Canada - Manitoba province improves immigration strategy

Manitoba Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan has announced improvements to Manitoba's settlement and integration approach in its bid to attract and retain immigrants to Canada under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

The program, started in 2001, is designed to attract skilled migrants from abroad that have the training, language, and work experience desirable to the provincial economy.

<$adv0> The central Canadian province will improve key services including:

• increased online pre-arrival information and better communication with government representatives

• more centralized orientation upon arrival and greater flexibility including a shorter, more intensive delivery option and evening classes

• access to settlement and community support including employment and refugee services and professional qualifications recognition

• 500 new English language placements in Winnipeg including 200 more full-time classes at the Winnipeg Technical Centre

• doubling the number of language learning placements outside of Winnipeg from 633 in 2005-06 to 1,350 placements in 2007

• enhanced work-related, neighborhood, and online learning opportunities

• outreach programs for connecting new families with neighborhood community and support groups where they live

• coordinated interpretation, life skills, recreation and intercultural training and resources that will support existing services and develop the newcomer settlement sphere

• increased funding from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to over CAD$17 million in 2007-08 from $9 million in 2005-06

Allan stressed that the increased funding was in response to the success of Manitoba's immigration program. The number of skilled workers that immigrated to Manitoba under the MPNP has grown steadily to an estimated 10,000 skilled migrants in 2006.

The province expects the number to double during the next decade.

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