Unparalleled success attracting immigrants

Unparalleled success

• In 2006 Manitoba welcomed the largest number of international immigrants in half a century, over 10,000. The preliminary figures for last year are in the same range. These people came from over 150 countries and have settled in over 95 communities in Manitoba. These are the people that help keep Manitoba growing, fill our skilled labour shortage and enrich our social and cultural fabric.



• Manitoba has the most successful Provincial Nominee Program in Canada. In fact one-half of the nominees who came to Canada in 2006 chose Manitoba as their home.



• Our target is to double the current level of immigration over the next decade, adding a further 1,000 newcomers each year.

A better start for newcomers

• The NDP is launching an expanded Settlement Strategy to improve services for immigrants and strengthen community involvement. It will include better orientation for immigrants before and immediately after their arrival, a new Language Assessment Centre, and several hundred additional seats for English-language training across the province.



• Our 2008 budget allocates almost $1.2 million in new funding for settlement services, language training, and labour market integration.



• There are now over 40 community-based programs to support the settlement and integration of immigrants.

Recognizing credentials

• Under the NDP Manitoba has been a leader in improving credential recognition for skilled immigrants.



• We’ve put legislation in place to ensure that registration practices for regulated professions are transparent, objective, impartial and fair.



• The Doer government was the first in Canada to establish a permanent program to assist international doctors in obtaining licenses to practise.



• We’ve partnered with employers and educational institutions to deliver specialized, job-oriented language training for newcomers.



• Our government has also partnered with the Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba to help internationally trained accountants to gain credentials.



• We’re supporting U of M’s Internationally Educated Agrologist Pilot Program, which provides eight months of study and a four-month paid work experience.



• Since creating the Internationally Educated Engineers Qualification Program at the U of M in 2003, we have expanded the number of participants from 12 to 40 a year.

A rich multi-cultural mosaic

• We’ve helped fund the construction of centres for Philippine, Hindu, Islamic and Hellenic ethno-cultural organizations.



• The NDP has increased support for ethnocultural organizations to just over half a million dollars. We value their role in attracting and keeping new immigrants in our province by helping smooth immigrants’ transition to their new home.

Figures are current as of October, 2008

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