On January 15, 2025, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced the postponement of the reopening of the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NWNP), originally scheduled for January 16, 2025 at 9 a.m. Mountain Time.
Designation quota to be reduced by 2025
This decision follows a communication from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) informing the GNWT that the designation quota for the NWT in 2025 will be 150, a decrease of 50 % from the 2024 quota of 300.
Consequences for potential candidates
The GNWT recognizes that this postponement may cause inconvenience and uncertainty for potential applicants. However, the GNWT remains committed to re-opening applications to the NWTP, and will communicate a new re-opening date as soon as possible.
Recommendations
In the meantime, we recommend that you consult the guidelines and checklists for submitting an application to the program, and start gathering the necessary information and documents.
Background to the Northwest Territories Nominee Program
The GNWTAP is an immigration program used by the GNWT, in collaboration with IRCC, to attract skilled workers and entrepreneurs to support the economic development of the NWT. The program has several components, including the Employer Component, the Entrepreneur Component and the Francophone Component, launched in September 2022 to attract more French-speaking applicants.
Importance of immigration to the NWT
Immigration plays a crucial role in strengthening the NWT's workforce and long-term economic growth. The GNWT sees immigration as a complementary means of meeting labour market needs and stimulating the economy, particularly in sectors where there is a shortage of skilled labour.
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