Ontario might adopt an Expression of Interest system

The Canadian province of Ontario has released information about the planned changes that will soon affect the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. By adopting these proposed changes, the OINP will be able to manage admissions in a much more strategic fashion and improve its labor market responsiveness. Ontario has also mentioned that the amendments will allow the province to fulfill the needs of the regional labor market more efficiently.

Possible changes

Under the proposed amendment, Ontario is going to introduce an Expression of Interest (EOI) system for certain existing streams under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

• Masters Graduate;
• D. Graduate;
• Employer Job Offer Category: International Student;
• Employer Job Offer Category: Foreign Worker;
• Employer Job Offer Category: In-Demand Skills;

Ontario’s news release only revealed preliminary information about how the applicants belonging to its new EOI pool will be picked and assigned ranks.

What will the process be?

To begin with, OINP applicants will be given an invitation to submit a profile to the new EOI system so they can find themselves in the pool. After that, the applicants will have to provide information related to their personal life as well as the labor market and human capital.

According to Ontario’s proposal, applicants will be assigned ranks on the basis of the information they give in their EOI. The province will evacuate the scores and then provide ITAs to certain registrants. The people who get an ITA will then be permitted to apply for a nomination under the OINP stream.

The EOI application process that Ontario is looking to adopt resembles the federal Express Entry system and the EOI systems of the PNP in other provinces.