The Liberal government has brought forward regulatory amendments that would give Canada's premiers increased authority over who can immigrate to their respective provinces and territories.
During the government's red tape review process, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it plans to reduce duplications in the immigration process by giving provinces sole control over the selection criteria used in provincial nominee programs (PNP), which are active in every jurisdiction except Quebec and Nunavut.
Established in 1998, PNPs allow provincial governments to nominate individuals for prospective immigration based on a range of factors, including education level, professional experience and language. However, under current regulations, the federal government retains the ability to re-evaluate these nominations based on the federal government's selection criteria.