Canada plans to hold targeted Express Entry draws in early 2023

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans to begin holding Express Entry draws for applicants based on labor market goals in the first quarter of 2023, a spokesperson said.

“The ministry plans to consult with a wide range of stakeholders to inform the new Express Entry categories, as required by legislation, and is preparing for technical implementation in the first quarter of 2023,” IRCC said in a statement. email to CIC News.

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The recently passed Bill C-19 allows the Minister of Immigration to invite candidates for Express Entry based on criteria that support regional economic needs. It allows IRCC to organize rounds of Express Entry invitations based on an applicant’s occupation, language or education level, for example, rather than their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

The new legislation also stipulates that the minister must engage in a process of public consultation and report on the details of the draw, including economic objectives, to parliament every year.

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Why change Express Entry?

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser explained in a recent CIC News interview that the Express Entry system, without the modifications, does not allow IRCC to tailor invitations to apply (ITAs) to meet the skills or qualifications sought.

« If you’re in a situation where you have an abundance of applications that are all in a particular sector, and that sector doesn’t have a great need in Canada, the Express Entry system as it exists today is likely to attract people who may not be a perfect fit for the needs of the Canadian economy,” Fraser said.

IRCC has demonstrated throughout the pandemic that it can invite as many applicants as it wishes into any program it wishes, as we have seen throughout the pandemic. A striking example took place on February 13, 2021, when Canada invited all Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates into the pool, representing over 27,000 invitations.

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With the legislation at the time, IRCC was able to change its strategy amid the COVID-19 travel restrictions to invite Express Entry applicants based on the program they were eligible for. Initially, this was done to target Express Entry candidates who were eligible for one of two programs: the CEC because these candidates were most likely already in Canada and therefore not subject to travel restrictions, or those who had a appointment of a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

However, before Bill C-19 received Royal Assent, IRCC was unable to target Express Entry candidates in the pool based on a candidate’s occupation, language skills or educational credentials. Although PCPs have more specific criteria that allow them to invite eligible candidates for Express Entry, the system itself does not have such a mechanism in place. In order to obtain a PCP, and therefore meet a regional need, PCP candidates must complete a separate application process with a provincial or territorial authority.

Fraser has already said CIC News the goal is to help newcomers succeed in the communities where they will reside.

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« I think we’re going to see a potential increase in retention rates opening up because people are coming to where they know they have opportunities because that was the basis of their invitation to apply, » Fraser said.

The minister also recognized the need for a transparent selection process. One of the bill’s early criticisms was that it could allow special interest groups to pressure the government to invite a certain type of Express Entry candidate. This is why an amendment has been introduced to require the Minister to have a public consultation process with stakeholders to obtain information on how raffles can be organized to support an economic objective.

The actual wording of the bill reads as follows:

…the Minister must initiate a process of public consultation with stakeholders, including provinces and territories, industry, unions, employers, workers, labor advocacy groups, employment assistance organizations institution and immigration researchers and practitioners, to obtain information, advice and recommendations regarding labor market conditions, including occupations likely to face shortage conditions, as well as how categories can be formed to achieve economic goals.

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“If I sat down at my desk in Ottawa and started making decisions about which regions and sectors should benefit from this new policy, I would be walking down a very dangerous path,” Fraser said. “I need to engage with people at the local community level. I have to dialogue with my provincial and territorial counterparts. I need to engage with business councils and sectors that have high needs so that we can understand what their needs are. »

Draws for all programs continue in the meantime

On July 6, IRCC held its first draw for all programs since December 2020, meaning applicants were invited to whichever Express Entry-managed program they were eligible for.

A total of 1,500 applicants were invited and the minimum CRS score was 557.

The next Express Entry draw is scheduled to take place on July 20.

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