CVIS Immigration guide to Provincial Nominee Program. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) was launched in 1998 to help skilled workers immigrate to Canada. Nearly every province and territory uses the PNP to attract skilled workers from around the world. Learn about the PNP below. Under Canada's Constitution, the federal government, provinces, and territories share immigration authority. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows provinces and territories to nominate immigrants interested in settling in a particular province. Nunavut and Quebec are exceptions. Quebec can set its own economic immigration criteria. The PNP spreads Canada's immigration benefits. Before 1998, most Canadian immigrants settled in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. The Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) and Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador) have had more success attracting immigrants thanks to the PNP since 1998. Every PNP has an Express Entry immigration stream. 'Enhanced nominations' are provincial nominations issued through Express Entry. Enhanced PNP streams give Express Entry candidates 600 CRS points, which guarantees them a permanent residence invitation. The federal government processes permanent residence applications faster, usually within six months. The PNP also offers a 'base' stream for permanent residence. You apply directly to a PNP stream, and once nominated, the federal government processes your permanent residence application.