CIC Issues Ministerial Instructions Relating To Express Entry

On December 1, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada ("CIC") published Ministerial Instructions relating to its proposed Express Entry System ("Express Entry"). Express Entry will come into effect on January 1, 2015, at 12:00 noon EST, and will apply to the following categories:

1. The Federal Skilled Worker ("FSW") Class;
2. The Canadian Experience Class ("CEC");
3. The Federal Skilled Trades ("FST") Class; and
4. Members of the Provincial Nominee Class who fall within the Express Entry Stream of a Provincial Nominee Program ("PNP"). 

In summary, Express Entry will apply to all FSW, CEC, and FST applications filed on or after January 1, 2015. However, it will not apply to any existing PNP streams. Instead, each province will have the option of establishing a new Express Entry Stream under its existing PNP.