Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced that Ottawa is reversing part of last year’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) cuts, granting provinces extra nomination slots for 2025.
Nova Scotia will receive a “significant” increase after its quota was halved earlier this year, from 3,570 to 1,785 nominations. The province’s new total now stands at about 3,700. Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and B.C. will also benefit from similar boosts.
The adjustment follows months of criticism from provinces that rely on PNPs to fill critical labour shortages. Diab said the change corrects “slippage” in national immigration targets while still aiming to balance housing and infrastructure pressures.
The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, expected soon, will reveal whether these restored slots signal a lasting policy shift or a temporary fix.
