This includes the $500 program fee for accepted skilled immigrants
Enhancements to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) will improve processing times and fast-track nominations to provide job-ready, skilled workers, including international students, with opportunities to build a prosperous future in Manitoba, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.
“Immigration is a driver of economic growth, a way to address targeted labour market needs and a gateway for innovation in our economy,” said the premier.
“The renewal of Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program will ensure our province continues to attract skilled workers and entrepreneurs with the potential to make the strongest contributions to our economy soon after their arrival in Canada.”
The premier noted the changes announced today are part of a new Labour Market Strategy for Immigration that focuses on:
•innovative partnerships with industry and post-secondary institutions that build pathways to employment for international students and skilled newcomers, including those in regulated occupations, to better prepare and match them to in-demand jobs in Manitoba;
•the selection of skilled workers with high potential for early and strong attachment to the labour market and who meet education, training and language requirements;
• the selection of entrepreneurs with a strong potential to establish high-investment, job-creating businesses in all regions of the province; and
•the elimination of the current MPNP backlog by April 2017 to ensure all future applicants receive a higher standard of service and are processed in less than six months.
The premier said that Manitoba will work with the government of Canada to improve the speed with which visa applications are processed.
In addition, revenue generated by new application fees for skilled workers and existing fees for business applicants will be re-invested into improving program service standards, performance measurement and services to support the economic integration of immigrants and refugees at no additional cost to Manitobans, the premier noted.
Manitoba’s most recent labour market forecast projects 177,800 job openings in the province between now and 2021, with demand spread across multiple sectors including business, finance, services, trades and transportation, agri-business and rural health care. At least 25 per cent of projected job-openings are expected to be filled by immigrants, the premier said.
“Manitoba is once again open for business, offering a diverse economic base with areas of undiscovered potential ready for the expansion of existing businesses, development of our entrepreneurial talent, and attraction of new investment and the opportunities it will bring,” said Pallister. “Renewing Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program will facilitate the inclusion of skilled immigrant workers as an integral part in the development of our labour market and Manitoba’s economy as a whole.”
An annual MPNP nomination plan that prioritizes skills and job creation will be updated quarterly to regularly communicate Manitoba’s labour market priorities to potential applicants starting in April 2017, the premier said. He noted the program will be continuously monitored, evaluated and improved to ensure ongoing responsiveness to Manitoba’s economic and labour market needs, in partnership with industry and training organizations.
“Over the past number of years, Brandon has welcomed many newcomers to Canada thanks to the Provincial Nominee Program, all of whom have contributed in their own ways to the current diversity of our workforce and our local economy,” said Mayor Rick Chrest, City of Brandon. “We welcome changes to the Provincial Nominee Program that will further enhance the process for newcomers and businesses in the future.”
During the telephone interview with the Filipino Journal, Ian Wishart, Minister of Education and Training, said: “The $500 program fee will go toward training resources as well as assisting refugees and their families.” And Minister Wishart wants to expand more information on the introduction of the program fee for a better understanding in the next issue of the Filipino Journal.
But there are other opinions, especially from the opposition parties, as Cindy Lamoureux,Liberal MLA for Burrows, said in an email from her spokesperson:
“When the provincial government stated that improvements to the provincial nominee program would not cost Manitoba tax-payer it is clear that they did not consider our newcomers. The Manitoba government is taking advantage of new immigrants, who may already have significant debt. A $500 fee for accepted applicants into the Provincial Nominee Program is not acceptable.”
Mohinder Saran, NDP MLA for the Maples, sent an email: “I’m not in favour of the $500 program fee. $500 is huge amount for applicants from Asian countries like the Philippines and India because of currency rate. This will discourage applicants from Asian countries as compared to European countries. There is a way to improve MPNP without charging a fee, especially if they can divert some funds from Manitoba Start toward initial work placement of newcomers in respective trade or profession.”
Fred de Villa, a well-known advocate on immigration in the Filipino community, says in a telephone interview: “ This is definitely a cash grab by the provincial government. If one would look back at the start of the MPNP, the acceptability of the new immigrant is based on the demand of skilled immigrants.
This $500 fee is not necessary and I am strongly against imposition of the fee just to improve the system. And what kind of program initiative will be in place to help the newcomers.?
There are estimated 200,000 job openings that will be filled up in the next five years. At least 25 per cent will be filled by immigrants, according to Pallister.
He added that the nominee applications will be processed within six months going forward.
