If you’re a foreign worker or an international graduate sitting in Canada right now on a work or study permit — and you’ve been waiting for Ontario to call your name — February 18, 2026 was a good day.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) just issued 1,404 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in skilled trades-related occupations. This was a targeted draw, meaning it wasn’t a general sweep of the candidate pool — Ontario went looking specifically for tradespeople, and it found over a thousand of them worth inviting.
This is the province’s second nomination draw of 2026, following an earlier round held at the start of the month. Back-to-back draws targeting the same sector? That tells you something about where Ontario’s labor priorities sit right now.
Let me break down exactly what happened, who got invited, and — if you didn’t get an ITA this time — what your realistic next steps look like.
What Actually Happened on February 18?
Ontario ran draws under two specific streams, both sitting under the umbrella of its Employer Job Offer category:
Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream — This one is for people already working in Canada with a valid work permit and a job offer from an eligible Ontario employer. In this draw, 951 candidates received ITAs, with a minimum score of 50.
Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream — Designed for international graduates who’ve finished their studies in Canada and are currently on a post-graduation or other valid study/work permit. Ontario invited 453 candidates here, with a minimum score of 80.
Combined, that’s 1,404 people who woke up that morning and found an invitation waiting for them.
One important eligibility detail worth noting: to have been considered in this draw, candidates must have been residing in Canada at the time, with a valid work or study permit. This wasn’t open to people applying from abroad.
Ontario also only considered profiles that were created and attested — meaning supported by a valid job offer from an eligible employer — between July 2, 2025, and February 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Why Is Ontario So Focused on Skilled Trades Right Now?
This is the part of the story that most immigration news articles skip over, and it’s actually the most important context for understanding where this draw fits in the bigger picture.
In November 2025, Ontario quietly shut down its Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream. The reason given was stark — the OINP cited systematic misrepresentation as the primary driver for the closure. Essentially, the program had been gamed. Candidates and, in some cases, employers had been submitting fraudulent or misleading information to gain access to a pathway that was never meant for them.
Ontario didn’t just pause the stream. It stopped accepting new applications, began returning all pending applications, and issued refunds — without confirming whether or when the stream would reopen. That’s a hard stop.
For the thousands of skilled trades workers who had been counting on that Express Entry pathway, it was a gut punch. Suddenly a door they’d been walking toward slammed shut with no clear timeline for reopening.
So what does this February 2026 draw represent? In part, it’s Ontario signaling that it still wants skilled tradespeople — just through a different door. The Employer Job Offer streams require an actual employer backing you, which adds a layer of accountability that the Express Entry stream apparently lacked. It’s a stricter, slower route, but for those who qualify, it’s still a real one.
What Should Invited Candidates Do Right Now?
If you received an ITA, the clock is already ticking. Here’s what needs to happen, and the timelines are tight:
Employers first — 14 calendar days. The employer who provided your job offer must review the official OINP employer guide and submit a complete application for approval of the employment position within 14 calendar days from the date the invitation was issued. This isn’t optional and it’s not flexible. If the employer misses this window, the application falls apart before it starts.
If you got an ITA and haven’t already spoken to your employer, pick up the phone today. They need to be moving on this immediately.
Candidates next — 17 calendar days. You have 17 calendar days from receiving your ITA to submit your full OINP application. That means gathering documentation, ensuring everything is complete and accurate, and getting it in before the deadline.
Given that both deadlines are running concurrently and both are short, the biggest risk is assuming your employer is handling their side without confirming it. Stay in communication. Get confirmation in writing. Don’t leave this to chance.
After the nomination — federal permanent residence. If your application is approved and Ontario nominates you, you then apply to the federal government for permanent residence. A provincial nomination gives you a significant advantage in the federal process — candidates nominated through a PNP receive an additional 600 points in the Express Entry system, which effectively guarantees an ITA in a subsequent federal draw.
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What If You Weren’t Invited?
This is the question a lot of people are asking right now, and it deserves a direct answer rather than the usual vague encouragement.
If you were in the candidate pool for one of these streams and your score wasn’t high enough — 50 for the Foreign Worker stream, 80 for the International Student stream — the most useful thing you can do is figure out whether your score can realistically be improved and on what timeline.
OINP scores are calculated based on factors including your connection to Ontario (work experience in the province, a job offer, education completed there), language proficiency, and your overall Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Some of these factors you can influence, others you can’t.
If you’re a skilled trades worker whose pathway through Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades stream was closed last November, Ontario has confirmed that you may still pursue nomination through other OINP streams, both enhanced and base streams. The Employer Job Offer category — the one that just ran these draws — is one of the more accessible alternatives if you have an employer willing to support your application.
The federal Express Entry Trade category is also worth serious consideration. It operates independently of provincial programs and has its own targeted draws for people in skilled trades and industrial occupations. Depending on your profile and occupation, it may actually be a faster route than waiting for another OINP draw.
A Few Things Worth Keeping in Mind
Ontario’s 2026 immigration draws are happening against a backdrop of real political and economic pressure. With the Alberta referendum stirring national debate about immigration levels and provinces demanding more say in who settles where, Ontario’s targeted approach — inviting people with existing employer support, in specific high-demand sectors — is likely to become more common, not less.
The era of broad, high-volume draws that swept up large numbers of candidates regardless of sector or employer connection may be giving way to something more surgical. For people in skilled trades, that’s not necessarily bad news — Ontario clearly wants you. But it does mean the process requires more groundwork: an employer on your side, a clean and complete profile, and timely action when an invitation arrives.
If you’re building toward a provincial nomination in Ontario, the best investment you can make right now is establishing and maintaining a genuine employer relationship in a skilled trades occupation. The program keeps signaling that this is the direction it’s heading.
Quick Summary
| Stream | Min. Score | ITAs Issued | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker | 50 | 951 | Workers in Canada with valid work permit + employer job offer |
| Employer Job Offer: International Student | 80 | 453 | International graduates with valid study/work permit + job offer |
| Total | — | 1,404 | — |
Key deadlines post-ITA:
- Employer submits employment position application: 14 calendar days
- Candidate submits OINP application: 17 calendar days
Bottom Line
Ontario isn’t done inviting skilled trades workers. Two draws in the first two months of 2026 — both targeting the same occupational category — makes the province’s hiring priorities clear. If you’re in the trades, have an employer behind you, and are currently living in Canada on a valid permit, your window is open. The question is whether your profile and score put you in front of it.
Watch for the next draw. Keep your profile updated. And if you got an ITA on February 18 — move fast.
