Toronto/New Delhi: In a move that has sent shockwaves through Canada’s immigrant workforce, the Ontario government has abruptly shut down its Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream, halting both current and future applications. Officials confirmed that all files submitted over the past 18 months—many of which had been stuck in processing—will now be returned along with the application fees.
The decision has disproportionately affected Indian nationals, who make up the largest share of applicants in Ontario’s skilled trades sector. Electricians, welders, plumbers, construction workers and automotive technicians from India had long viewed this pathway as one of the most reliable routes to securing permanent residency (PR) in Canada.
According to officials, the closure is part of a wider shake-up of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The government stated that the Skilled Trades Stream was vulnerable to misinformation and fraudulent submissions, prompting the immediate suspension. Authorities added that structural flaws in the program made it “susceptible to misuse,” leaving them with no choice but to discontinue it entirely.
The sudden rollback has caused deep concern among Indian workers and families who had pinned their hopes on this route to PR. Many had been waiting for well over a year, only to now have their applications sent back without a decision.
Immigration experts say the timing is significant. The cancellation comes amid an already tense environment, with Canada tightening several visa pathways and a notable increase in student visa rejections for Indian applicants in recent months.
With this stream now closed, thousands of skilled workers will have to look for alternative immigration routes—none of which currently offer the same speed or predictability the Skilled Trades Stream once promised.
