MANITOBA PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM

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MANITOBA PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM
Flag of Manitoba
Coat of Arms of Manitoba

• Source of Information
• CIC Website
• Manitoba Government Website

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Map of Manitoba
A DETAILED MAP OF MANITOBA
Regional Mountain National Park
Downtown of Winnipeg
International Peace Garden
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Facts about Manitoba

• Manitoba is a western part of the Canada and
  borders are joined with Saskatchewan, Nunavat,
  Ontario and Hudson Bay
• Summers are generally warm to hot and winters
  very cold. Both spring and autumn are contracted
  seasons.
• There are a few possible sources of the name
  "Manitoba". One is the Assiniboine words "Mini"
  and "tobow" meaning "Lake of the Prairie".
• Entry into Confederation in 1870. The Legislative
  Assembly of Manitoba was established on July 14,
  1870. At that time Manitoba attained full fledged
  provincial rights and responsibilities of
  self-government.
• The most common farm found in rural areas is
  cattle farming (35.3) followed by oilseed
  (25.8) and wheat farming (9.8). Around 11 of
  the farmland in Canada is in Manitoba.
• Pre-confederation economy was influenced by
  Hudson Bay Company. However, over a period of
  time its monopoly was weakened, which has
  foundation role in creation of Manitoba province
  as well.
• Ten largest municipalities by population
• Winnipeg, Brandon , Thompson , Portage la
  Prairie, Springfield , Hanover , St. Andrews,
  Selkirk , Steinbach , St. Clements.

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Background of Nominee Programs

• Section 8 of IRPA allows the minister of
  Citizenship and Immigration to sign agreements
  with the provinces to coordinate and implement
  immigration policies and programs.
• Under the Constitution, the federal and
  provincial governments share responsibility for
  immigration.
• IRPA provides Federal government to contact
  Provinces and set goals to share benefits of
  immigration
• Federal-provincial working groups examine
  specific immigration issues, such as access to
  professions and trades, sponsorship, business
  immigration, promotion and recruitment,
  selection, settlement and language training,
  health, and information sharing and research.
• PROVINCIAL NOMINEES
• The Provincial Nominee Program allows the
  provinces and territories to select immigrants
  for specific skills that will contribute to the
  local economy. The Immigration and Refugee
  Protection Regulations establish a provincial
  nominee class, allowing provinces and territories
  that have agreements with CIC to nominate a
  certain number of workers. Nominees must meet
  federal admissibility requirements, such as those
  related to health and security.

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Federal-Provincial/Territorial Agreements
 
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Manitoba Nominee Program
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Employer Direct Stream
The MPNP Employer Direct stream is a priority
assessment stream that helps employers to recruit
and/or retain a foreign worker with the required
skills for a position they may have been unable
to fill with a permanent resident or citizen of
Canada. Priority will be given to

• employers who apply for pre-approval of job
  offers demonstrating that they have made a
  genuine effort to recruit in Canada for the
  position and are offering a wage and benefit
  package compatible with labour market standards
  and sufficient to retain the worker in Manitoba
• employers who can demonstrate that they will
  provide additional supports to assist newcomers
  with their settlement needs, and/or have the
  support of the local community in regions of
  Manitoba where the MPNP sees a significant need
  for settlement services for potential newcomers
• applicants who have a pre-approved job offer as
  well as the training, work experience, licensing
  or accreditation and language ability required
  for the position and who can satisfy a program
  officer that they intend to establish permanently
  in Manitoba 
•  applicants who are currently employed full-time
  for the last 6 months in Manitoba on a temporary
  work permit with a permanent offer of employment
  and who can satisfy a program officer that they
  intend to establish permanently in Manitoba 
• Note Applicants who are currently employed
  full-time for the last 6 months in Manitoba with
  a temporary work permit and have a permanent job
  offer do not require pre-approval of their job
  offers.

