Work permit issue requires new policy

Winnipeg North

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/05/2024 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Imagine being 20 years old, living in India or the Philippines and being told that, if you are prepared to study and work hard in Manitoba, you would, in time, be allowed to become a permanent resident of Canada.

Hundreds of thousands of people have believed this — and many have chosen Manitoba.

However, that dream has become a nightmare over the last number of months and weeks, as backlogs in processing provincial nomination program (PNP) applications meant that 6,700 temporary residents whose work permits were set to expire worried about their status.

My daughter Cindy (MLA for Tyndall Park) and I have been meeting with hundreds of such former students and current workers. Rallies have been held at the Manitoba legislature and well-intended advocates have surfaced, decrying the situation. In a May 7 story in the Winnipeg Free Press, international students and graduates said they decided to study in Manitoba because it promised a pathway to permanent resident status through the nominee program, but said they were excluded from any of its draws in recent months.

Last week, federal Immigration minister Marc Miller encouraged provinces to take advantage of their ability to use nominee certificates to assist in supporting workers who studied in their respective provinces in to stay in Canada.

Writing to Malaya Marcelino, Manitoba’s minister responsible for immigration, Miller wrote:

“I understand that a number of post-graduation work permit-holders will see their work permits expire in 2024, and that this situation is creating a challenge for Manitoba’s labour needs. To help you address this challenge, I am prepared to introduce a public policy to facilitate the issuance of time-limited open work permits to nomination-ready temporary residents employed in Manitoba who have work permits that will expire in 2024. Within two years, it is expected that eligible foreign nationals will receive an official nomination from Manitoba and eventually become permanent residents through the PNP.”

In the long term, Manitoba must come up with an international student policy that is fair to those students who choose to study in Manitoba while supporting the desire of post-secondary schools that want international students. Ottawa issues student visas, but province must develop a clear policy recognizing two streams of international students.

One stream that would be open to students who wish to study here with no expectation of being issued a PNP certificate. The other would be restricted to the number of PNP certificates the province is prepared to use/allocate in support of those students. For example, under the second stream, the province could encourage those living in Manitoba with family members who would like to study here to nominate them so they will become permanent residents in Manitoba. Using PNP certificates in that way will support selected post-secondary schools and educate international students who will help Manitoba’s future labour market. I realize it requires more work, but I believe it will be well worth the effort.