Ontario has changed the points grid for its Workforce Priority Stream for the first time since publishing it on 20 July. The "Canadian work experience: earnings history" factor gains a new top band: $80,000 or more in a single year is now worth 10 points. Until now the top band was $70,000 or more, worth 8.
The change took effect on 5 October 2026. Ontario announced it on 7 October.
The new earnings table
| Earnings in a single year | Points | Before 5 October |
|---|---|---|
| $80,000 or more | 10 | 8 |
| $70,000 – $79,999 | 8 | 8 |
| $50,000 – $69,999 | 6 | 6 |
| $30,000 – $49,999 | 4 | 4 |
| Under $30,000 | 0 | 0 |
Earnings are read from a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment issued in the last five years. Ontario scores one year, so a single year at $80,000 or more is enough.
Nothing else on the grid moved. We re-read every factor on Ontario's page on 12 October, after it changed, and every other value is as it was.
What existing registrants need to do
Nothing. Ontario says the new scoring was applied automatically to every existing expression of interest. Registrants do not need to edit their EOI or log in to the e-Filing Portal for the score to update.
The maximum is now 132
Ontario said "up to 130 points" when it published the grid. With the earnings factor now topping out at 10, the factor maximums add up to 132. Ontario's page does not state a new total; 132 is our sum of its own tables.
Self-employed physicians do not score the hourly wage factor, so their pathway now tops out at 117, up from 115.
Who gains
Only one group: anyone whose best year in the last five came to $80,000 or more. They gain 2 points.
Anyone at $70,000 to $79,999 keeps 8 points. Anyone below $70,000 has the same score as before, but now sits 2 points further behind the top band.
No round has been held yet
Ontario opened the stream's EOI portal on 4 August. As of 16 October, its program updates page reports no invitation round under the Workforce Priority Stream. Ontario has published no draw schedule and no minimum score, so nobody can say what score the first round will need.
Sources
The earnings table is read from Ontario's Ontario Workforce Priority Stream page (marked "Updated: October 06, 2026") on 2026-10-16. The effective date, the automatic rescoring and the absence of a round are from Ontario's 2026 program updates page, read the same day. Ontario scores and nominates; IRCC decides permanent residence. Where Ontario's pages disagree with this one, Ontario is right; tell us and it gets fixed.
The Ontario calculator already scores the new band.