What Changed in Each Province
Short answer: Ontario Express Entry streams remain suspended through 2026; BC closed Entry Level and Semi-Skilled April 23, 2026 and focuses on healthcare (31 occupations) and trades (9 occupations); Alberta added a $135 WEOI fee April 7, 2026; Saskatchewan added tech to priority sectors; Manitoba dropped hospitality/food services and added 16 skilled trades occupations; Nova Scotia consolidated 10 streams into 4.
Ontario (OINP): 14,119 Nominations
Ontario's Express Entry-aligned streams (Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, Express Entry Skilled Trades) remained suspended throughout 2025 and into 2026. OINP now runs primarily through Employer Job Offer streams and graduate streams.
Recent draws in April 2026 focused on the Master's Graduate stream (minimum score 61), PhD Graduate stream (minimum score 56), and regional Employer Job Offer draws across Eastern, Northern, Southwestern, and Central regions (excluding Greater Toronto Area).
Tech occupations remain eligible under specific NOC codes: 21232 (software engineers), 21230 (software developers), 21220 (cybersecurity), 21223 (database analysts), 21211 (data scientists). However, unless Ontario reactivates its Express Entry streams, these candidates must come through employer job offer routes or have a specific Ontario graduate connection.
British Columbia (BC PNP): 5,254 Nominations
BC PNP made several cuts in early 2026. The International Post-Graduate stream closed January 7, 2026. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream officially closed April 23, 2026. Tech-focused draws, which ended with the Tech Pilot in December 2024, have not resumed.
BC now focuses on healthcare (31 eligible occupations) and construction trades (9 eligible occupations). The province maintains a 35% minimum target for nominations outside Greater Vancouver, meaning at least 1,839 of BC's 5,254 allocations go to regions outside the metro area.
Alberta (AAIP): 6,403 Nominations
Alberta's Opportunity Stream reserves 3,425 spaces. A new Dedicated Health Care Pathway reserves 500 spaces. The Express Entry Stream for Priority Sectors (construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture) reserves 600 spaces. These three streams account for 4,525 of Alberta's 6,403 total allocations.
Effective April 7, 2026, Alberta introduced a new $135 CAD fee for Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI). The Rural Renewal Stream eligibility criteria were modified January 1, 2026.
Saskatchewan (SINP): 4,761 Nominations
Saskatchewan reserved 50% of its nominations (2,381 spaces) for seven priority sectors: healthcare, technology, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, and energy. Technology was added to this priority list in 2026 (it did not appear on the 2025 list).
Saskatchewan also reserves 750 spaces for graduates of Saskatchewan Designated Learning Institutions who are employed in priority sectors. The Innovation and Tech Talent pathway includes 32 eligible NOC codes.
A new eligibility restriction, effective in 2026, bars PGWP holders who studied outside Saskatchewan and worked in their field for fewer than six months from Saskatchewan Experience pathways.
Manitoba (MPNP): 6,239 Nominations
Manitoba's largest change came February 4, 2026: the Hospitality and Food Services sectors were removed from the Temporary Resident Retention Pilot. In their place, 16 new skilled trades occupations were added.
Skilled Worker Overseas draws remain small and biweekly, typically issuing 46 to 72 Letters of Advice per draw. Candidates abroad applying to Manitoba face longer wait times than those within Canada.
Atlantic Provinces
Nova Scotia consolidated 10 separate streams into 4 effective February 18, 2026: Nova Scotia Graduate, Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and Nova Scotia Express Entry. This streamlining reduces the number of pathways but may speed up processing for remaining streams.
New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador were still finalizing their 2026 allocations and stream-level changes as of late April. Check each province's official immigration website for confirmed details.
The 600-Point CRS Bonus and Express Entry Integration
Short answer: The 600-point CRS bonus for enhanced (Express Entry-aligned) provincial nominations remains in force; on April 13, 2026, Express Entry Draw #409 issued 324 ITAs exclusively to PNP candidates with the bonus applied; base PNP nominations from suspended Express Entry provinces like Ontario do not qualify for the bonus.
The 600-point Comprehensive Ranking System bonus for an enhanced provincial nomination remains in force for 2026. IRCC continues to run dedicated PNP-only Express Entry draws for candidates with provincial nominations.
On April 13, 2026, Express Entry Draw #409 issued 324 Invitations to Apply exclusively to PNP candidates with the 600-point bonus applied. All invitees received invitations because all had met the CRS minimum (thanks to the bonus).
Not all PNP nominations are "enhanced." Only nominations issued through Express Entry-aligned streams qualify for the 600-point bonus. These provinces include:
- British Columbia (Tech Pilot closed, but some streams remain in Express Entry pathway)
- Saskatchewan (strong Express Entry alignment)
- Manitoba (Express Entry streams active)
- Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia Express Entry stream)
- Most others with active Express Entry streams
Provinces that suspended or closed Express Entry streams (notably Ontario, throughout 2025 and into 2026) issue nominations through employer job offer and graduate streams. These are "base" PNP nominations. Candidates with base nominations apply directly to IRCC outside the Express Entry system, do not receive the 600-point bonus, and face longer federal processing.