Canada’s federal government is giving Manitoba a second chance to issue 9,500 nominations in a year through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – a number which the province was 2,000 shy of last year, but which would set a record if met this year.
Manitoba’s previous Progressive Conservative government successfully lobbied the federal government to up the province’s allotment capacity from 6,325 nominees in 2022 to 9,500 nominees in 2023, as a means to address the labor shortages it faces.
Manitoba, however, issued only 7,348 invitations through the PNP, about a thousand of which were processed in December.
The failure to meet that number was, according to the current NDP immigration minister Malaya Marcelino, due to shortcomings on the Tories’ part for not hiring enough staff to handle the requisite paperwork last year.
The NDP was elected in October, and Marcelino said that her immigration team will strive to process as many nominations as possible in 2024, according to CBC.
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“[It] means a lot to many newcomer families. It means a lot economically to our province.”
“Our immigration team is going to be working really, really hard to make sure we fulfil that federal allotment.”
A 2022 immigration advisory council by the Tories, in a July 2023 update, predicted that Manitoba was in line for an increase to 9,880 nominations in 2024.
As per CBC, Manitoba said Ottawa scaled back the allotment to rein in temporary residents across Canada, although the federal department neither confirmed nor denied this assertion.
Every nomination slot equals one family, as nominees are allowed to bring their spouse and dependents.
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), which has been in place since 1998, offers three streams, each with its own pathways, through which nominees can come to the province and become a Canada permanent resident (PR).
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These streams are:
- Skilled Worker: This stream is for internationally trained and experienced workers who have the skills needed in the local labor market.
- International Education (IES): The International Education Stream (IES) provides international students who graduate in Manitoba and meet industry needs a number of quick nomination pathways.
- Business Investor (BIS): This stream is for qualified business investors and entrepreneurs who have both intent and ability to start or purchase Manitoba businesses.
The MPNP has brought skilled workers to the province to fill labor gaps. It has contributed to Manitoba’s population, bringing in upwards of 185,000 people.
Although Manitoba has succeeded in meeting Ottawa’s allocations till now, it failed for the first time last year.
Marcelino is aiming to not only to meet the target this year, but also to reduce the time between a skilled immigrant receiving their letter of invitation and then receiving their nomination certificate, which is now greater than the six-month recommendation.
She is planning for Manitoba to return to the target timeline by the fall of 2024.
