April 16, 2019 – New figures show the significant variation among Canada’s provinces in the contribution of Express Entry to annual immigration numbers.

Nova Scotia saw 55 per cent of its total 2018 immigration intake come through the federal economic immigration system, the highest of all the provinces.

At the other end of the scale, Manitoba saw just 6 per cent of new permanent residents come through Express Entry last year.

The figures show the extent to which certain provinces rely on their Provincial Nomination Programs to feed their immigration intake. The Family Class and Refugee Class of newcomers also contribute to the non-Express Entry total. 

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program is the oldest and one of the most active PNPs. This is necessary given the province receives so few new permanent residents through federal programs.

Manitoba welcomed just 960 permanent residents through Express Entry in 2018, against a total immigrant intake of 15,220.

Nova Scotia, meanwhile, received a total of 5,970 new immigrants, with 3,255 of them coming through Express Entry.

In terms of real numbers, Ontario dominates as the chosen province of destination for new Express Entry permanent residents.

Canada’s largest province welcomed nearly 60,000 newcomers through Express Entry in 2018, more than three times the total of British Columbia, which welcomed the second largest number at just over 16,000.

The Ontario Express Entry figure represented 43 per cent of its total immigration intake for 2018, meaning 57 per cent came from other sources, including the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, plus the Family Class and the Refugee Class.

In terms of actual numbers, Newfoundland & Labrador is at the other end of the scale from Ontario, welcoming just 245 Express Entry permanent residents in 2018.

This reveals the struggle some of Canada’s smaller provinces face in increasing immigration. Newfoundland’s Express Entry total still represented 16 per cent of its total 2018 immigration intake of 1,525.

In terms of total immigration intake, seven out of 10 Canadian provinces saw increases in 2018 when compared to 2017, spearheaded by Ontario.

Canada’s largest province saw the number of newcomers increase by more than 25,000, from 111,950 new immigrants to 137,395.

After Ontario, the next biggest increase was seen in British Columbia, where numbers grew by just over 6,500, from 38,440 to 44,975.

Canada welcomed more than 300,000 new permanent residents for the first time in modern history in 2018.

Totals show 321,120 new immigrants arrived across the course of the year, the most on record since 1913.

The figure eclipsed the target of 310,000 new immigrants outlined in the 2018 federal government immigration levels plan.

It follows a relatively low in take for 2017, when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada missed its levels plan target of 300,000, accepting 286,490 newcomers.

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