Provincial Nominee Programs: A Note on Policy Implications and Future Research Needs

This note focuses on the rapidly evolving role of provinces in immigrant selection through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). While past years have seen their significant expansion and diversification, research and policy response seem to lag behind: literature on PNPs remains scarce. This note offers preliminary observations on the new dynamics in the immigration system arising as a result of the nominee programs. It sets out background on PNPs, situating them vis-à-vis federal skilled worker and Canadian Experience Class, outlines emerging trends, and discusses challenges associated with the increasingly complex policy landscape of the two-tiered immigrant selection system.