Under the OINP, public consultations on the implementation of NOC 2021 and changes to the linguistic and academic prerequisites for a number of Employer Job Offer streams have already begun.

According to a media release dated September 6, Ontario is getting ready to integrate the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) with the new National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021 system.

Employment Development Canada (EDSC) and Statistics Canada (StatsCan) have already begun using the new NOC system, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin using it in November.

The OINP will be impacted by this change because it will change which jobs are acceptable for each stream. For instance, the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in Ontario, which once needed a job offer or work experience in NOC skill types 0, A, or B, will now come under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

The modifications state that the Employer Employment Offer In-Demand Skills stream for the OINP, which formerly needed job offers in specific NOC Skill Level C or D occupations, will now call for job offers in specific TEER 4 or 5 occupations under NOC 2021. Some occupations' NOC labels will change under NOC 2021, which will affect which streams they are eligible for.

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On the websites of Statistics Canada and the IRCC, the NOC 2021 system is fully described. According to the OINP, it will also update its website.

Additionally, Ontario is considering requiring candidates for the Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream to have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 Level or above. According to the province, including the new language requirements would be consistent with the program's goal of fostering employees' effective integration and would improve both applicants' and the OINP's defences against deception and other program integrity issues.

Also up for debate are the educational requirements for the Employer Job Offer International Student stream. Ontario wants to make it mandatory for applicants who have certificates that have been in effect for at least a year to also complete the requirements for the Ontario College Graduate Certificate as outlined in the Ontario Qualifications Framework. "This revision is expected to bring clarity and decrease difficulties for International Student Stream applicants applying with one-year certificates," the OINP states.

The minimal amount for administrative monetary penalties imposed by the OINP is the last modification Ontario wishes to make.

The modifications are available for public viewing on Ontario's Regulatory Registry. The province of Ontario will take comments on the suggested modifications until October 21, 2022.

The impact of NOC 2021 on Express Entry eligibility

On November 16, IRCC is anticipated to put NOC 2021 into effect. Eligibility for Ontario's Express Entry-aligned PNPs will be impacted by the change in Express Entry-eligible Occupations.

The proposed regulatory changes will make the following 16 professions eligible for Express Entry:

  • Bus drivers, subway operators, and other transit operators
  • Heavy equipment operators
  • Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
  • Correctional service officers
  • By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
  • Aestheticians, electrologists, and related occupations
  • Payroll administrators
  • Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
  • Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
  • Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
  • Pest controllers and fumigators
  • Other repairers and servicers
  • Transport truck drivers
  • Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
  • Sheriffs and bailiffs
  • Residential and commercial installers and servicers

On the other hand, the following three professions will thereafter lose their eligibility under Ontario's Immigrant Nominee Program:

  • Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness
  • Tailors, dressmakers, furriers, and milliners
  • Other performers

The aforementioned jobs will still be acceptable in other programs with more flexible job eligibility standards, such as some PNP streams.

You can also read the latest Canada Immigration News and Draw Updates here.

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