Labour and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes announced today that the Manitoba government is accepting applications for the Newcomer Community Connections Stream (NCCS) of the Newcomer Community Integration Support (NCIS) program.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit the Newcomer Community Integration Support Program page on our website for program guidelines and information on how to submit an application.

To view the official news release, please click here.

Please be advised that information sessions for the Business Investor Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) are commencing on April 4, 2023. We are pleased to answer your questions relating to the Business Investor Stream at MPNP-BusinessStream@gov.mb.ca.

The Pinawa Community Partnership Initiative between the Local Government District of Pinawa and the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program has resumed.

This initiative is intended to expedite the application process for potential international entrepreneurs who would like to invest in a business in the Pinawa region. For more detailed information, please visit pinawa.com/p/pinawa-international-entrepreneurship-program.

The Manitoba government invites Manitobans to provide feedback on how immigration could help address labour shortages to understand better their views on this important topic, Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes announced today.

"Our government recognizes the staffing challenges facing employers, so finding the best ways to tap into the skills and experience that many newcomers have to offer to address the current labour shortage has the potential to lead to a stronger workforce for all Manitobans," said Reyes. "As we continue to develop a full continuum of immigration programs and services, we value the ideas, advice and experiences of others in shaping immigration policies that produce the greatest benefit for all concerned. I encourage all Manitobans to share their ideas via this public engagement survey to help inform this important aspect of public policy."

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The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) assesses complete applications within six months. Applications that are not complete or contain Expression of Interest discrepancies may exceed this processing period. The MPNP will contact you if information is required.

These notices pertain to the various stages in the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) application process: pre-application, application, and post-nomination.

Pre-application

Do not submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) if you do not currently meet all the eligibility criteria of the stream to which you are applying.

If you were laid-off due to COVID-19 and have since resumed working in Manitoba, you can count your months of work before and after your lay off towards your eligibility for the MPNP. For example, if you worked in Manitoba for five months on a temporary work permit, were laid off for two months and have resumed working again, you have to work for one more month to become eligible to submit an EOI to the MPNP.

If you are in Manitoba on a temporary work permit and you have lost your job permanently due to COVID-19, you may look for new employment. You can count the time you have worked for your original company and the new company towards your eligibility for the MPNP. For example, if you worked in Manitoba for five months on a temporary work permit, were terminated from that job permanently due to COVID-19, and you found a new job, you have to work for one month to become eligible to submit an EOI to the MPNP. Be prepared to submit employment documentation from both employers, including proof that your termination was due to COVID-19, when you submit your application to the MPNP.

For further information about submitting an EOI, please visit the Expression of Interest (EOI) page on our website.

Application

The MPNP will accept applications with missing documentation, given the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please upload an explanation letter to support why specific mandatory documents are not included in your application at the time of submission. Please note that the MPNP may not be able to complete the assessment of your application until you submit all documentation.

If you have been laid off or your hours have been reduced, please obtain detailed documentation (letter, pay stubs, Record of Employment, etc.) from your employer to be included in your MPNP application so that future considerations can be made when processing your application.

If you have been laid off and re-hired, please obtain a letter from your employer explaining your employment situation.

All employment letters should be written on company letterhead and include the following information:

1. Start date
2. End date or hour reduction commencement date
3. Position
4. Salary
5. Is the position being held for you at this time? If so, re-hire date.
6. Employer's phone and email

If you have lost your job permanently due to COVID-19, you may look for new employment. Submit documentation from your original employer. Submit your new job offer letter.

Job offer letters should be written on company letterhead and include the following information:

1. Position title
2. Job duties
3. Salary
4. Expected Start date
5. Employer's phone and email

Upload these documents to your MPNP application as soon as possible so that considerations may be made during assessment.

Post-nomination

If your employment situation has changed as a result of COVID-19, please contact the MPNP by email as soon as possible at immigratemanitoba@gov.mb.ca. Include your MPNP file number in your email.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

For information on how COVID-19 is affecting federal immigration services, please visit the Government of Canada website.

A new advisory council on immigration is being created to serve as an expert panel to recommend improvements to current immigration policies and programs, Premier Heather Stefanson and Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes announced today.

"As committed to in the speech from the throne, our government has a bold plan to incent investment, foster job creation, improve education and training opportunities, all to facilitate economic growth and get our economy fully on track. We know immigration and a diverse workforce contributes to a strong economy," said Stefanson. "This new advisory council will help us look at new and innovative ways to continue to be a welcoming new home for all newcomers, including refugees and international students, a dynamic destination for immigration and business investors, and an attractive place for people to come to build a life of opportunity and prosperity for themselves and their family."

The Immigration Advisory Council, to be co-chaired by the minister and Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, will review the entire continuum of immigration, from promotion to retention of newcomers. It will provide clear recommendations and concrete actions to the Manitoba government including strengthening the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement by looking at options to include new annexes or memoranda of understanding. Additionally, the advisory council will focus on:

• building on promotion to attract and recruit more immigrants and business investors to the province;
• streamlining the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, especially with regard to setting the right balance between the province's regional labour market, economic development and community needs; and
• fostering Manitoba's settlement and integration programs and services, as well as foreign credential recognition programs, to encourage labour market attachment, improve foreign credential recognition and bolster immigrant retention.

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Please be advised that information sessions for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) are cancelled until further notice. We are pleased to answer your questions relating to the MPNP at immigratemanitoba@gov.mb.ca.