Canada does not offer permanent residence access to low or semi-skilled workers through its Express Entry System. The federal government leaves it to individual provinces and territories to draw and retain these workers.
The Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) in British Columbia offers two routes for low and semi-skilled workers to tackle the workforce and financial requirements of the province.
Employers and applicants interested in applying to the BCPNP have to propose these workers for permanent residence in Canada through the SIRS (Skills Immigration Registration System) programme.
The Entry Level and Semi-skilled category is the first immigrant path for applicants who have already been working in Canada for a minimum of nine months in niche jobs in sectors of long-haul trucking, tourism and hospitality, and food processing units. British Columbia needs workers in these fields to improve its financial climate.
The BCPNP also offers the NEPP (Northeast Pilot Project) route to permanent residence for low and semi-skilled workers, who have also been working for at least nine months, particularly in the Northeast region of this province, which covers the Northern Rockies and the Peace River Regional District.
Immigrants are encouraged in the NEPP to drive economic development in minor communities in Northeastern parts of the province where permanent workers are required.
These alternatives are suggested for foreign nationals in British Columbia to increase in number, besides the more common skilled immigration routes.