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International Student Stream

• The MPNP International Student Stream is a
  priority assessment stream for international
  students who have established strong ties to
  Manitoba and intend to live, work and establish
  their careers in the province.
• You are eligible to apply to the MPNP through the
  International Student stream if you 
• have graduated from a post-secondary program in
  Manitoba
• have successfully applied for a post-graduation
  work permit from Citizenship and Immigration
  Canada and are currently working in Manitoba
• are currently working in Manitoba and have
  received a full-time, long-term job offer from
  their employer

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Family Support Stream

• The MPNP Family Support stream is a priority
  assessment stream for skilled workers who can
  demonstrate the strong support of a close
  relative who is successfully established in
  Manitoba.
• You are eligible to apply to the MPNP through the
  Family Support stream if you         
• can provide proof of a close relative in Manitoba
  defined as a mother/father, son/daughter,
  sister/brother, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew,
  grandparent, or first cousin (your aunt/uncles
  son/daughter)
• can provide an Affidavit of Support form signed
  by a close relative in Manitoba
• give the authority to disclose information to the
  Manitoba close relative who is expected to be
  closely involved with the application process 
• are able to meet minimum age, education, work
  experience, and language ability requirements for
  the Family Support stream
• If there is a difference between your
  assessment and the assessment of the program
  officer, the program officer's assessment will be
  used.

CRITERIA
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Criteria for Family/Community Support Stream
FAMILY / COMMUNITY SUPPORT STREAM MINIMUM CRITERIA
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Community Support Stream

• The MPNP Community Support stream is a priority
  assessment stream for skilled workers who can
  demonstrate the strong support of an established
  community organization which has signed a
  Community Support Agreement (CSA) with the MPNP.
  CSAs are partnerships with specific objectives
  and requirements arranged at the discretion of
  the MPNP in accordance with program needs and
  available resources.
• You are eligible to apply to the MPNP through the
  Community Support stream if you 
• can provide a Letter of Support from a Community
  Support Agreement holder
• are able to meet minimum age, education, work
  experience, and language ability requirements for
  the Community Support stream
• If there is a difference between your
  assessment and the assessment of the program
  officer, the program officer's assessment will be
  used.

CRITERIA
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Strategic Recruitment Initiatives

• MPNP will undertake Strategic Recruitment
  Initiatives and/or consider applications from
  qualified applicants which enable the Province of
  Manitoba to meet the objectives of the Canadian
  Manitoba Immigration Agreement (CMIA). Strategic
  Recruitment Initiatives are undertaken at the
  discretion of the MPNP in accordance with program
  needs and available resources.
• You are eligible to apply to the MPNP through a
  Strategic Recruitment Initiative if you
• have received a letter of invitation to apply
  from the MPNP as part of an MPNP targeted
  promotional initiative
• or
• are an adult dependent of an approved Provincial
  Nominees who does not meet the criteria described
  under Am I Eligible? but can demonstrate that
  you are a financially dependent family member of
  an approved Provincial Nominee and will assist
  your family to establish successfully in
  Manitoba.
• The MPNP reserves the right to
• determine whether or not an applicant can be
  considered as an eligible adult dependent of an
  approved Provincial Nominee
• consider an adult dependent for nomination when
  nomination will assist an approved Provincial
  Nominee in settling successfully in Manitoba
• exercise discretion with respect to the
  Education, Language Ability and Work Experience
  of eligible adult dependents.

STRATEGIC RECRUITMENT CRITERIA
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Strategic Recruitment Initiative General
Criteria
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MPNP General Stream

• The MPNP General Stream is for applicants who
  can be assessed enough points in each assessment
  factor and can demonstrate their intention and
  ability to establish successfully and permanently
  in Manitoba.
• You are eligible to apply to the MPNP under
  General stream if you can provide
• Proof of a close relative in Manitoba or
• Two Affidavits of Support from close friends or
  distant relatives in Manitoba or
•  Evidence of previous full-time work experience
  in Manitoba (at least six months) or
•  Proof of a completed education program in
  Manitoba (excluding language training programs)
• Applicants with close relatives in Manitoba
  should only apply to the General Stream if they
  do not meet the eligibility criteria for the
  Family Support priority assessment stream.

