Craving for gaining entry into the Canadian shores – on the basis of business or skills – is never going to end for this country offers an unprecedented abundance of opportunities for both the segments. Canada has been in the news, since January 2015, after the announcement of brand new migration initiative called ‘Express Entry’; and it has been immensely successful in attracting people through both the federal and provincial migration schemes.

The grand success of the Express Entry can be attributed to equal participation of both the federal and provincial governments in the program. Almost all the states of Canada have joined hands with the federal government and CIC; and have launched full-fledged programs to facilitate inwards migration. Every month one of more states are launching their individual schemes to allow entry of immigrants. One such program – New Business Immigration Streams of Ontario – has been launched by the state of Ontario.

The Two New Ontario Business Immigration Streams that the government of this province has announced include corporate class and the Entrepreneur class. Both of these classifications would work as an integral part of the OOPNP – Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program; and would enable the government to invite immigrants selected as a part of provincial nomination program. 

Both of the Streams of Ontario Business Immigration would be targeting immigrants with varying backgrounds and would be carrying distinct sets of rules and requirements. But, one thing is for sure, the programs intend to perpetuate the intentions of the government of the state to create an environment that offers opportunities to the new entrants – fit enough to fit into the scheme of things pretty well; and also boosts the economic scenario that has scope for both jobs and business and trade.

Ontario Business Immigration Entrepreneur Stream would render all possible assistance to the immigrants in establishing a new business venture or procuring an existing set-up in the state. The people intending to move in on the basis of this scheme would probably need to evidence practicality of the business proposals that the commercial activities being setup by them would prove to be of an immense benefit for the economy of the state.

An endorsement from the state government would allow the applicants to obtain a provisional residence permit of the country. The provisional entry permit would enable the alien business owners to establish their businesses in the state – upon achievement of which the applicants would be granted endorsement for the permanent residency of Canada by the state authorities.

The authorities of the state have although not yet declared the eligibility criteria of OINP, initial impressions about the qualification parameters suggest that the immigrants would be required to adhere to the following parameters:

• The investing individuals would be allowed to choose one partner for PNP endorsement for setting up commercial venture in the state;
• The personal net asset value of the applicants would have to be in tune of CAD $800,000; and
• The applicant would be given 2 years to establish a commercial concern, in which they would have to provide full-time employment to at least 2 Canadian nationals or permanent residents.

Ontario Business Immigration Corporate Stream has been designed to assist foreign MNCs seeking opportunities of setting their foot on the Canadian soil by way of either expanding their direct operations or by acquiring already operational concerns. The businesses established afresh or acquired would have to generate full time employment for minimum of five Canadian nationals or permanent residents.

The investment parameters of Two New Ontario Business Immigration Streams mandate an infusion of a minimum of CAD $500,000 into a venture.