Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) applicants will now benefit from improved service standards, Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart announced today at an event highlighting renewed directions for the immigration program.
"We are pleased to implement higher service standards for applicants to restore the integrity of this important pathway to permanent residence in Manitoba," said Wishart. "As of this month, all candidates who submit complete applications to the program will be processed in six months or less."
Wishart noted the MPNP is an economic immigration program designed to attract job-ready skilled workers and active investors in Manitoba's economy. This program has been a valued part of the immigration system since 1998, but in April 2016 a backlog of more than 5,100 applications had compiled, some dating as far back as 2013, he added.
Thanks to efforts over the last six months, the backlog has now been cleared, Wishart confirmed and noted that less than 70 files from prior years remain in process as the program awaits documents from applicants in accordance with fairness and integrity provisions.