According to the September 6 media release, Ontario is planning to align the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) with the new National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 system.
While the new NOC system is already in effect by Employment Development Canada (EDSC) and Statistics Canada (StatsCan), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be putting the system into action in November.
This move will cause a significant impact on the OINP by modifying what occupations are eligible for each stream. Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which earlier required a job offer or work experience in NOC skill types 0, A, or B, will instead fall within TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
Complete details of the NOC 2021system are available on the Statistics Canada website and on the website of IRCC. The OINP states it will be posting updates on the website as well.
Ontario is suggesting Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream applicants have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 level or above. The province states adding the new language criteria would line up with the interest of the program in promoting the successful integration of the employees. It is expected to safeguard applicants and the OINP against falsification and other concerns with regard to program integrity.
Education criteria for the Employee Job Offer International Student stream are likely to get discussed. The province of Ontario requires individuals who are applying with a certificate of no less than one year for meeting the criteria of the Ontario College Graduate Certificate.
Ontario is looking to make changes to the least possible amount for the OINP’s administration monetary policies. People can view the necessary change made on Ontario’s Regulatory Registry. The province is accepting feedback on the suggested changes until October 21, 2022.
NOC 2021 to Cause an Effect on Express Entry Eligibility
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada are likely to put NOC 2021 into practice on November 16. The change in Express Entry-eligible occupations with impact eligibility to the province’s Express Entry-aligned PNPs.
Listed below are some occupations that will become eligible for the Express Entry program through the planned regulatory amendments:
- Sheriffs and bailiffs
- Payroll administrators
- Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
- Pest controllers and fumigators
- Heavy equipment operators
- Transport truck drivers
- By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
- Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
On the contrary, the following are the three occupations that are not entitled through Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program in particular:
- Tailors, furriers, milliners, and dressmakers
- Program leaders and instructors in sport, fitness, and recreation
- Other performers
The occupations mentioned above will remain eligible in other programs with job eligibility requirements, including certain PNP streams.
