Ontario to Launch New Expression of Interest System Soon

Key Highlights

• Overview
• EOI System
• Effect of EOI System

The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development recently published two new amendments.

These include details of the Expression of Interest (EOI) system that is to be implemented by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

OINP said that it would implement the new system in the coming weeks.

EOI System

Ontario had, in September 2020, proposed a change of some of its immigration programs to a new EOI system.

This system would use scoring criteria to target those immigration applicants that are best suited for the province’s labour market.

At present, Ontario’s PNP programs that have not been aligned with the Express Entry system work on a first-come-first-serve basis.

However, many other provinces’ nomination programs already use the Expression of Interest System for managing new applicants.

Effect of EOI System

The immigration streams to which the EOI system would be applied are:

-         Employer Job Offer Category
-         PhD Graduate Stream and
-         Masters graduate Stream

As the immigration streams operated on a first-come-first-served basis, the registration windows used to last for only a few minutes.

This produced various problems like having to have a dedicated email address for candidates who experienced technical delays.

Also, several candidates complained that it was unfair to applicants with low internet speed.

Under the EOI system, candidates must submit a resume with information about their education and work experience.

Based on their profile, they are awarded a provincial score. If their score meets a PNP draw’s cut-off, they receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for provincial nomination.

OINP authorities say that the EOI system will enable the province to respond effectively to the latest labour market needs, manage OINP demand and target the best candidates.