Canada's provinces and territories have renewed their pressure on Ottawa to expand Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocations and reform Express Entry, arguing that regional governments need a greater say in selecting economic immigrants to address local labour shortages. The demands were made at the June 23, 2026 meeting of the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI), where federal, provincial and territorial ministers weighed priorities for the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan. No immediate policy changes were announced, but the discussions sent a clear signal of where provinces want influence — spanning larger PNP allocations, greater transparency over how quotas are set, further Express Entry refinement, smoother transitions to permanent residence for temporary residents already in Canada, a bigger provincial role in student immigration and post-graduation work permits, more settlement funding, and continued Francophone immigration outside Quebec. The push comes as Canada scales immigration back from record highs while still trying to meet labour market needs.
At the meeting, which brought together federal, provincial and territorial immigration ministers, provincial and territorial ministers argued that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) remains the most effective tool for tackling regional labour shortages, because it lets provinces select candidates who match local economic priorities. On that basis, they called on Ottawa to enlarge PNP allocations, saying current caps do not give provinces enough flexibility to respond to employer demand.
The weight of that demand is clearest against the backdrop of recent volatility in allocations. In the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan unveiled in October 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) slashed provincial nominee spaces for 2025 to 55,000 from roughly 110,000 in 2024 — a 50 percent cut that many provinces described at the time as being "halved." For 2026, Ottawa restored the allocation to 91,500, a 66 percent increase over 2025 and the largest jump in the program's history, yet still about 17 percent below the 2024 level, with the figure planned to hold at roughly 92,500 in both 2027 and 2028. Many provinces have consequently warned that the tighter caps limit their ability to recruit skilled workers in sectors facing persistent shortages. British Columbia, for instance, formally requested 9,000 nominations for 2026 but was ultimately granted less than 60 percent of what it asked for.
Beyond seeking more spaces, ministers also urged Ottawa to be more transparent about how PNP targets and allocations are determined, saying more predictable planning would help provinces build longer-term immigration strategies. The request echoes a regulatory change that took effect in 2026, under which provinces gained greater authority to assess whether a nominee intends to settle in their province and can become economically established — determinations that IRCC officers can no longer override on those grounds.
Another major thread of discussion centred on Express Entry. Ministers agreed that Canada's flagship economic immigration system should keep evolving to better serve regional labour market needs and improve newcomer outcomes. No specific reforms were announced, but the direction of the conversation suggests Ottawa may continue adapting Express Entry to align more closely with provincial priorities. The system has already undergone significant change in recent years, including the introduction of category-based selection and a heavier emphasis on Canadian work experience; the latest talks signal that further fine-tuning could follow as governments seek better coordination between federal and provincial programs. Notably, a provincial nomination adds 600 points to an applicant's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score — all but guaranteeing a federal Invitation to Apply (ITA) — which is a key reason provinces treat the PNP as such vital leverage.
Ministers also discussed better alignment between permanent and temporary immigration pathways. They stressed the importance of helping temporary foreign workers and international students already living in Canada transition to permanent residence (PR) where labour market needs exist, while keeping new arrivals at sustainable levels. That approach dovetails with Ottawa's broader strategy of reducing the overall temporary resident population while creating more opportunities for those who have already established themselves in Canada. Under targets the federal government has set, permanent resident admissions are to be held below 1 percent of the population beyond 2027, and the temporary resident share is to fall below 5 percent by the end of 2027.
On student immigration, provincial and territorial ministers likewise want a larger role. They agreed to keep working with Ottawa to shape the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, arguing that work permit rules should better reflect regional labour market needs so provinces can attract graduates whose skills match local economic priorities. The discussion follows a series of recent federal changes affecting international students and post-graduation work permits as Ottawa moves to align immigration more closely with workforce demand.
Beyond the selection programs, provincial ministers called for increased federal settlement funding. They argued that adequate financing for language training and newcomer settlement services is essential to support successful integration and long-term economic outcomes, and they stressed that provinces play a central role in helping newcomers settle — meaning funding levels should reflect that responsibility.
Francophone immigration remained a priority. The meeting reaffirmed support for boosting French-speaking immigration outside Quebec, with ministers discussing an ongoing joint federal, provincial and territorial action plan to help Canada reach its goal of Francophone permanent residents making up 12 percent of admissions outside Quebec by 2029. Under the current Levels Plan, that share rises in steps — 9 percent in 2026, 9.5 percent in 2027, 10.5 percent in 2028, and a push to 12 percent in 2029.
Taken together, the meeting produced no immediate policy announcements but underscored provinces' growing demand for a bigger role in shaping Canada's immigration system. Calls for larger PNP allocations, greater transparency over quota decisions and further Express Entry reform all point to continued negotiation ahead of the next Immigration Levels Plan, which is expected to be tabled by November 2026. Whether Ottawa will agree to restore provincial nominee allocations remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: as Canada continues its transition toward more sustainable immigration levels, provinces are pressing for a louder voice on how economic immigration supports regional labour markets.
