Express Entry is changing forever! | Bill C-19 Explained

Surya Rathee
[Published 27 Dec, 2022 | 05:37 AM]
About Author - 3 min read
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The Canadian government has passed Bill C-19 – driving big changes to the current Express Entry System. With Bill C-19, Canada will make amendments to the immigration act that will change how the government selects potential candidates from the Express Entry pool.

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What is Bill C-19 in Canada?

Bill C-19 is a new amendment to the Canada visa application process. Passed on June 23, 2022, Bill C-19 will amend the Immigration Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).  

How will Bill C-19 impact Express Entry?

With Bill C-19 passed, candidates can now be invited based on “groupings” set out by the Immigration Minister. Under the proposed changes, the Immigration Minister can select candidates according to how they rank within the grouping. Under this new system, groupings will be established based on the economic goals the Immigration Minister will seek to achieve at that time. They will then publish the goal of each round and the eligibility criteria on the official Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. 

The groupings will most likely be chosen based on factors such as employment experience, academic experience, or proficiency in English or French. The Canadian government is yet to confirm which groupings will be chosen. 

How Canada currently selects Express Entry candidates.

Canada’s Express Entry is a point-based system that evaluates candidates based on factors in the CRS points calculator. An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is solely based on a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. 

With their Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), certain provinces may also invite Express Entry candidates that meet criteria that help respond to the provinces’ labor market and demographic needs. Examples of this include Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams and Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities Stream.

The enhanced process proposed through Bill C-19 may look like a complex algorithm of how these PNPs are currently selecting their own candidates. But, the big changes are aimed at responding to Canada’s labor market and demographic needs more effectively. With Canada’s ever-growing labor shortages, businesses in Canada have urged the federal government to ease Canada Immigration pathways – especially for skilled workers. 

How will Canada hold targeted Express Entry draws?

The Immigration Minister will consult with stakeholders before deciding which groupings to invite in an Express Entry draw. Stakeholders include provinces & territories, industries, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers & practitioners. 

With the obligated consultation process, the Immigration Minister will gather the required information, advice, and recommendations – on how groupings may be formed to meet the country’s economic goals. The recommendations from stakeholders were based on written submissions – after Bill C-19 was passed at the end of June 2022. The Immigration Minister will now need to go through the consultation process before beginning these targeted draws. 

Interested in learning more about how Bill C-19 will impact Canada’s Express Entry system? Get in touch with best immigration consultant in India at Nationwide Visas today!