British Columbia and Prince Edward Island in Canada recently announced their latest provincial nomination invitation updates, showing the different focuses and strategies of the two provinces in attracting immigrants.
British Columbia: Targeting Overseas Entrepreneurs to Help Economic Diversification
During March 14-21, the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) conducted a draw for the Entrepreneur Immigration category on March 18, targeting foreign entrepreneurs under the Base Stream and Regional Stream.
In the Base Stream, BCPNP issued invitations to a total of 8 eligible entrepreneurs, with a minimum score requirement of 115 points. The candidate's registration score is composed of a comprehensive assessment of human capital, economic factors, and business plans.
In the Regional Stream, less than 5 entrepreneurs recommended to BCPNP by participating communities received provincial nomination invitations, with a minimum score requirement of 123 points. This means that BC places more emphasis on entrepreneurs who invest in specific regions and can drive local economic development.
| Draw Category | Number of Invitations | Minimum Score |
| Base Stream | 8 | 115 |
| Regional Stream | <5 | 123 |
This BC entrepreneur immigration invitation once again demonstrates the province's determination to attract overseas investment and support economic diversification. By attracting experienced and innovative entrepreneurs, BC hopes to further consolidate its leading position in the fields of technology, innovation, and business.
Prince Edward Island: Based on Local Needs, Filling Labor Shortages
Prince Edward Island (PEI) conducted its third provincial nomination draw of the year on March 20 through the Labor Impact category and the Express Entry category, issuing a total of 124 invitations. The focus of this draw is on applicants currently working in PEI and engaged in occupations and industries that are crucial to the province's economic growth.
This draw further clarifies PEI's immigration strategy, which is to prioritize applicants who have been living and working in PEI for at least one year, emphasizing the contribution and integration of immigrants to the local economy.
The industries currently prioritized by the PEI Immigration Office include:
- Healthcare;
- Trades;
- Manufacturing.
This PEI draw shows that the province is actively using the Provincial Nominee Program to solve structural problems in the local labor market, especially in high-demand areas such as healthcare, trades, and manufacturing. By prioritizing applicants who have already established themselves in PEI, the province hopes to ensure that immigrants can quickly integrate into the local community and bring long-term positive impacts to the local economy.
In conclusion, the latest provincial nomination invitations of BC and PEI respectively reflect different immigration strategies. The former aims to attract overseas investment and promote economic diversification, while the latter is based on local needs and fills labor shortages. Regardless of the strategy, it reflects that the Canadian provinces are actively using provincial nomination programs to attract suitable immigrants, thereby promoting their respective economic development and social prosperity.
