration program, designed to fast-track the issuance of Canadian Permanent Resident Visas for foreign workers with skills in demand.
The Ontario Pilot PNP is an element of the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA), which has set aside $920 million over the next five years for language and settlement services in Ontario. Aware of the importance of immigrant retention, the Ontario government has established mechanisms for better integration into Ontario society and into the Canadian labour force.
