Canada Immigration News New Brunswick’s Lifeline for PR Applicants Alberta, PEI & NL PNP Draws 2025
Canadian Immigration Updates: New Brunswick, Alberta, PEI, and Newfoundland Strengthen Pathways for Skilled Workers and PR Applicants
Canada continues to strengthen its provincial immigration programs in 2025, ensuring smoother transitions for temporary workers and skilled newcomers. From New Brunswick’s lifeline to PR applicants at risk of losing their work status to Alberta’s record number of draws, Prince Edward Island’s (PEI) focused PNP selections, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s latest invitations, these updates reflect Canada’s ongoing commitment to regional workforce stability and immigration growth.
Let’s explore these key developments in detail and understand how they impact prospective immigrants and employers.
New Brunswick Offers Lifeline to PR Applicants at Risk of Losing Work Status
In response to prolonged PR processing times, Immigration New Brunswick (INB) has announced work permit support for candidates under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
What’s New?
New Brunswick will now issue letters of support for C18 closed work permits to AIP endorsees whose current work permits are expiring before their PR applications are finalized. These letters allow candidates to continue working legally with their employers during the waiting period.
Example:
A foreign nurse employed in Fredericton under the AIP whose permit expires soon can now request INB’s letter of support, apply for a C18 work permit, and continue working legally while her PR is being processed — avoiding status loss.
Why This Step Is Important
IRCC’s updated processing time tool shows AIP PR applications are now taking up to 37 months, compared to 13 months earlier. Since AIP work permits are typically valid for two years, many endorsees risked losing their status.
This measure ensures stability for both employees and employers in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and IT.
How to Apply
AIP candidates who need a C18 work permit must:
-
Contact Immigration New Brunswick using the Post-Endorsement Request Form.
-
Obtain the Letter of Support from INB.
-
Submit a C18 work permit application to IRCC.
Candidates must also report any employment changes — like employer switch or job loss — to ensure their endorsement remains valid.
Broader Impact
This proactive move helps maintain workforce continuity, especially for employers in rural and coastal communities relying on international talent. It also aligns with the Atlantic Growth Strategy aimed at population retention through skilled immigration.
Overview: The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal-provincial initiative connecting employers with skilled workers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Eligibility Highlights:
-
Full-time job offer from a designated employer.
-
Sufficient education, language proficiency, work experience, and settlement funds.
-
Employer-facilitated settlement plan.
-
Provincial certificate of endorsement, allowing PR application submission.
Real-time case:
An IT professional from India hired by a Nova Scotia employer under AIP can move to Canada, work with a temporary permit, and later transition to PR seamlessly.
Alberta Conducts Five Provincial Immigration Draws Across Priority Sectors
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has been actively selecting skilled candidates through multiple targeted draws between October 8 and 21, 2025 — reflecting Alberta’s robust labour market needs.
Summary of Recent Draws
| Draw Date | Stream | Invitations | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21 | Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway | 89 | 60 |
| Oct 16 | Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Aviation) | 13 | 46 |
| Oct 15 | Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Agriculture) | 10 | 67 |
| Oct 10 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway (non-EE) | 41 | 45 |
| Oct 8 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway (Express Entry) | 46 | 52 |
Key Takeaways
-
2025 has seen 69 total draws under the AAIP.
-
Alberta continues prioritizing technology, aviation, healthcare, agriculture, and construction.
-
Additional 1,528 nomination slots were granted federally, bringing the total to 6,403 nominations for 2025.
Example:
A software developer under Alberta’s Accelerated Tech Pathway in Calgary can receive a provincial nomination in as little as 60 CRS points, ensuring faster PR progression through the Express Entry system.
Alberta’s Nomination Breakdown (as of Oct 21, 2025)
| Stream | Allocation | Nominations Issued | Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 3,356 | 2,544 | 812 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,100 | 877 | 233 |
| Tourism & Hospitality | 245 | 212 | 33 |
| Healthcare Pathways (EE + Non-EE) | 810 | 438 | 372 |
| Alberta Express Entry (Tech, Law Enforcement, Priority Sectors) | 870 | 598 | 272 |
These numbers confirm Alberta’s continued focus on sector-specific recruitment, ensuring targeted workforce support.
PEI Conducts Second-Largest Provincial Immigration Draw of 2025
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is maintaining its steady pace of immigration draws, with its October 17, 2025 round marking the second-largest draw of the year.
Key Details:
-
Total Invitations: 160
-
Streams: Labour Impact and PEI Express Entry
-
Targeted Candidates:
-
Skilled workers already living and working in PEI,
-
International graduates from:
-
University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
-
Holland College
-
Collège de l’Île
-
-
PEI’s 2025 Immigration Trends
-
Over 1,081 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued so far.
-
High demand for healthcare, trades, and manufacturing sectors.
-
Reduced nominations have pushed PEI to prioritize in-province workers and graduates for faster PR pathways.
Example:
A Holland College graduate working in the island’s manufacturing sector can secure a PNP nomination faster than new offshore applicants, ensuring retention of local talent.
Selection Factors
Candidates are assessed based on:
-
Language proficiency (English/French)
-
Education level and institution
-
Relevant work experience
-
PEI’s current labour market needs
-
Job offer or previous Canadian work experience
Newfoundland and Labrador Issues Latest Invitations Under NLPNP and AIP
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) conducted its 12th selection round of the year on October 22, 2025, issuing 100 invitations in total.
| Program | Invitations |
|---|---|
| Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) | 55 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | 45 |
Current Immigration Landscape
-
2025 Invitations so far:
-
2,253 (NLPNP)
-
793 (AIP)
-
-
Additional 1,000 federal nominations increased NL’s total allocation to 2,050 for NLPNP and 475 for AIP.
-
Combined, the province now has 2,525 total nomination slots.
Example:
A mechanical engineer in St. John’s endorsed under AIP continues working while waiting for PR — supported by the province’s nomination flexibility and work permit options.
Why Fewer Invitations This Round?
The latest round saw fewer invitations (100) due to program cap nearing completion and ongoing recalibration of nomination priorities toward essential and healthcare sectors.
What These Updates Mean for Future PR Applicants
Across these four provinces, a clear trend is emerging — provinces are adapting quickly to long PR processing times, labour shortages, and retention challenges.
Key Implications:
-
New Brunswick: Protects workers from losing status under AIP.
-
Alberta: Expands targeted pathways for tech, healthcare, and agriculture.
-
PEI: Rewards local graduates and current workers with faster PNP access.
-
Newfoundland and Labrador: Balances allocations to sustain both AIP and PNP candidates.
In practice:
A candidate working in any of these provinces can now benefit from policy flexibility, better pathway visibility, and reduced job disruption risk while awaiting PR.
Final Thoughts
Canada’s provincial governments continue to evolve their immigration programs to ensure stability, fairness, and efficiency for newcomers and employers alike.
These initiatives reflect how immigration remains central to Canada’s workforce strategy — particularly in Atlantic and Western regions facing critical labour shortages.
If you’re currently working under a PNP or AIP stream, staying informed about your province’s latest updates can be the difference between a smooth PR transition and unexpected status loss.