British Columbia will depend heavily on Asian workers and immigrants to help fix a looming shortage of skilled labour that could jeopardize billions of dollars worth of projects in the province over the next decade.
Over one million total job openings are expected in B.C. to 2022, including 985,000 
from economic activity already confirmed or planned, as well as up to 100,000 jobs from the expected LNG activity, concluded a newly released BC Labour outlook report.
Given the predictions of labor shortages, B.C. last week introduced a new immigration stream under its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) called Express Entry British Columbia. 
This new stream will work in tandem with Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) new Express Entry application system, introduced on Jan. 1, 2015, allowing eligible applicants to receive priority processing of both their B.C. PNP application, and if nominated, their permanent residence application.
“Our priority is to have British Columbians first in line for jobs, however we know that economic immigration will play a key role in meeting the labour demands of a growing economy,” said Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.
“Express Entry British Columbia will provide a more streamlined process and another pathway to permanency for skilled workers from around the world who wish to make B.C. their home,” she said in a statement.
Labour Market analysts and immigration experts expect Asian countries especially Philippines, India and China to provide the bulk of applications under the new system.
The Philippines last year surpassed China and India as Canada’s top source country for new immigrants to Canada. 
There are many reasons that Canada has become an attractive destination for Asians seeking opportunities. The labor shortages, combined with the high quality of life are attracting record numbers, reports quoting experts have concluded.
Canada started the year 2015 with the launch of a new immigration system that will ease the entry of young migrants with high professional qualifications, a substitute for the highly criticised immigration system that was in effect throughout 2014.
The "Express Entry" system was established on Jan 1, giving priority to those people who already have job offers in the country.
Express Entry is the direct consequence of the failed Temporary Foreign Worker Program created by the government of Canada's Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper to satisfy the demands of the Canadian labour market.
According to official figures, while in 2002 ,Canada accepted some 100,000 temporary foreign workers, mostly to work in agriculture or in remote areas, in 2012, the figure tripled to more than 330,000 workers, many for jobs in fast-food chains.
In comparison, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced several weeks ago that Canada will accept between 260,000 and 285,000 immigrants in 2015, some 20,000 more than in 2014.
The Harper government justified the entry of more temporary foreign workers, who cannot apply for permanent residence in Canada and who have fewer rights and benefits than residents in the country, with the fact that Canadians largely refuse to work in fast-food chains.
Tripling temporary foreign workers coincides with the Harper government's policy to allow companies to pay up to 15 percent less to workers from areas like Latin America and the Philippines.
But Canadian labour unions say that many employers just fire Canadian employees to hire cheaper immigrant labour.
After repeatedly defending that program, the Harper government admitted last year that some employers were abusing it, even in some cases frightening foreign workers with death threats. Under intense pressure, Ottawa decide to suspend part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
The launch of Express Entry could silence critics who believe that Harper transformed Canada's immigration system for no other reason than to satisfy the immediate needs of the most powerful economic sectors of the nation.
The Canadian government said that candidates for Express Entry will be considered for acceptance based on such factors as age, education, professional qualifications, language and experience.
Chris Alexander said recently that beginning Jan 1, the Canadian government will be capable of choosing the immigrants that will contribute most to its economy, labour market and communities. 
On the heels of this, B.C. introduced a new skilled worker immigration stream to allow employers to bring in people with needed skills faster. It will be almost inaccessible to anyone without a full-time, permanent job offer in the province and the economic means to support themselves.
To apply through the new stream, called Express Entry British Columbia, applicants must first apply through the federal Express Entry system, where they complete an assessment to find out if they are eligible for one of the federal economic immigration streams. If they are, they create a profile that indicates their interest in settling in B.C.
They must then apply to become a provincial nominee through Express Entry B.C. in one of four categories:
• Skilled Worker: Includes certain occupations in management, professions and trades. Most eligible occupations require a university or a trade school diploma.
• Health Care Professional: Includes doctors, specialists, registered nurses, nurse practitioners and other health professionals such as some lab technicians, pharmacists and physiotherapists.
• International Graduate: Includes those with a degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada. Diplomas and certificates are only accepted from public post-secondary institutions.
• International Post Graduate: Includes those with a master’s or doctoral degree in the natural, applied or health sciences received within the past two years from an eligible program at a post-secondary institution in B.C.
For all but the latter category, a full-time job offer of indeterminate length at a wage that will allow the applicant to establish economically in B.C. is also required.
Express Entry B.C. only applies to skilled workers, generally considered those with a university or trade school diploma and several years of work experience in their field. It does not apply to those who enter the province to do low-skilled work in occupations such as food services, agriculture or caregiving. Such workers typically enter Canada on short-term work permits, international exchange programs or though the temporary foreign worker program.
CIC increased B.C.’s quota of provincial nominee slots to 5,500 this year, up from 4,150 last year. This brings B.C. roughly on par with the Prairie provinces, who had in previous years been granted more provincial nominee spaces by Ottawa, The Vancouver Sun reported.