In a news release issued from Dieppe, New Brunswick on November 12, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it will make room for up to 100,000 additional provincial nominations in 2027 so that provinces and territories can convert temporary workers already in their economies to permanent residents. The allocations—voluntary and distributed at each province’s discretion—must be used by 31 March 2027. The measure is distinct from regular PNP quotas and does not reopen closed federal pilots such as the Start-Up Visa or Agri-Food Pilot. Instead, provinces may use the extra space to nominate applicants who have existing permanent-residence files languishing in federal inventories, including candidates from the Atlantic Immigration Program and other discontinued streams. IRCC also confirmed that applicants do not need to take any action; provincial authorities will identify eligible files. For employers, the announcement provides welcome certainty: converting incumbent foreign workers to PR reduces turnover and eliminates repeated LMIA or work-permit renewals. Provinces with tight housing markets, however, may take a cautious approach to prevent further strain on infrastructure—an early signal that the full 100,000 slots may not be used. Policy analysts note that the move dovetails with Ottawa’s Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to hold total admissions at 380,000 per year through 2029 while gradually shifting the mix toward economic and in-Canada classes. It also gives provinces political cover to limit new arrivals while still meeting local labour objectives. Companies that rely on temporary foreign workers should monitor provincial nominee bulletins over the next quarter; some jurisdictions are expected to launch targeted selection rounds for health-care, construction and tech occupations as early as January 2027.
Source: SettleCanada
