On November 25, Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, David Piccini, announced during the third reading of Bill 30: Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025 that the province plans to launch new immigration pathways under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Piccini stated that Ontario will establish a new “talent stream” aimed at attracting exceptional individuals in areas such as research, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship. Bill 30 received Royal Assent on November 27, providing the province with new legal authority to more flexibly manage and redesign its provincial nomination streams.
1. Bill 30: How the new legislation expands Ontario’s authority over OINP
Although Bill 30 is a broad labour-policy bill, several key provisions affect how Ontario operates its provincial nominee program. These changes grant Ontario increased agility and stronger regulatory tools. Key elements include:
Flexible authority to create, modify, or close OINP streams
The Minister may now introduce or adjust immigration streams without lengthy legislative processes, allowing Ontario to respond more quickly to labour market needs.
Earlier refusal and return of applications
Where integrity concerns, misrepresentation risks, or labour market misalignments exist, officials may suspend intake and return applications earlier in the process.
Strengthened program integrity and compliance powers
Bill 30 enhances Ontario’s ability to combat fraud, enforce eligibility criteria, and maintain transparency in the administration of OINP.
These expanded powers position Ontario to redesign existing streams and introduce new ones with greater efficiency.
2. Program suspensions highlight Ontario’s need to redesign OINP
Skilled Trades Stream suspended, all applications returned
On November 14, Ontario halted intake to the Express Entry–linked Skilled Trades Stream following a program review that identified:
- systemic compliance and enforcement issues
- systemic misrepresentation and/or fraud related to eligibility criteria
The province has begun returning all pending applications with full fee refunds. The suspension frees up nomination capacity and increases pressure to create new, better-aligned pathways for trades and other occupations.
Additional streams saw no draws in 2025
Ontario has not conducted draws this year in the Master’s Graduate, PhD Graduate, and Entrepreneur streams, suggesting the province may be reallocating nomination spaces toward other priority areas.
3. Higher PNP allocations expected for 2026 support the launch of new pathways
Ontario’s 2025 nomination allocation was reduced to just 10,750, half of its 2024 allocation of 21,500, following federal cuts to the national PNP target (from 110,000 admissions in 2024 to 55,000 in 2025).
However, the federal government has since reversed course. The latest Immigration Levels Plan sets the 2026 PNP target at:
- 91,500 admissions,
- a 66% increase over 2025
While Ontario’s specific allocation for 2026 has not yet been published, a significantly larger national PNP envelope will give the province more room to introduce new OINP streams and redistribute nomination spaces across existing categories.
Conclusion
With Bill 30 expanding program oversight, the suspension of legacy streams, and significantly higher PNP allocations expected in 2026, Ontario is entering a period of major restructuring of its provincial nominee program. In the coming months, the province is expected to introduce new, more targeted and flexible immigration pathways that align with labour market needs and support the attraction of high-skilled and high-value global talent.
