Ontario has enacted regulations under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 to support a comprehensive redesign of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), laying the groundwork for changes expected to take effect later in 2026. The province filed Ontario Regulation 246/25 on May 29, 2026, establishing the legal authority for new program streams and updated eligibility criteria.

The redesign marks the first major structural overhaul of the OINP since the program's current framework was introduced in 2015. Ontario's provincial nominee program has historically operated through employer-driven streams and Express Entry–aligned categories, but the new regulations signal a shift toward more flexible pathways that could include occupation-specific streams and regional pilot initiatives similar to those tested in other provinces.

The regulation outlines revised definitions for key terms including "eligible occupation," "designated employer," and "regional labour market need," though the province has not yet released the full list of occupations or regions that will qualify under the new framework. The legal text also introduces provisions for multi-year nominations in certain streams, a departure from the current one-time nomination model, and sets out conditions under which nominees may change employers after receiving provincial approval. Minimum language thresholds will now be codified at Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for most streams, with CLB 7 required for regulated professions.

"This regulation provides the foundation for a more responsive and flexible immigration system that better meets Ontario's evolving labour market needs," the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development stated in the filing.