Canada Resumes Express Entry CEC Draws; New Immigration Minister May Steer Policy Changes
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates within the Express Entry system on May 13, local time. This marked the resumption of such draws after an interruption of over three months.
A total of 500 invitations to apply (ITAs) were issued in this selection round. To be eligible, candidates needed to meet two key criteria: first, a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 547; and second, their Express Entry candidate profile must have been created and submitted before 5:26 p.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on May 21, 2024.
Overview of Express Entry Draws in 2025
This CEC draw was the fourth Express Entry draw conducted this month. Previously, IRCC held draws for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates (May 12), candidates in the healthcare and social services category (May 2), and the education category (May 1).
According to the data provided, IRCC has issued a total of 34,440 ITAs through the Express Entry system so far in 2025. The Express Entry draws in 2025 have primarily focused on PNP candidates, with the remaining invitations allocated to CEC candidates, candidates with French-language proficiency, and those in Express Entry's priority categories.
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025:
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 547 |
| May 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 511 | 706 |
| May 2 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 510 |
| May 1 | Education | 1,000 | 479 |
| April 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 | 727 |
| April 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 825 | 764 |
| March 21 | French language proficiency | 7,500 | 379 |
| March 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 | 736 |
| March 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 410 |
| March 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 667 |
| February 19 | French language proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| February 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 |
| February 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 |
| February 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| January 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Number of Express Entry Draws by Category in 2025:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 8 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 4 |
| French-language proficiency | 3 |
| Education | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
New Leadership in Canadian Immigration Policy and Future Outlook
Notably, the May 13 CEC draw was also the final Express Entry candidate selection under the previous Immigration Minister, Rachel Bendayan. Future immigration draws and related decisions will be overseen by the new Minister of Immigration, Lena Metlege Diab.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the latest cabinet shuffle on May 13, officially appointing Ms. Lena Metlege Diab as the new federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
With the new minister's appointment, a series of immigration policy adjustments previously advocated by Prime Minister Carney are expected to be actively pursued. These core policy directions include:
- Stabilization of new permanent resident levels: Aiming to stabilize Canada's annual intake of new permanent residents at 1% of the country's population by 2027.
- Increase to Canada's francophone immigration levels: A commitment to increasing the number of French-speaking immigrants to Canada to support and promote Francophone communities.
- A revamp of the country's Global Talent Stream (GTS): Overhauling the existing Global Talent Stream program to attract the "best and brightest" global talent to meet Canada's labour market needs.
- A reduction in Canada's temporary resident levels: Plans to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada, including work permit and study permit holders.
More specific details and implementation timelines for Canada's new immigration policies are anticipated to be clarified once Minister Diab receives and publicly releases her government mandate letter. The immigration sector is closely watching for policy updates that may be announced in the coming weeks and months.
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Canada Resumes Express Entry CEC Draws; New Immigration Minister May Steer Policy Changes
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its first Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry draw in over three months on May 13, issuing 500 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 547, who had created their profiles before May 21, 2024, at 5:26 p.m. (UTC). According to the information provided, 34,440 ITAs have been issued via Express Entry so far in 2025. On the same day, Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Lena Metlege Diab as the new Minister of Immigration, who is expected to implement policies focused on stabilizing permanent resident levels, increasing Francophone immigration, revamping the Global Talent Stream, and managing temporary resident numbers.
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