April 17, 2019 – The Ontario provincial government has released details of planned changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program skilled worker streams.
Under a proposal published on Tuesday April 16, 2019, new target occupations will be added to the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream.
Furthermore, an important change is planned to the start date for qualifying work experience for Ontario’s Express Entry-linked streams: Human Capital Priorities, French Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades.
The In-Demand Skills Stream supports employers facing labour shortages in lower skilled occupations in the construction and agricultural sectors.
Changes will see occupations added under National Occupational Classification 7511 – Transport Truck Drivers, NOC 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates and NOC 4412 – Home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers.
Ontario is also proposing to reduce the work experience requirement through the stream, from at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience to at least nine months of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience.
The changes are intended to ‘improve the responsiveness of the program to current labour market and employer needs’, Ontario says.
| Current In-Demand Skills Stream Occupations | Proposed New In-Demand Skills Stream Occupations | ||
| NOC | Description | NOC | Description |
| 7441 | Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 3413 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 7521 | Heavy equipment operators (except crane) | 4412 | Home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers |
| 7611 | Construction trades helpers and labourers | 7441 | Residential and commercial installers and servicers |
| 8431 | General farm workers | 7511 | Transport truck drivers |
| 8432 | Nursery and greenhouse workers | 7521 | Heavy equipment operators (except crane) |
| 8611 | Harvesting labourers | 7611 | General farm workers |
| 9462 | Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers | 8431 | Nursery and greenhouse workers |
| 8432 | Harvesting labourers | ||
| 8611 | Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers | ||
| 9462 | Construction trades helpers and labourers | ||
Meanwhile, the three Ontario Express Entry streams for Human Capital Priorities, French Speaking Skilled Workers and Skilled Trades will see a change to the start date for qualifying work experience.
Previously, work experience was assessed as of the date an applicant received a Notification of Interest. Going forward, the program is proposing to assess work experience as of the date of application, to align it with other criteria.
The length of the required work experience will remain the same:
Federal Skilled Worker Program: Continuous period of at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience, in the last five years.
Canadian Experience Class: Cumulative period of at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience, in the last three years while lawfully residing and working in Canada.
Federal Skilled Trades: Cumulative period of at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent paid part-time work experience, in the last two years.
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The proposed changes are currently open to public consultation, with comments sought from stakeholders. The consultation period ends on Thursday May 30, 2019.
The changes come following an announcement in the Ontario provincial government budget, released on Thursday April 11, 2019.
The budget also saw plans announced to create a dedicated provincial stream aimed at skilled technology workers, launch a pilot to help bring skilled worker immigrants to Ontario’s smaller communities and cut the net worth and investment thresholds for Ontario’s Entrepreneur Stream.
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