Ontario has tweaked the scoring grid for its year-old Ontario Workforce Priority stream, adding a 10-point bonus for candidates who earned at least C$80,000 in a single tax year during the past five years. The change, announced October 7 and publicised by immigration‐watchers on October 8, was automatically applied to all existing Expressions of Interest in the OINP e-Filing Portal. Provincial officials say the move aligns with the province’s talent-retention goals by favouring applicants with a proven track record of high earnings and labour-market attachment. For corporate mobility teams, the extra points could be decisive: the OINP regularly issues invitations to the top-scoring few hundred profiles, and many applicants hover within single-digit point spreads. Employers should review the income records of sponsored applicants and upload CRA Notices of Assessment to ensure the new bracket is recognised. Candidates who fall just below the C$80,000 threshold may wish to postpone filing until their 2025 tax slip is available if it lifts them into the top bracket. Immigration lawyers note that the adjustment does not change other factors such as language or job offer but could indirectly raise invitation cut-offs in future draws. The announcement comes as Ontario presses Ottawa for more control over economic immigration. Premier Stéphane Del Duca reiterated last week that the province wants its allocation of provincial nominations increased by 10,000 places in the 2027–2029 federal levels plan.
Source: IRCC.com
