Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador want more say over immigration and nominee numbers, The Globe and Mail reported. No rule has changed.
Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador are pressing Ottawa for more control over immigration, The Globe and Mail reported on October 23, 2026, as the federal government prepares its 2027 to 2029 Immigration Levels Plan. These are provincial requests and political statements, not a rule change: provincial nominee programs, allocations and federal selection rules are unchanged today.
What has been reported
According to the Globe and Mail and CTV News:
- Saskatchewan's Minister of Government Relations, Eric Schmalz, told the Globe the province will keep pushing for greater control, with a focus on skilled-labour needs.
- Newfoundland and Labrador wants more control over its immigration policy and more provincial nominee spaces, and said recent reductions limit its ability to meet employer demand, the Globe reported.
- Prince Edward Island supports a bigger provincial and territorial role, according to the same report.
- Alberta renewed its demands after its October 19 referendum, and Premier Scott Moe said he favours handing immigration control to the provinces, CTV reported on October 21.
- The Globe reported that Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab is preparing to announce new permanent resident targets, including provincial nominee numbers.
The official numbers today
The current federal plan, published by IRCC, sets the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) target as follows. Quebec is outside this table because it selects its own economic immigrants.
| Year | PNP target | PNP range | Total PR target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 91,500 | 82,000 to 105,000 | 380,000 |
| 2027 | 92,500 | 82,000 to 106,000 | 380,000 |
| 2028 | 92,500 | 82,000 to 106,000 | 380,000 |
IRCC's 2026 deputy minister transition binder says provinces and territories received 43,999 nomination allocation spaces for 2026, expected to produce nearly 80,000 admissions because nominees usually arrive with family members. The 2027 and 2028 figures above are provisional and may change in the new plan.
What it does not change
No new federal-provincial agreement has been announced. The provinces' requests do not change how the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) or the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program select candidates today, and current invitations and nominations continue under existing rules.
A larger provincial role, or more nominee spaces, would only take effect through the federal levels plan or a new agreement. Neither has been announced.
What to do next
If you are aiming for a nomination in either province:
- Check which streams are open now in our SINP 2026 guide and our provincial nominee page.
- Read what IRCC has already committed for the new plan in our 2027-2029 levels plan explainer, and our note on the Alberta referendum.
- Keep your profile and documents current; we will report the official PNP targets when the plan is tabled.
This article reports statements and requests, not law. No outcome or timeline is guaranteed. Official figures: IRCC 2026-2028 supplementary levels information.
