Ottawa has announced a new policy aimed at supporting Manitoba’s skilled workforce. Under this new measure, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (IRCC) will extend temporary resident status for certain individuals who are currently under Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program and are facing expiring work permits in 2024.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, made the announcement on May 8.
This decision benefits 6,700 skilled workers, mostly post-graduation work permit holders, who are part of the Manitoba Skilled Worker Provincial Nominee Program Expression of Interest pool. These workers, who fill critical job vacancies, play an important role in enhancing the province’s economic and cultural landscape, it said.
Over the next two years, it is expected that these workers will receive an official nomination for permanent residence from Manitoba, in line with the province’s goals for economic immigration.
The policy is part of IRCC’s broader commitment to reduce the share of temporary residents in Canada by facilitating their transition to permanent residence, thus supporting the country’s labour market needs and contributing to economic stability.
Miller emphasized the government’s commitment to this transition. “Supporting Manitoba’s skilled workers will help the province meet their regional economic immigration goals,” he stated. “This measure supports our priority of transitioning a greater portion of current temporary residents to permanent residence and meeting local labour market needs. We remain open to collaborating with other provinces to transition more temporary residents to permanent residence, ensuring a strong and diverse workforce that has the skills, education, and work experience to grow Canada’s economy.”
Malaya Marcelino, Minister of Labour and Immigration for Manitoba, also highlighted the significance of this initiative for the province. “Manitoba’s future success depends on supporting new Canadians who have chosen to make our province their home. By working together to extend temporary resident status for potential nominees, we are taking proactive steps to retain the needed skills and knowledge to build a strong and diverse Manitoba workforce.”