Immigration Minister Miller Emphasizes Domestic Draws in Immigration Strategy
Minister Miller directs attention to domestic recruitment efforts towards permanent residency
On Thursday March 21st, Marc Miller -Immigration Minister of Canada- signified that there could be “domestic draws” for temporary residents who are candidates for permanent residence (PR), and made an emphasis on hiring from existing workforce within Canada rather than recruiting from abroad. He also emphasized that he advises the provinces to follow the same trend with their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws.
IRCC’s attitude up to now…
So far, from what we understand from Category-based Express Entry draws, IRCC’s priority was filling in the relevant gaps to end the labour shortage. Canadian experience was subordinate. For instance, there has not been any Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw since September 14th, 2021, but lots of Category-based draws has been held.
Prior to that, regular CEC draws were conducted under Express Entry system which targeted PR candidates with Canadian experience, who are already in the country. Nevertheless, this action is not uncommon for Canada's immigration system, which has previously benefited individuals already present in the country.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its largest Express Entry draw ever, granting 27,332 invitations to apply (ITAs) to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants with a CRS score of 75. This score is notably lower than the typical CRS scores seen in Express Entry draws.
Conclusion
Regarding Miller’s statement, it looks like either CEC draws are making a comeback or a new arrangement for leveraging Canadian Experience is on its way. The Minister's remarks were made during a comprehensive announcement regarding the regulation of temporary resident numbers in Canada, aiming to alleviate strains on vital sectors such as housing and healthcare. So at the same time, it's important to not to forget the existing pressures on these sectors. Utilizing existing candidates within Canada will lead to fewer new Permanent Residents arriving from abroad and may result in relief for these issues.