Canada Immigration Update 2026: Major PNP Draws in New Brunswick, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) continue to open strong Permanent Residence (PR) pathways for skilled workers, international graduates, healthcare professionals, and French-speaking candidates.

In early February 2026, several provinces — including New Brunswick, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario — conducted major provincial draws and introduced important policy updates.

If you're planning to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry, PNP, AIP, or employer-driven streams, this detailed breakdown will help you understand your opportunities in 2026.

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New Brunswick Issues 326 ITAs Under NBPNP

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) conducted two draws on February 2, 2026, issuing 326 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination.

Streams Invited:

• New Brunswick Express Entry Stream

• New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream

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1️⃣ New Brunswick Express Entry Stream – 166 Invitations

Under the Employment in New Brunswick pathway, candidates must:

• Be working full-time in NB (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3)

• Have 12 months of work experience in the province

• Hold valid work authorization

• Be living in NB for the past year

Since this stream is linked to the federal Express Entry system, selected candidates receive 600 CRS points, almost guaranteeing PR.

⚠️ Important Update:
New Brunswick will no longer consider applicants working in accommodation and food services (NAICS 72) under this stream in future draws.

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2️⃣ Strategic Initiative Stream – 160 Invitations for Francophones

New Brunswick continues to prioritize French-speaking candidates.

Two key pathways:

• NB Francophone Priorities

• Francophone Workers in New Brunswick

Minimum requirement: NCLC 5 in French

Who Can Benefit?

✔️ A French-speaking international graduate from Université de Moncton
✔️ A French-speaking skilled worker with a job offer in NB
✔️ Candidates who received a Letter of Interest from Immigration NB

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New Brunswick Overhauls NBPNP and AIP Programs

In addition to draws, New Brunswick introduced significant changes affecting both NBPNP and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

Major Restrictions Include:

• No invitations for accommodation and food services workers

• Restrictions on 14 occupations (e.g., cashiers, retail supervisors, fish plant workers)

• AIP endorsement now moving to a candidate pool system

• Employer designation temporarily restricted

• Overseas endorsements limited to:

  • Healthcare

  • Education

  • Construction trades

Pilot Extension

The Private Career College Graduate Pilot has been extended until end of 2026 for select students at:

• Oulton College

• Eastern College

This is excellent news for international students already enrolled in eligible programs.

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Alberta Issues 1,169 Invitations in 4 Draws

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) conducted four draws between January 26 and February 2, issuing 1,169 invitations.

Key Highlights:

Stream	Invitations	Cut-Off
Alberta Opportunity Stream	915	57
Accelerated Tech Pathway	148	63
Dedicated Health Care (Non-EE)	43	45
Dedicated Health Care (EE)	63	61

Lowest cut-off score: 45 (Healthcare non-Express Entry)

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Alberta’s 2026 Priority Occupations

Alberta is prioritizing:

• Healthcare

• Technology

• Construction

• Manufacturing

• Aviation

• Agriculture

• Rural communities

With 6,403 nomination spaces available in 2026, Alberta remains one of the strongest PR pathways through PNP.

Real-Life Example:

 A nurse working in Alberta under a work permit could qualify under the Dedicated Health Care pathway even with a lower CRS score.

 A tech professional in Calgary could benefit from the Accelerated Tech Pathway with faster processing.

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British Columbia Invites 429 Candidates

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held its first Skills Immigration draw of 2026 on February 4.

Invitations Issued:

• 206 under High-Wage Job Offer stream

  • Minimum wage: $70/hour (~$145,000/year)

• 223 under score-based selection

  • Minimum score: 138

British Columbia has 5,254 nomination spaces for 2026, but the Skills Immigration pool has over 11,000 registrations — meaning competition is high.

Who Can Benefit?

✔️ Senior IT professionals earning high wages
✔️ Healthcare professionals with strong BC job offers
✔️ Skilled workers with high registration scores

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Ontario Issues 1,825 Invitations in First Draw of 2026

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted six targeted draws on February 2, 2026.

Total Invitations: 1,825

Streams targeted:

• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker

• Employer Job Offer: International Student

• Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills

Occupations Targeted:

• Physicians

• Healthcare workers

• Early childhood educators

• REDI (Regional Economic Development through Immigration) candidates

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What Is REDI?

REDI is a regional initiative under OINP helping employers in smaller communities like:

• Lanark County

• Leeds and Grenville

• Sarnia-Lambton

• Thunder Bay

It supports economic growth in rural and northern Ontario.

Real-Life Example:

An international student graduate with a healthcare job offer in Northern Ontario could receive targeted selection under REDI.

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What This Means for Your Canadian PR in 2026

These recent provincial draws show clear trends:

✅ Healthcare and education are top priorities
✅ Francophone candidates have strong advantages
✅ Rural and regional immigration is expanding
✅ Certain low-skilled retail and food occupations are being restricted
✅ Provincial Nominee Programs remain one of the fastest PR pathways

If your CRS score is low under Express Entry, a PNP nomination can add 600 points and secure your Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.

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Final Thoughts: Your Canadian Dream Is Still Within Reach 

Canada continues to adjust its immigration strategy to meet labour market needs — and that creates opportunity for skilled professionals, international graduates, French speakers, and healthcare workers.

Whether you're:

• An IT professional looking at Alberta or BC,

• A nurse targeting healthcare draws,

• A French-speaking candidate exploring New Brunswick,

• Or an international student seeking employer-based PR pathways,

There is a strategy available for you.

The key is understanding the right program, acting quickly, and aligning your profile with provincial priorities.

2026 has started strong — and for the right candidate, this could be the year you secure Canadian Permanent Residence.

If you’re serious about your immigration journey, now is the time to assess your eligibility and explore the best PNP or Express Entry pathway for your profile.

Your Canadian PR journey starts with the right information — and the right move.