Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services

Ontario was not only the last province to launch a PNP, but it is also limited to 1,000 principal
applicants a year, a very small number relative to the volume of annual immigration to the
province. Expanding the PNP could help the province partially offset the recent decline in the
number of economic immigrants and cover the full cost of providing integration services.
Evidence from other jurisdictions (such as British Columbia) has shown that PNPs have
benefited provinces in terms of increased revenues, jobs, skilled labour and investment. 2
However, it is important that Ontario continue to emphasize its need to increase the numbers
of federal skilled workers in relation to provincial nominees. Although provincial nominees
enter Canada with an employment offer, their long-run earnings progression (employment
earnings in the years after landing) is not as robust as it is for skilled immigrants. 3 Nationally,
earnings of FSW class immigrants grow faster than those of provincial nominees. By the fifth
year after landing, FSWs’ annual earnings are on average $2,000 to $7,000 higher than
those of provincial nominees. 4
Recommendation 10-3: Advocate the federal government for a greater provincial role in
immigrant selection to ensure that the level and mix of immigrants coming to Ontario is
optimized to support economic prosperity and improve outcomes for immigrants. Barring
success, advocate for an expanded Provincial Nominee Program.
Ontario’s refugee population must also be considered in the context of Ontario’s overall
immigration levels and the skills required to support economic and labour-market growth.
In 2010, Ontario received 56.3 per cent of all refugees accepted into Canada. The incidence
of social assistance attachment for refugees is substantial, 5 at a considerable cost for society
and the provincial treasury. Studies have shown that refugees experience much higher rates
of unemployment, part-time employment and temporary employment than do Canadian-born
individuals. 6 Refugees are also less likely to have their credentials recognized in Canada. 7
Refugees have complex needs and typically require more supports than other classes of
immigrants. Although they receive initial federal support, provincial social services are
unavoidably required.
Moreover, refugee claimants — those who request asylum upon landing in Canada — are not
eligible for such federally funded services as language instruction and information and referral
services, and thus rely directly on provincial supports until their immigration status is settled.
In 2010, Ontario received 65 per cent of refugee claimants who arrived in Canada.
2 “BC Provincial Nominee Program Evaluation Report,” 2011, Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.
3 Stan Kustec and Li Xue, “Recent Immigrant Outcomes — 2005 Employment Earnings,” 2009, Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
4 David Kurfurst, “Evaluation of the Provincial Nominee Program,” 2011, Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
5 Don DeVoretz, Sirgiy Pivnenko and Beiser Morton, “The Economic Experience of Refugees in Canada,” 2004, Institute for the Study of
Labor.
6 Harvey Krahn, Tracey Derwing, Marlene Mulder and Lori Wilkinson, “Educated and Underemployed: Refugee Integration into the
Canadian Labour Market,” Journal of International Migration and Integration, 2000.
7 Rene Houle and Lahouaria Yssaad, “Recognition of Newcomers’ Foreign Credentials and Work Experience,” 2010, Statistics Canada.
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