The federal government provided Manitoba’s immigration program with a substantial increase of over 30% following earlier cuts. This boost translates to an additional 1,489 slots for the provincial nominee program in Manitoba this year, raising the total allocation from Ottawa to 6,239, up from the previous 4,750 in January.
Each province is granted an annual quota of nominations from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for individuals seeking to relocate from other countries. At the start of the year, the federal government announced a nationwide reduction in the provincial nominee allotment by half, decreasing from approximately 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000 in 2025. This move aimed to manage population growth and alleviate housing market pressures, particularly in major urban centers.
Manitoba’s Immigration Minister, Malaya Marcelino, emphasized that Manitoba should not bear the brunt of housing challenges faced by larger cities. She expressed concerns that the initial decision to reduce provincial nominee slots would negatively impact Manitoba businesses and exacerbate labor shortages.
Marcelino had advocated for 12,000 nomination slots, a 26% increase from the previous year, highlighting Manitoba’s heavy reliance on the nominee program to bolster the local economy over the past decades. Despite her absence for comment, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara credited Marcelino for her efforts in securing additional provincial nominee slots amidst the cuts.
The province recently announced the invitation of 328 temporary foreign workers in the healthcare sector to apply for the provincial nominee program, including health-care aides, physicians, registered nurses, and other professionals supporting patient care. Asagwara mentioned collaborative efforts between departments to facilitate pathways for temporary foreign workers to continue practicing in Manitoba.
In 2023, under then-Premier Heather Stefanson, the Progressive Conservatives urged Ottawa to increase nominee numbers to 9,500 in response to severe labor shortages in Manitoba. The PCs sanctioned 7,348 nominations that year after facing delays in processing 2,152 applications. Statistics Canada reported that nearly 75% of Manitoba’s immigration in the previous year came through the provincial nominee program, with the province receiving $500 per applicant through the initiative.
