Canada May Now Resume CEC Express Entry Draws

Last Updated On 25 March 2024, 9:48 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Immigration Minister Marc Miller indicated, that they will be holding more “domestic” draws to control the number of temporary residents’ population in Canada.

Minister Miller said, “As part of our efforts for temporary residents to transition to permanent residency, we will have more domestic draws for us and ask provinces and territories taking part in the Provincial Nominee Program to do the same with their allocations.”

No specific CEC Express Entry draw or special policy for Canadian experience holders is one of the contributing factors in the rise of temporary residents’ populations because of the lesser transition to permanent residency.

New commentary by Minister Miller has brought a ray of hope for international graduates and work permit holders awaiting the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry draw since September 2021.

You may also like: No CEC Express Entry Draw Since 2021 Leaves Many In Limbo

“If you look at the larger pool of talented people in this country, whether it’s students on post-graduate work permits whether it’s asylum seekers that now have a work permit.” Miller added

The immigration minister also emphasized that there is a pool of talent in Canada that is not matched with the labour needs, so instead of going abroad, employers should first look inside Canada.

He said, “We’re asking our own departments but also our provincial and territorial counterparts when they have the responsibility of selecting individuals to take that step further and start looking at the domestic pool that is already increasing.”

Miller quoted the example of a “very large” pool of international graduates with postgraduate work permits, saying they are either underemployed or not employed at all.

“This is a young cohort of the population that has spent a number of years here, so is on the path to integration, that perhaps has a pathway to permanent residency knowing that they’re not necessarily entitled to it in the first place.”

“So just take a look at the people that are here temporarily and see if the provinces can use their numbers that they are allocated to draw on that pool of talent so that you’re not creating that carry-on ripple effect.” he further added.

No CEC Express Entry Draws Since 2021

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of the permanent residency programs under Canada’s flagship Express Entry system for temporary residents inside the country who have at least 1 year of Canadian skilled work experience in the last 3 years.

Prior to September 2021, there used to be CEC Express Entry rounds of invitations after regular intervals, giving an edge to individuals with Canadian experience as compared to skilled workers outside Canada.

However, Canada introduced new targeted category-based Express Entry draws in 2023 to meet the labour shortage and ignored the Canadian experienced skilled workers.

As a result, international students and work permit holders who have already integrated themselves into Canada by paying taxes are forced to compete with the international pool of candidates from rest of the world.

Advise to Temporary Residents in Canada Eligible for CEC

There is a possibility that we may see a good-sized Express Entry round of invitations for CEC candidates in the coming weeks.

So, we are suggesting that our patrons who are eligible for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) create their profiles and enter the Express Entry pool, even if your CRS score is significantly lower than general draws.

When was the last Express Entry draw for CEC (Canadian Experience Class)?

The last CEC Express Entry draw was held on September 14, 2021, that sent 2,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 462 or above.

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Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.