Ontario Is Building a New “Talent Stream” PR Pathway

On November 25, 2025, during the third-reading debate on Bill 30, the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025, Ontario Immigration Minister David Piccini said Ontario will introduce “new streams soon,” including a new “Talent Stream.”

Bill 30 is the law that gives Ontario new powers over the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. In simple terms, it lets the Minister create new immigration streams faster, change or close streams more easily, and return applications before giving a nomination if there are integrity concerns.

In this article, we’ll break down what we know, what don’t know, and what these changes could mean for you depending on your background and goals.

Key Takeaways:

• New OINP streams are confirmed for 2026, including a “Talent Stream.”
• The early signal is a shift toward exceptional, high-impact candidates, such as major investors/job creators, elite culinary talent, artists/cultural contributors, and research leaders.
• It is unclear whether this will benefit in-Canada workers and students.
• For most applicants, current OINP pathways still matter now, but watch closely for new-stream details.

Quick Refresher on Bill 30

Bill 30, officially the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025, is Ontario legislation that reshapes how the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) operates. It’s part of the province’s broader “Working for Workers” policy series, but its immigration changes are especially significant. Bill 30 gives the immigration minister faster, stronger control over OINP by allowing new streams to be created, changed, or closed through a simple Minister’s Order, rather than a long regulatory process.

It also strengthens program integrity. Ontario has expanded its authority to return applications before nomination if they don’t align with provincial priorities, labour-market needs, or allocation limits, or if credibility or compliance concerns arise.

Thanks to Immigration Minister David Piccini’s remarks on November 25, 2025, we now have early insight into how Ontario intends to use these new powers heading into 2026.

The New Talent Stream- What We Know So Far

Any hint of a new Ontario immigration pathway is big news, because more newcomers choose Ontario than any other province. So when OINP shifts direction, it affects a huge number of people, both temporary residents already in Ontario looking for a clear path to stay, and prospective newcomers abroad who are planning their move to the province.

For those audiences, Minister Piccini’s Nov. 25 remarks did two things. First, they confirmed that new OINP pathways are coming in 2026. Second, they offered an early glimpse of the kinds of applicants Ontario is designing these pathways for.

Here’s what we know so far:

1. New OINP streams are officially on the way for 2026

In his speech, Piccini said he looks forward to introducing “some new streams soon,” pointing directly to additions coming next year. Some new streams suggest we can expect more than one.

2. The new “Talent Stream”

Piccini specifically referenced a new Talent Stream as a tool to recognize international talent that doesn’t fit neatly into existing OINP categories. He didn’t speak in broad occupational terms, instead, he highlighted specific examples:

• Major investors and job creators bringing large-scale capital to Ontario and creating significant local employment.
• Elite culinary and hospitality talent, including Michelin-level chefs and highly specialized professionals like top sushi chefs, who strengthen Ontario’s tourism and hospitality sector.
• Artists and cultural talent who contribute to Ontario’s creative economy and broader international appeal.
• Research excellence and leading innovators, reflecting Ontario’s interest in attracting top international research talent.

Notably absent from his speech was any suggestion that the new streams are meant to serve the broader range of high- and low-skilled workers already in Ontario. Instead, Piccini gave the example of Enrico, an Italian immigrant running Dacasto bakery who has invested close to $100 million and created more than 30 jobs, but still can’t find a stream that fits.

This could indicate the Minister’s intent to prioritize exceptional, high-impact profiles, rather than pathways aimed at the broader temporary-resident population in Ontario.

What We Don’t Know

Piccini has confirmed the direction, but the details of the 2026 streams are still unknown. These are the main gaps to watch.

1. Who could benefit from the new Talent Stream, and how big it will be

Ontario hasn’t published official criteria or nomination targets yet, so two of the biggest questions are still open: who will qualify, and how many spots will be available. Based on Piccini’s examples, the province appears to be thinking about exceptional, high-impact profiles, such as major investors and job creators, elite culinary and hospitality talent (including Michelin-level or rare-skill chefs), artists and cultural contributors with international standing, and research leaders or innovators with proven excellence. These are signals, not rules, and the final streams could be broader or far more selective.

Until Ontario releases both the eligibility rules and nomination allocations, it’s impossible to judge how competitive this stream will be in practice.

2. Whether people already in Ontario will be prioritized

Piccini did not say whether the new streams are designed to prioritize people already living and working in Ontario. We don’t know if any new pathway will focus on temporary residents in the province, such as international students, work-permit holders, or recent graduates, or if the streams will mainly target candidates abroad with global reputations.

That distinction matters for the many temporary residents hoping 2026 will bring a clearer path to permanent status.

3. What happens to existing OINP pathways

Ontario hasn’t confirmed that any current streams will close, aside from the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream suspension and return of applications announced ahead of this latest development. Still, with limited nominations and new pathways being introduced, Ontario may need to rebalance allocations across streams, and we could see more frequent pauses or short, targeted pilot draws.

Until the province publishes official criteria and allocations, applicants should expect change, but avoid building a plan around a stream that doesn’t yet exist.

What This Means for Newcomers Looking to Use OINP

For most newcomers, the key takeaway is that change is clearly coming, but the best move right now is not to abandon your plans. Ontario has confirmed new streams for 2026 and is signaling a shift toward exceptional, high-impact profiles. At the same time, the rules, size, and launch timing for those streams are still unknown. Until the province publishes official criteria and allocations, applicants should expect change in what streams are available, watch closely for updates, and prepare where they can, without walking away from a pathway they already qualify for or are working toward.

There’s also a reason for cautious optimism. Under Canada’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government is planning a major rebound in Provincial Nominee Program admissions in 2026, 91,500 spots nationally, up from 55,000 in 2025. If past patterns hold, Ontario’s nomination allocation should rise along with that overall boost, bringing more opportunities through OINP for temporary residents in Ontario and for candidates abroad hoping to move to the province.

But higher allocations don’t guarantee easier selection. Ontario is also tightening screening through its new Bill 30 powers. The safest approach is to keep current OINP plans moving if you’re eligible, while staying alert to new stream announcements that could open additional doors next year.

To make sure you don’t miss any major OINP changes, including new streams, draw trends, and practical next steps, sign up for our newsletter for fast, newcomer-focused updates and clear guidance, so you’re always ready to act.