GENERAL STREAM CRITERIA
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General Stream Criteria
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MPNP for Business

• The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Immigration
  Program for business allows Manitoba to recruit,
  select, and nominate qualified business people
  from around the world who have the intent and
  ability to move to Manitoba and establish or
  purchase a business.
• To qualify for the program, applicants must meet
  the following criteria
• minimum personal Net Worth of CDN 250,000
• minimum amount of equity investment in Manitoba
  of CDN 150,000
• demonstrated business experience or extensive
  experience in senior management of a successful
  company
• conducted a visit or planning a visit to Manitoba
  within few months of applying to explore business
  opportunities and Manitoba's quality of life and
  
• supply a Cash Deposit to the Government of
  Manitoba, in the amount of CDN75,000
  guaranteeing the establishment or purchase of a
  business in Manitoba. In most cases, the Cash
  Deposit will be released when the investment is
  made and the intended business is undertaken as
  outlined in your application.
• Manitoba would like to accept all applicants who
  meet the program criteria for nomination, however
  our agreement with the Government of Canada
  limits the number of immigrants that we may
  nominate each year. Given this limitation,
  Manitoba will select the applicants who best meet
  the qualifications and who offer the most to
  Manitoba.
• Applicants who are nominated by the Province of
  Manitoba will be required to apply for immigrant
  visa through a Canadian Visa Office. If you are
  accepted for nomination, assistance will be
  provided in preparing an application to a Canada
  Visa Office for permanent resident visa for you
  and your dependents.

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Young Farmer Nominee Program

• The Manitoba Young Farmer Nominee Program is
  introduced in February 2005, to facilitate the
  immigration process for young farmers who meet
  the criteria of the program. 
• To qualify under the program applicants must meet
  the following requirements
• Have a minimum personal net worth of CDN150,000
  (after relocation to Manitoba)
• Make a minimum amount of equity investment of
  CDN150,000 in Manitoba
• Principal applicant must be under 40 years of age
• Possess demonstrated experience in the management
  of a farm operation and/or finances
• Principal applicant (and/or spouse) has
  marketable skills that would realistically allow
  the farm operation to have a supplemental
  off-farm income
• Provision of a cash deposit to the Manitoba
  Development Corporation, in the amount of
  CDN75,000 guaranteeing the purchase of a farm in
  Manitoba.
• A decent standard of living for an average farm
  family of four will be expected to equal or
  exceed a minimum of 35,000 per year.  This
  minimum family living expense can be earned
  either through farm income, or a combination of
  farm income and off-farm income.

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Refugees

• INNOVATIVE PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSIST REFUGEES
• In the year 2002, the Honourable Denis Coderre,
  Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration,
  the Honourable Becky Barrett, Manitoba's Minister
  of Labour and Immigration, and His Worship Glen
  Murray, Mayor of Winnipeg, signed a Memorandum of
  Understanding (MOU) on the Winnipeg Private
  Refugee Sponsorship Assistance Program.
• This program represents a unique example of an
  innovative partnership between all three levels
  of government and the community to help refugees
  settle in a local area
• Manitoba province is working with the City of
  Winnipeg. Federal partners and sponsoring
  communities to receive refugees in need of
  protection and assistance.
• This is the first time a City government has been
  recognized as a partner in immigration and
  population growth strategy. Objective is to
  increase the number of immigrants coming to
  Winnipeg. The MOU and the Winnipeg Private
  Refugee Sponsorship Program demonstrate a unique
  co-operation between the three orders of
  government and the refugee sponsorship community
  to help meet this objective," said Mayor Murray.
• Under the pilot program, the City of Winnipeg has
  set aside 250,000 of municipal funds which can
  be accessed to cover refugee support in
  circumstances including those when a private
  sponsor is no longer able to meet its commitment.
• The refugee cases sponsored by Winnipeg
  organizations under this program would be a
  combination of named and unnamed refugees. A
  named refugee is a person identified and referred
  by non-governmental organizations for sponsorship
  on behalf of the person's relatives in Canada. An
  unnamed refugee is a person identified and
  referred by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to
  non-governmental organizations as a refugee who
  may have no relatives in Canada but needs to be
  sponsored. The three levels of government hope to
  initially admit 250 refugees under the pilot
  program.

