Dozens protest outside legislature over expiring federal work permits

For three days, Harpreet Singh Sandhu has stood outside the Manitoba Legislative Building, calling for an extension of soon-to-expire federal work permits.

“We just want a fair chance,” he said Thursday.

He was joined by more than 100 people on the Broadway lawn. The 25-year-old’s work permit is set to expire next month.

He’s facing a return to India — to start from “zero,” he said — but he’s still hoping to stay in Canada.

After all, Manitoba could use concrete finishers, he said — and that’s his line of work.

Canada has pulled back on its number of immigrants in recent years after a swell of arrivals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2024, Ottawa tightened eligibility requirements for post-graduate work permits.

It dropped provincial nominee allotments nationally. It intended to slash Manitoba’s count from 9,540 in 2024 to 4,750 in 2025.

Ultimately, Manitoba received 6,239 nominations.

Provincial Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino was in Ottawa earlier this week, advocating again for the province’s labour force needs.

Business groups, including the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, joined some of Marcelino’s meetings with federal bureaucrats.

“Manitoba’s role is to advocate for these workers,” she said during question period Wednesday. “We’re doing it in 2026, to advocate for the extension of these work permits.”

On Thursday, Progressive Conservative MLA Carrie Hiebert told reporters she wants more transparency: “I would like to know who (Marcelino is) picking to get these extensions.”

Skilled labour is needed, added Hiebert (Morden-Winkler), the Tory immigration critic.

Singh Sandhu said he expects the protest to continue throughout the week.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com