Saskatchewan and Newfoundland Push Ottawa for Greater Control Over Immigration

By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada

23 OCTOBER 2026

Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador are pressing the federal government to give provinces a greater role in shaping Canada’s immigration system, arguing that regional authorities are better positioned to identify local labour shortages, support economic growth and determine the types of newcomers their communities need.

The renewed calls come as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government prepares to establish its next immigration targets and faces growing pressure from provincial leaders seeking more influence over the selection and admission of permanent residents.

The issue has gained fresh momentum following Alberta’s recent referendum, in which voters supported giving their provincial government greater control over immigration. The result has strengthened calls for changes to the existing federal-provincial system, although the extent of any future changes remains subject to negotiations with Ottawa.

Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador have joined other provinces in arguing that immigration policies should better reflect regional economic conditions, population needs and employers’ demand for skilled workers.

However, the debate has also raised questions about whether transferring more authority to provincial governments could make Canada’s immigration system more complicated and create inconsistencies in how newcomers are selected and settled across the country.

Saskatchewan Wants Immigration to Match Labour-Market Needs

Saskatchewan has been seeking greater autonomy over immigration for several years, with Premier Scott Moe’s government advocating a system that allows the province to play a larger role in determining its immigration priorities.

Saskatchewan Minister of Government Relations Eric Schmalz said the province would continue pushing for greater control, particularly to attract immigrants whose skills match the needs of its industries.

According to the provincial government, immigration should complement efforts to train local workers rather than replace investment in the domestic workforce.

The province has pointed to labour shortages in key sectors and the importance of ensuring that employers can find workers with the necessary skills to sustain production, expand businesses and contribute to public revenues.

Moe has also supported broader provincial participation in decisions concerning economic immigration, international students and refugee policy, arguing that provinces have different economic and demographic circumstances that require tailored approaches.

Saskatchewan’s position is that a province with specific shortages in agriculture, manufacturing or other industries may require a different mix of newcomers from a province with different employment opportunities and population pressures.

The government believes greater flexibility would help it attract immigrants who can secure employment, support their families and contribute to the provincial economy.

Newfoundland and Labrador Calls for More Nomination Spaces

Newfoundland and Labrador has also called for a stronger provincial role in immigration, with a particular focus on increasing the number of permanent residents it can nominate through economic immigration programmes.

A spokesperson for the provincial government, Allison King, said reductions under the federal Immigration Levels Plan had constrained the province’s ability to respond to employer demand, support rural communities and sustain population growth.

The province has argued that its immigration allocations should reflect its distinct labour-market needs and demographic challenges.

For Newfoundland and Labrador, immigration is not only about filling vacant positions. It is also a way to support communities experiencing population pressures, maintain essential services and ensure employers can recruit workers needed to keep businesses operating.

Provincial officials have therefore called for increased economic immigration allocations and greater flexibility in how immigration programmes are administered.

Prince Edward Island has expressed similar support for a more substantial provincial role in immigration decisions, arguing that provincial governments understand the pressures facing their health-care systems, schools, housing markets, roads and labour markets.

The growing number of provinces making similar demands suggests that immigration authority will remain an important issue in upcoming federal-provincial discussions.

What Is the Provincial Nominee Program?

The Provincial Nominee Program, commonly known as the PNP, is one of the main mechanisms through which Canadian provinces and territories identify prospective immigrants who may meet their economic and labour-market needs.

Under the programme, participating provinces and territories can nominate eligible foreign nationals for permanent residence based on criteria established for their respective immigration streams.

These streams may target skilled workers, individuals with Canadian work experience, graduates and other applicants whose qualifications or employment prospects align with regional priorities.

However, a provincial nomination does not, by itself, grant permanent residence. The federal government retains responsibility for the final approval of permanent-residence applications and for administering key parts of the immigration system.

In its previous immigration levels plan, Ottawa allocated 91,500 spaces to the Provincial Nominee Program for 2025, with the allocation set at 92,500 for 2026. The federal government has also adjusted immigration targets as it responds to housing pressures, public-service capacity and changing labour-market requirements.

Provincial leaders have argued that limiting nomination spaces makes it harder for them to attract and retain the workers their economies need.

The next federal immigration levels plan is expected to provide a clearer indication of how much room provinces will have to nominate newcomers in the coming years.

