Province seeks to put focus on immigration

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This article was published 07/09/2022 (195 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans are being asked to weigh in on the provincial government’s plans to improve immigration and address labour shortages.

“Our government recognizes the staffing challenges facing employers, so finding the best ways to tap into the skills and experience that many newcomers have to offer to address the current labour shortage has the potential to lead to a stronger workforce for all Manitobans,” Immigration Minister Jon Reyes said in a news release Wednesday.

A provincial public engagement survey was launched Wednesday, and is open until Sept. 30. It is seeking feedback on how immigration could help address labour shortages, according to the government.

Over the past several months, Manitoba’s Immigration Advisory Council has been meeting with stakeholders to develop a strategy to improve the provincial nominee program.

According to the province, the outreach initiative resulted in the following strategies and areas of focus: aligning candidate skills to available jobs; enhancing timelines for recognizing foreign credentials; supporting immigrants to settle in rural areas; and addressing long wait times for immigration applications, among others.

“As we continue to develop a full continuum of immigration programs and services, we value the ideas, advice and experiences of others in shaping immigration policies that produce the greatest benefit for all concerned,” Reyes said.

He encouraged all Manitobans to share their opinions through the survey, which can be accessed at engagemb.ca.