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Application Process

• Fees
• There will be no fees for an application of
  Manitoba Provincial Nominee program. However,
  applicants have to pay Permanent resident
  application fees, after getting MPNP approval
• APPLICATION PROCESS
• 1) Application will be submitted to the MPNP
  program for Assessment
• 2) Application is assessed according to the
  assessment stream for which you are eligible
• 3) If application is approved
• a)      Apply for a Permanent Resident Visa to
  the respective Visa post
• b)      Temporary Work Permits
• c)       Misrepresentation and the Withdrawal of
  Your Certificate
• 4) If application is refused Receive a letter
  through Mail, but can re-apply after six months
  with proper documents
• 5) Can withdraw application any time before
  decision. Also can re-apply without waiting for
  six months period. However, withdrawal can only
  be accepted on the signed letter by the applicant
  and not by the representative.

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Immigration by Province/Territory- 2004
When we look at immigration trends by province
we see that 90 of newcomers go to three
provinces Ontario, Quebec, and British
Columbia. Manitoba has consistently ranked 5th
among provinces and it is seeing increasing
success to receive a proportion of
immigration. MB is trying to reach the 4 level
of total immigration to Canada 4 would
represent MBs proportional share of immigration.
We are currently at 3.15. Data source -
Manitoban PNP website.
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Why Manitoba?
BENEFITS
CHALLENGES

• No Application Fees
• Less Processing Time
• Employment opportunities
• Affordable and available housing
• Settlement and Integration support
• Timely, accessible appropriate language
  training
• Access to health, education, and social programs
• Community support and appreciation of diversity
• Cultural and recreational opportunities
• Family and social support

• Responsibly managing increased levels
• Immigration as a tool for urban and rural
  economic development
• Employment/skills shortages
• Addressing systemic barriers
• Impacts of large movements on education, health
  and housing
• Community integration
• Human resource capacity in the sector
• Improving newcomer settlement outcomes
• Fiscal resources sustainability
• Program demands, integrity coordination
• (PNP, settlement and language training)

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Analysis of MPNP Program

• Federal program for investor will have
  preference, if applicants are qualifying for
  Federal investor program. They cannot be accepted
  by province for the same net worth, because
  agreements between provinces preclude that.
• Even if applicant has been selected by the
  province, they are subject to Health and Security
  check by Federal offices and also in some cases
  are requiring interviews. Only Federal Office
  will issue final visa.
• Applicants nominate by province will be coded by
  the Federal office as SKILLED WORKER only,
  though they have been selected by the province
  under different categories. However, more
  emphasis will be on Security and Health issues by
  the Federal government while issuing visa.
• MPNP is not a Sponsorship program. Applicant has
  to prove, Employability, Specific Skills,
  Language and Sufficient funds to settle in
  Manitoba. Also applicants under this stream have
  an age between 21 to 49 years only.
• Family class and Close relative is not a
  Re-unification program. Instead it provides to
  fulfill mandatory requirements of Language,
  Education, Employability and Settlement Funds.
  However, Federal sponsorship program for Spouse
  and Parents will require LICO requirements only
  for Sponsorship applications other than Spouse.
• Just by giving an affidavit of support an
  applicant will qualify to file an application for
  Manitoba. There is no check on genuine applicants
  and therefore, there are chances of misuse of
  MPNP program.
• Under the Employer priority scheme, Employer has
  to offer an approved job offer, and also to
  provide additional support to the applicant for
  settlement.
• The MPNP list of Occupational Requirements is not
  a High Demand Occupation List. Applicants
  applying for all those listed occupations have to
  fulfill licensing requirements of Professional
  organizations, as well.
• If a Skilled worker application is under process,
  it depends on the particular visa office to
  transfer an application to the MPNP. They may or
  may not do so.