June 3, 2019 – The public consultation period has ended for a raft of changes planned for skilled worker and entrepreneur streams under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

Ontario announced as part of its provincial budget in April that it was planned multiple changes to its immigration streams.

A public consultation period was opened for stakeholders to have their say, but that ended on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Changes are planned for the following streams:

1. Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream.
2. Express Entry-linked streams: Human Capital Priorities, French Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades.
3. Entrepreneur Stream.

Meanwhile, the changes will se the termination of the unpopular Ontario Corporate Stream.

1) Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

The In-Demand Skills Stream supports employers facing labour shortages in lower skilled occupations in the construction and agricultural sectors.

Changes will see occupations added under National Occupational Classification 7511 – Transport Truck Drivers, NOC 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates and NOC 4412 – Home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers.

Ontario is also proposing to reduce the work experience requirement through the stream, from at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience to at least nine months of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience.

2) Express Entry-linked streams

The three Ontario Express Entry streams for Human Capital Priorities, French Speaking Skilled Workers and Skilled Trades will see a change to the start date for qualifying work experience.

Previously, work experience was assessed as of the date an applicant received a Notification of Interest. Going forward, the program is proposing to assess work experience as of the date of application, to align it with other criteria.

The length of the required work experience will remain the same:

Federal Skilled Worker Program: Continuous period of at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience, in the last five years.

Canadian Experience Class: Cumulative period of at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience, in the last three years while lawfully residing and working in Canada.

Federal Skilled Trades: Cumulative period of at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience, in the last two years.

3) Entrepreneur Stream

Ontario will cut the minimum investment and net worth thresholds for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s Entrepreneur Stream and terminate the Corporate Stream under new plans.

Canada’s largest province also plans to cut the business experience required under the popular Entrepreneur Stream.

The proposal would see the following changes to the Entrepreneur Stream net worth requirements:

1. Net worth requirement cut from $1.5 million to $800,000 for businesses located in the Greater Toronto Area.
2. Net worth requirement cut from $800,000 to $400,000 for businesses located outside the GTA.
3. Net worth requirement cut from $800,000 to $400,000 for technology or digital communications businesses, regardless of location.

The proposal would also see the following changes to investment requirements:

1. Investment requirement cut from $1 million to $600,000 for businesses in the GTA.
2. Investment requirement cut from $500,000 to $200,000 for businesses in the GTA.
3. Investment requirement cut from $500,000 to $200,000 for technology or digital communications businesses, regardless of location.

A further Entrepreneur Stream change would see the required business experience cut from 36 months in the last 60 months, to 24 months in the last 60 months.

In the same proposal, Ontario also flagged its intention to terminate the unpopular Corporate Stream, aimed at established international corporations that want to expand into Ontario or buy an existing Ontario business.

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.

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