OINP reform is coming, will master's and PhD streams finally be eliminated?

Portal: https://www.regulatoryregistry.gov.on.ca/proposal/52773

Full translation follows:

Proposed amendments to regulations under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, aimed at redesigning the categories of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Proposal Summary
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is Ontario's economic immigration program. Through this program, Ontario selects candidates who meet the province's labor market needs and formally nominates them to the federal government for permanent residence.

Currently, the OINP provides pathways to permanent residence through eight program categories. The ministry proposes to streamline and consolidate these into four new categories, rolled out in two phases.

Phase 1
The ministry proposes to update the existing employer job offer categories with a simplified "Employer Job Offer Category" (with TEER 0-3 and TEER 4-5 streams):

• Employer Job Offer Category (TEER 0-3 and 4-5 streams) This new category will replace the three existing employer job offer categories to better attract and retain foreign talent and improve application access for employers and workers. The TEER 0-3 stream will target skilled workers, prioritizing candidates already in Canada with post-secondary education. Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria: Job offer wage: The job offer must meet the median wage for that occupation. Applicants who graduated from a qualifying Ontario educational institution within the past two years are eligible if their job offer meets the low-wage level. Work experience: Applicants must meet one of the following: a) 6 months of Ontario work experience with the employer making the offer, in an occupation with the same NOC code as the job offer; or b) 2 years of experience in the NOC code of the job offer within the past 5 years; or c) hold a valid license for their occupation and be in good standing. Education: If the applicant has 6 months of Ontario work experience with the employer making the offer, in an occupation with the same NOC code as the job offer, there is no minimum education requirement. Otherwise, the applicant must have a post-secondary credential with an Educational Credential Assessment. The TEER 4-5 stream will support employers in attracting skilled workers for occupations facing labor shortages. All NOC occupations in TEER 4 and 5 are eligible, with selection focusing on labor market demand and program priorities. Applicants must meet minimum language requirements and have 9 months of work experience with the employer making the offer, in an occupation with the same NOC code as the job offer. A pathway for construction workers is being considered, where union support could be used as an alternative to verify work experience, replacing the permanent full-time job offer. The ministry may use the Employer Job Offer Category to invite applicants by region, occupation, or other criteria to address urgent employer labor needs.

Phase 2
In the second phase of the OINP redesign, the ministry proposes to introduce three new categories and phase out existing program categories that no longer reflect key priorities and labor market needs. The new categories will include:

• Priority Healthcare Category A dedicated pathway for highly skilled healthcare professionals: Will provide an application pathway without a job offer for applicants with valid professional registration. May include recent graduates who are completing registration with a regulatory body. Aims to meet the needs of regulated healthcare occupations across Ontario.
• Entrepreneur Category A pathway for entrepreneur immigrants who invest, create jobs, and build Ontario's economy. Targets entrepreneur foreign nationals who: have established and are actively operating a business in Ontario; and/or have purchased and are operating an existing business in Ontario (business succession).
• Special Talent Category A category designed to attract and retain unique and exceptional talent in fields such as academia, innovation, science, and technology. Targets candidates with recognized achievements and prestige in their fields who may not qualify under other OINP categories. Candidates must demonstrate suitability through achievements such as publications or research contributions, prestigious awards, international recognition, breakthrough innovations, and/or significant creative works. Will involve qualitative assessment to measure their unique contribution to Ontario's economic, social, and cultural vitality.

The ministry is seeking public input on the proposed changes. Feedback will help inform the development of future regulations.

The following questions are intended to guide feedback:

1. What do you see as the main advantages of the proposed new categories?
2. What potential limitations or risks do you foresee with the proposal?
3. Do you have any suggestions regarding the application process under the proposal?
4. What other matters should the OINP consider in developing the new categories?

Seeking Input: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Employer Portal
In July of this year, the ministry launched a new electronic employer portal, transitioning the employer job offer categories to an employer-driven application process. As we work to redesign the job offer categories, the portal will continue to serve as the mechanism for employers to submit expressions of interest and applications. To ensure the portal is user-friendly and to inform future digital platform improvements, we are also seeking feedback from portal users at this time:

1. Overall Experience: How was your experience using the portal? Were there any parts of the submission process you found difficult or lengthy? What changes would make the portal easier and more intuitive for you?
2. Accessibility and Usability: How would you describe your experience using the portal? Were the instructions clear and easy to understand? If not, what aspects were challenging (e.g., language options or screen reader compatibility)?
3. Technical Performance: Did you encounter any technical issues (e.g., slow page loading, errors)? If so, what impact did this have on you?