Ontario Skilled Worker PNP
Ontario’s Pilot Provincial Nominee Program (“Pilot PNP” or “Ontario PNP”) launched on May 24, 2007. In the first year the Ontario PNP will nominate 500 persons.

Ontario PNP only has a Skilled Worker Program.

Some basic points about Ontario PNP procedure:

1. Applications processed on first come first served basis
2. Employer driven
3. Employer makes pre-screening application to Ontario PNP
4. Employer must certain minimum requirements including: being in business for 3 years; sales of $1,000,000 for previous fiscal year; 5 full time permanent employees; have business premises in Ontario where nominee will work  
5. Employer able to apply for positions for prospective foreign employee in limited occupations in four sectors of: health; education; manufacturing; construction
6. There are only 20 eligible occupations:

Professional Stream Health Sector (8 occupations)
Specialist Physicians; General Practitioners and Family Physicians; Pharmacists; Audiologists and Speech Pathologists; Physiotherapists; Registered Nurses; Medical Laboratory Technicians; Medical Radiation Technologists

Professional Stream – Education Sector (2 occupations)
University Professors; High End Researchers

Skilled Worker Stream – Manufacturing Sector (5 occupations)
Machinists and Machining and Tooling Inspectors; Tool and Die Makers; Industrial Electricians; Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics; Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics

Skilled Worker Stream – Construction Sector (5 occupations)
Carpenters; Bricklayers; Cement Finishers; Tilesetters; Drywall Installers and Finishers

After Ontario PNP approves the Ontario employer’s PNP application the Ontario employer can send the prospective individual foreign employee an application package for nomination as a nominee under Ontario PNP.

Prospective employee will have 60 days after the date of issue of the Pre-screen position form from Ontario PNP to Ontario employer to submit the completed application to Ontario PNP. There is the possibility of obtaining one 30 day extension.

The Ontario PNP will attempt to process each PNP application within 60 days of filing.

 
There are two categories:

1. Employer Category
2. Multinational Investor Category

Details of these categories appear below

1. Employer Category

Employers can recruit professionals and skilled workers in the eligible occupations in the Ontario PNP Occupation list.

Steams within the Employer Category
The Employer Category has three streams: Professional; Skilled Worker; and International Student.

Professional Stream
Consists of 8 occupations in the health care sector. It also includes two occupations in the education sector. (Maximum 200 nominations)

Skilled Worker Stream
Consists of 10 occupations in the manufacturing and construction sector. (Maximum 200 nominations)

International Student Stream
Targets recent graduates from Ontario colleges and universities in eligible occupations in the Ontario PNP Occupation List. (Maximum 50 nominations). Only occupations on the Occupation List  are eligible for positions in the first year of the Ontario PNP. They are subject to change in future.

Ratios of Employees to Number of PNP Nominees
The general rule is for an employer in Greater Toronto Area (GTA) it is eligible for one PNP nominee for each five employees. Outside of the GTA employers are eligible for slightly more than one PNP nominee for each five employees.

2. Multinational Investor Category

Multinational Investor Category is intended to assist human resources needs of companies making major investments in Ontario by allowing expedited granting of nominations for nominated employees. Approximately 50 nominations in this category will be available in first year of Ontario PNP.

Employer eligibility for Multinational Category. Employer must:

1. Make a qualifying investment in Ontario of minimum of $10 million
2. Create minimum 25 full time jobs

Employer may request up to 5 nominees for each qualifying investment.

Work Visas Under Ontario Skilled Worker PNP
After the applicant has been nominated, Ontario Skilled Worker PNP will provide the standard letter to the relevant CIC post as well as to the nominee stating that the person is nominated and eligible for a work visa.