Ontario has changed the scoring system for its new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS), giving additional points to candidates with higher Canadian earnings.
As of October 5, candidates who earned $80,000 or more in a single year can receive 10 points for their Canadian earnings history. Previously, the highest score available under this factor was 8 points for earnings of $70,000 or more.
The updated scoring is:
- $80,000 or more: 10 points
- 70,000–79,999: 8 points
- 50,000–69,999: 6 points
- 30,000–49,999: 4 points
- Under $30,000: 0 points
The income must be shown on a CRA Notice of Assessment from the past five years. Ontario’s document rules also specify that the qualifying amount must have been earned in a single calendar year; earnings from different years cannot be combined.
Candidates who already have an OWPS profile do not need to make the change themselves. Ontario says the additional points are being applied automatically to eligible profiles.
The change could be important in a competitive system because OWPS candidates are ranked by points, with higher-ranking candidates having a better chance of receiving an invitation to apply for an Ontario nomination.
OWPS is currently Ontario’s main active provincial immigration pathway for eligible foreign workers and self-employed physicians. Ontario is also planning additional streams for healthcare workers, entrepreneurs and exceptional talent, although launch dates have not yet been announced.
