The federal government announced Wednesday that it will offer permanent residence (PR) to some candidates under the Express Entry system based on time spent in fields including science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as healthcare and trades. (The Logic)

Talking point: The announcement is part of Ottawa’s plan to give 266,210 people PR—the step before citizenship—via its economy-focused streams this year. The Liberal government gave itself the ability to add these carve-outs to the program via legislation last June, framing them as a way to address the country’s labour shortages. IT and other natural- and applied-sciences occupations came out near the top when Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada asked firms and industry groups which categories to prioritize. The consultation was held between November and January, before the most recent spate of tech layoffs.