The immigration year began with a shock for the provinces: the federal government cut immigration quotas for 2025 by nearly half.
But New Brunswick managed to change the narrative. After negotiations with Ottawa, the province was granted an additional 1,500 spots under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) — bringing the total quota for 2025 to 4,250.
Why is this important?
In February, New Brunswick initially received only 2,750 spots — a 50% drop compared to 2024.
This caused concern among employers and applicants, as many would have been left without a chance.
Now, there's a renewed wave of hope — especially for those working in priority sectors.
Who is the NBPNP targeting in 2025?
The main priorities remain unchanged — workers in high-demand sectors:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Construction trades
Other sectors are still supported but with limited quotas.
For certain occupations, program participation is restricted or closed.
What did Ottawa require in exchange for increasing the quota?
New Brunswick agreed to accept up to 400 asylum seekers over the next two years.
In return, the federal government will provide funding for temporary housing through the Interim Housing Assistance Program.
The coming weeks are critical:
The province will begin meeting with refugees already in Canada and offer them relocation to New Brunswick.
They will be supported by local settlement centres, which will assist with:
- Housing
- Integration
- Employment
It is expected that some of these resettled refugees will help fill labour shortages in companies such as J.D. Irving Ltd.
What’s happening in other provinces?
While New Brunswick secures more spots, other regions are losing ground:
- Ontario: reduced from 21,500 to 10,750
- British Columbia: reduced from 8,000 to 4,000, plus the closure of several PNP streams
- Newfoundland and Labrador: successfully increased its quota to 2,525 (up from 1,050)
Why the cuts?
These reductions are part of IRCC’s new Immigration Levels Plan for 2025–2027:
The PNP target for 2025 has been slashed from 120,000 to just 55,000 — the lowest level in recent years.
Conclusion
New Brunswick is one of the few provinces that managed to turn federal policy in its favor.
But even with the increased quota, competition for NBPNP spots will remain intense.
If you're considering a move to New Brunswick — start preparing now.
While the opportunity exists, it's important not to miss it.