Ontario has suspended the OINP Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream immediately after finding widespread misrepresentation in applicant files. All pending applications will be returned with full refunds, and no new submissions will be accepted. The province has not said whether the stream will reopen.
An internal review found that the stream’s design made it vulnerable to systemic misuse and that Ontario could not reliably verify applicants’ eligibility. With a reduced nomination allocation for 2025, the province chose to close the stream to protect program integrity and focus on candidates who clearly meet labour market needs.
Alternatives for applicants
Many affected candidates may qualify for the federal Express Entry Trade occupation category. Recent Trade draws have lower CRS cut-offs compared to CEC or general rounds, such as 505 versus 533. Applicants must meet regular Express Entry requirements and have at least six months of recent eligible trade experience.
Ontario also encourages former applicants to consider other OINP streams if they meet the criteria. These include Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker, and several EOI-based Employer Job Offer and Graduate streams.
