The Ontario provincial government has proposed a two-phase approach to introduce major changes to the selection of candidates for permanent residency.
In the first phase, the Ontario Immigrant Candidate Program (OINP) would consolidate its three "Employer: Job Offer" lines into one.
In the second phase, the OINP would eliminate all other existing lines and introduce three new categories:
- Priority medical care category.
- Entrepreneurship/Investor Category
- Exceptional talent category.
Stage 1: New Job Offer Channel
The proposed new pathway for Job Offers would include two independent pathways: one for occupations at levels 0-3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER), and another for occupations at levels 4-5 of the TEER.
TEER 0-3 Route
The TEER 0-3 pathway would target skilled workers and prioritize candidates already in Canada with advanced qualifications. To be eligible, applicants must meet minimum criteria in three main areas: salary, work experience, and education.
Salary
The job offer must match the median salary for that occupation in Ontario. Recent graduates from eligible Ontario institutions (within the last two years) may be eligible for a lower-paying job offer.
Work experience
Applicants must comply one based on the following criteria:
- At least 6 months of work experience in Ontario in the NOC job offer with the same employer;
- Have a valid license for your occupation and be up to date with the relevant regulatory body (for regulated occupations), or
- At least 2 years of experience in NOC job placement within the last 5 years;
Education
Applicants must also hold a higher education degree, unless they have 6 months of work experience in Ontario in the occupation offered by the employer.
Via TEER 4-5
The TEER 4-5 program would support employers who rely on positions that generally require a high school diploma or on-the-job training, but who face a persistent staff shortage, such as many frontline, service, manufacturing, and support occupations.
Key elements of the proposed program include:
Eligibility in all NOC TEER 4 and 5:
- All TEER 4 and 5 occupations would be eligible, and the selection would focus on occupations with labor shortages.
Specific draws:
- The Ministry could conduct lotteries according to the needs of the labor market and the priorities of the program, focusing on specific occupations or worker profiles.
Minimum language requirement:
- Applicants must meet a minimum language standard (e.g., a specific level of the Canadian Language Framework [CLB]; details will be set out in the regulations).
Work experience requirement:
- Applicants must have at least 9 months of work experience in the NOC offering the job with the same Ontario employer.
The proposal also highlights two important flexibilities:
- A possible pathway into construction for construction trades workers, allowing them to qualify with the support of their union even without a permanent, full-time job offer.
- Regional and sectoral selection through the Employers' Job Offers section to invite candidates by region, occupation or other criteria and thus address the urgent needs of employers, building on recent initiatives to conduct specific draws by region and occupation within the framework of the OINP.
Stage 2: Three new OINP categories
In the second stage of the redesign, Ontario would eliminate all of its other existing categories and replace them with three new streams.
1. Priority healthcare hotline
This line would create a specific pathway for healthcare personnel, with special attention to those who practice regulated healthcare professions.
The main proposed features include:
No job offer required:
- Applicants with a valid professional registration in a regulated healthcare profession could apply without needing a job offer.
Support for recent graduates:
- Recent graduates who are in the final stages of obtaining their license or registration with a regulatory body may also be eligible.
2. Entrepreneur stream
Ontario would also introduce a redesigned entrepreneur stream as a pathway for newcomers who invest in the province, create jobs and support regional economic development.
The proposed stream replaces the previously closed entrepreneur stream, and would target foreign nationals who either:
- Have established and are actively operating a new business in Ontario, or
- Have purchased and are actively operating an existing Ontario business (business succession).
3. Channel of exceptional talent
The proposed exceptional talent pipeline is designed to attract candidates whose contributions fall outside traditional employment or job search pathways, but who are nevertheless highly valuable to Ontario.
It would focus on people in areas such as academia, innovation, science, technology, and the creative sectors who:
- Having demonstrated achievements and recognition in their field; and
- Not being able to qualify under other OINP streams.
Some examples of achievements that might qualify include:
- Academic publications or significant research contributions;
- Prestigious national or international awards;
- Recognized and revolutionary innovations; or
- Notable artistic or creative works with widespread recognition.
This approach would evaluate candidates through a qualitative assessment of each person's contributions and their potential impact on Ontario's economic, social, and cultural life, rather than relying solely on traditional scoring criteria.
I hope this topic is helpful for your immigration plans.
Thanks for reading. See you soon!
Nice to meet you!
Oscar
Official Link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/government-ontario