On 23 July 2026 the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held a massive Workforce Priority Stream draw, inviting 1,424 candidates in 56 NOC codes that range from civil engineers and database analysts to hair stylists and heavy-equipment operators. CRS scores began at 421, making this the largest and most inclusive provincial draw of the year. The Workforce Priority Stream is employer-driven: applicants need a full-time, permanent job offer and at least one year of experience in Ontario. By spreading invitations over such a broad occupational list, Queen’s Park signalled an aggressive push to fill labour gaps ahead of World Cup infrastructure deadlines and a province-wide housing expansion. Employers sponsoring candidates now have 14 days to upload support documents. Successful nominees will receive an additional 600 CRS points when IRCC opens the next all-program Express Entry round, effectively guaranteeing permanent residence. For global firms with operations in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton and Ottawa corridors, the draw presents an opportunity to lock in key hires before quota space tightens in Q4. Immigration lawyers recommend immediate action: OINP has capped employer form submissions at 50 per organisation per calendar year, and many large companies have already used a significant portion. The breadth of occupations—many at mid-skill levels—also reinforces Ontario’s strategy of using immigration to stabilise wage pressures, a point that will resonate with HR departments grappling with 4 % unemployment in the skilled-trades sector.
Source: Immigration.ca
