IRCC approves Manitoba’s request to extend work permits for some applicants identified in the province’s Provincial Nominee Program.
IRCC states that the nominees all have work permits that are set to expire in 2024 & are mainly PGWP holders. These individuals currently have applications in the pool for the Manitoba Skilled Worker Program, an immigrant Pathway aimed at filling key job vacancies within the province.
The temporary measures imply that 6,700 temporary workers might continue working while the province continues to process their PNP application. Moreover, the province expects that the eligible foreign nationals will obtain an official nomination from Manitoba & eventually become permanent residents within two years.
IRCC states that it is open to working with other Canadian provinces & territories to help transition more temporary residents to address national labor market needs.
Manitoba’s PNP
Manitoba was the first province in Canada to establish a PNP. The province introduced the program in 1998 to entice newcomers who would otherwise be more likely to immigrate to Canada’s large urban centers like Vancouver or Toronto.
The program proved so successful at spreading the economic benefits of immigration that all Canadian territories & provinces except Quebec & Nunavut implemented it.
Data also shows that 10,000 people in Manitoba transitioned from worker status to permanent residents in 2023.
Between January & March this year, the province has issued over 1,560 Expressions of Interest to Skilled Workers, leading to 1,578 approvals.
IRCC data shows that in 2022, over 20% of all permanent resident admissions came through the PNP. In addition, the Immigration Levels Plan plans to welcome 110,000 new permanent residents by the end of 2024 & 120,000 per year in both 2025 & 2026.
Changes To Temporary Resident Levels
IRCC approves Manitoba’s request to extend work permits for some PNP applicants. This measure is unique in Canada’s immigration space & aligns with a previously announced priority for years & in years to come. On March 21 this year, Minister Miller declared an intention to pursue more domestic draws to help transition temporary residents to permanent residents.
Put another way, IRCC plans to work with newcomers already in Canada to help them become permanent residents instead of increasing the previously uncapped number of temporary residents who arrive in Canada every year. In 2023, Canada had a temporary resident population exceeding 2.5 million people.
Moreover, in 2023, over 157,000 people transitioned from temporary residents to permanent residents.
The changes to Canada’s temporary resident levels come at a time when Canada is coping with a shortage of affordable housing for newcomers and Canadians alike, a strained healthcare system, and a high cost of living. Numerous polls throughout 2023 indicated a decrease in support for high immigration levels.