PNP reshaping settlement patterns in Canada

The PNP’s growth is also helping alter settlement patterns away from Canada’s largest cities, which have long attracted the vast majority of newcomers to Canada.

Provinces like Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Saskatchewan all have Express Entry-linked nominee programs that have been active in 2018.

"The initial location decision of [economic principal applicants, or EPAs] is a very strong predictor of their location years later," the study said. "Indeed, only about 11 per cent of EPAs have moved to or out of [Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver] by 10 years of landing."

A trend was identified in a new report by Statistics Canada, which found that most economic immigrants remain where they first settle, be it a larger city or outside one.

"Express Entry candidates should really get to know Canada’s various provincial nominee programs, especially given their rising star status in Canada’s immigration strategy," said David Cohen, senior partner with the Campbell Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal. "The allure of big cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver shouldn’t obscure the great things that provinces like Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have to offer."

The rising number of candidates in the Express Entry pool with a provincial nomination and the 600 points that go with it may be partly responsible for the increase that we’ve seen in Express Entry minimum scores in 2018, which haven’t gone below 440.

If this trend continues, obtaining a provincial nomination may now be one of the best bets for receiving an ITA for Express Entry candidates with scores below 440.