Alberta’s Referendum Adds Momentum to the Debate

Alberta’s recent referendum has brought the question of provincial immigration authority into sharper focus.

Premier Danielle Smith has argued that Alberta should have greater influence over which immigrants settle in the province and how immigration levels reflect local economic requirements.

Smith has pointed to Quebec’s immigration arrangements as a possible model for Alberta to pursue.

Quebec has a distinct agreement with the federal government that gives it broader authority over the selection of economic immigrants than other provinces enjoy. Its system includes provincial selection criteria and a different approach to certain federal immigration pathways.

Alberta’s government has indicated that it wants to negotiate an arrangement that would give it more influence over immigration numbers and selection, while Saskatchewan has previously advanced proposals for a more extensive provincial role.

Carney has said his government is prepared to work with provinces on a sustainable immigration system and has not ruled out giving Alberta more say over immigration policy.

However, Ottawa has not promised Alberta a Quebec-style agreement, and greater provincial control would require negotiations over the scope of any new powers.

The referendum result has therefore intensified the debate without automatically changing the rules governing immigration.

Ottawa Must Balance Provincial Requests With National Priorities

Although provinces want greater control, immigration remains a shared responsibility involving federal and provincial governments, with the federal government retaining important authority over admission, permanent-residence approvals and overall immigration planning.

Ottawa must consider the needs of individual provinces alongside national objectives, including economic growth, humanitarian commitments, population trends and the capacity of communities to accommodate newcomers.

A system that gives provinces more influence could help regional governments target specific labour shortages and respond more quickly to changing economic conditions.

For example, a province experiencing shortages in health care, construction or manufacturing could seek to nominate more applicants with relevant qualifications and job offers.

But critics warn that increasing provincial authority could create a fragmented system in which immigration rules and pathways become increasingly difficult for prospective newcomers to understand.

Economist Mikal Skuterud of the University of Waterloo has cautioned that the gradual transfer of immigration responsibilities away from the federal government has contributed to a complicated system that can be difficult to navigate.

Another concern is that a person who obtains permanent residence through a provincial programme generally has the right to live and work elsewhere in Canada, subject to applicable law. A province may nominate someone to meet its labour needs, but it cannot guarantee that the person will remain there permanently.

Research cited in the debate suggests that employment opportunities and economic circumstances play an important role in whether newcomers remain in the province that nominated them.

This means that nomination numbers alone may not resolve regional labour shortages. Employment opportunities, housing availability, settlement services and the long-term prospects of newcomers also influence retention.

The Challenge of Matching Immigration With Housing and Public Services

The discussion is taking place amid wider national debates about the pace of immigration and the ability of communities to provide housing and essential services.

Carney’s government has been working to establish what it describes as a more sustainable immigration pace while adjusting the numbers of temporary residents and permanent immigrants.

The federal government has reported reductions in asylum claims, temporary foreign workers and international students over the preceding period. However, the long-term effects of these changes will depend on future immigration targets, labour-market conditions and the capacity of communities to accommodate newcomers.

Provincial governments argue that a more flexible system could help ensure that immigration responds to real economic needs rather than relying exclusively on national-level priorities.

At the same time, critics say expanding provincial selection powers without effective national coordination could complicate workforce planning and make the system less transparent.

The debate therefore centres not only on who should select immigrants, but also on how Canada can ensure that newcomers find employment, secure housing and have realistic opportunities to build lasting lives in the communities where they settle.

What Happens Next?

The immigration issue is expected to feature prominently in discussions between the federal government and provincial premiers as Ottawa prepares its next immigration levels plan.

The provinces are seeking greater nomination allocations and more influence over immigration priorities, while the federal government must determine how to balance these requests with national targets and its wider economic and humanitarian responsibilities.

For Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, the immediate objective is to secure a system that gives them more flexibility to attract workers and support communities facing labour shortages or population challenges.

For Ottawa, the challenge will be to respond to regional differences without undermining national coordination or making immigration pathways unnecessarily complicated.

Any significant changes will depend on negotiations between the federal government and the provinces, as well as the details of the forthcoming immigration plan.

The outcome could shape how Canada selects permanent residents, distributes immigration opportunities among provinces and responds to regional labour shortages in the years ahead.