Announcements

News and general announcements

Manitoba government supports extension of temporary work permits for skilled workers, offering a path to citizenship

The Manitoba government is retaining skilled labour by supporting the extensions of work permits for temporary residents who are eligible to apply to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino announced today. 

“At a time when skilled labour is in high demand, our government is making sure that people who are already in the province, who have contributed economically and who have expressed a desire to call Manitoba home are given that opportunity,” said Marcelino. “Our government’s agreement with our federal counterparts facilitates a pathway to citizenship and will help address labour market needs in Manitoba.” 

On Aug. 21, the province signed a letter of intent with the federal government that will allow for eligible candidates identified under the province’s provincial nominee program to apply to extend their work permits. 

This means up to 6,700 temporary workers identified by Manitoba will be able to continue working in the province while their applications to the MPNP are processed, noted the minister. Within two years, it is expected the individuals will be eligible to receive a nomination from the provincial nominee program, said Marcelino. 

To support and facilitate the timely processing of applications under the provincial nominee program, including fulfilling the operational and reporting requirements of applicants under the new public policy, the government is adding five temporary full-time equivalent positions.   

The positions will support the program throughout the 2024-25 fiscal year to:

  • expedite the processing of applications for individuals whose status in Canada is expiring, and
  • ensure the full utilization of the 2024 allocation of 9,500 nominees as quickly as possible.

Please check this website for further details about this policy.

To view the official news release, please click here.

Temporary public policy for Manitoba’s post-graduation work permit holders

On May 8, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced a temporary public policy to help address Manitoba’s labour market needs and enable post-graduation work permit holders to maintain ongoing employment in the province.

This temporary public policy allows post-graduation work permit holders employed in Manitoba with work permits expiring in 2024, who are eligible to apply to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) and who have submitted a valid MPNP Expression of Interest (EOI) profile prior to May 10, 2024, to be eligible to apply for a province-specific open work permit that will be valid for up to two years.

Additional details regarding this temporary public policy and associated processes will be available soon on this page.

Reporting expiring work permits to the MPNP

In response to the challenges post-graduation work permit holders and other temporary residents are facing, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program will temporarily prioritize assessments of submitted MPNP applications with expired or expiring work permits. MPNP applicants whose work permits have expired or are expiring within the next 45 days are asked to inform the MPNP by using the Skilled Worker Webform.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the MPNP with accurate, up-to-date information and to notify the program of any changes to their application or status in Canada.

It is also the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that their immigration status in Canada remains valid. Please see the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada website for further information.

Notice on Ukraine Special Measures Expression of Interest Draws

As the federal government’s Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program ended on March 31, 2024, a number of immigration-related measures put in place by the Government of Manitoba will also conclude.

The following special measures will conclude April 30, 2024:

  1. Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) Ukraine Special Measures Expression of Interest (EOI) draws
    • Ukrainian nationals who meet MPNP eligibility criteria will continue to be able to submit their EOI applications and be eligible for regular EOI draws.
  2. MPNP application fee refunds
    • Those with Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA) issued prior to May 1, 2024, will still be eligible to receive the application fee refund after the complete MPNP application is submitted.
  3. Immigration information appointments at the Reception Centre

For additional information, please visit our FAQ page.

Notice on processing times

Please note that due to the high volume of MPNP applications, processing commitments are exceeding six months from application submission date. If additional information is needed, the MPNP will contact you using the email and/or phone number that is provided on your application.

Manitoba government accepting applications for Manitoba Settlement Support Services program

The Manitoba government is now accepting applications under the Newcomer Community Integration Support (NCIS) Program. Manitoba Settlement Support Services (MSSS) (previously known as the Newcomer Community Connections Stream) provides funding to service providers to support them in enhancing settlement and integration services and programs that facilitate the social and economic integration of newcomers in Manitoba.

For information on how to apply, please visit the NCIS web page at www.immigratemanitoba.com/ncis. The submission deadline for applications is Friday, February 16, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. CST.

Interested applicants can also attend an information session webinar scheduled for Friday, February 2, 2024, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. CST, to learn more about the program and ask questions.

To view the official news release, please click here.

Destination Canada Mobility Forum 2023

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, along with the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM), Economic Development Winnipeg (EDW), Acceuil Francophone and several Manitoba employers, will be participating in the upcoming Government of Canada’s Destination Canada Mobility Forum, a recruitment fair for bilingual skilled workers in Paris, France and Rabat, Morocco from November 18 to 24, 2023, and in the virtual version from December 4 to 6.

Every year, the Canadian government organizes this event to connect Canadian employers in predominantly anglophone provinces with skilled bilingual candidates from a variety of industries.

To learn more about the Destination Canada Mobility Forum, please click here.

Destination Manitoba in Douala, Cameroon

The Manitoba government is excited to support the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM) in their stand-alone promotional mission to Douala, Cameroon, named Destination Manitoba. From November 28 to 30, 2023, CDEM will be promoting Manitoba as an immigration destination of choice to skilled French-speaking and bilingual candidates in new markets.

For more information on this initiative, click here.

Immigrating to Manitoba: Discover Manitoba’s Immigration Process & Learn More about Francophone Manitoba!

As part of National Francophone Immigration Week, the Réseau en immigration francophone du Manitoba, in collaboration with the Province of Manitoba, is offering a webinar on November 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. to inform potential francophone immigrants about the process for immigrating to Manitoba as well as francophone life in this province.

Please click here for registration information. For the Manitoba government news release, please click here.

Manitoba government announces members of Advisory Council on Economic Immigration and Settlement

To provide leadership on economic immigration and settlement in Manitoba, the Manitoba government has selected members of the Advisory Council on Economic Immigration and Settlement (ACEIS) following a call for applications, as announced by Labour and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes on July 13, 2023.

While ACEIS was in the process of being formed, the Manitoba government had already begun working toward achieving recommendations of the Immigration Advisory Council (IAC) report four months after the report was finalized. To date, five items have been completed and another 39 are in the process of completion. Remaining recommendations will be actioned based on interdepartmental collaboration and engagement with community partners.

To view the official news release, please click here. To view the progress report released on July 10, 2023, please visit the IAC web page.

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