21 hours Ago By Brandon Sun
As Manitoba employers continue to struggle to hire and retain qualified and dependable staff, this is a well-timed decision that makes a lot of sense. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support.
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As Manitoba employers continue to struggle to hire and retain qualified and dependable staff, this is a well-timed decision that makes a lot of sense. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion As Manitoba employers continue to struggle to hire and retain qualified and dependable staff, this is a well-timed decision that makes a lot of sense. On Tuesday, the Manitoba government announced a two-year “Manitoba-specific” work permit extension Tuesday for prospective provincial nominee program candidates.
Under the new plan, provincial nominee candidates whose work permits expired in 2024 or expire in 2025 will be eligible to apply for the two-year work permit extension beginning on April 22. The new policy — which the government emphasizes is temporary — will apply to individuals currently employed in Manitoba who are intending to establish themselves as permanent residents in Manitoba. Persons who satisfy that eligibility criteria may apply for a support letter from the province by completing an online submission form that will be available this coming Tuesday.
During media interviews earlier this week, Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino emphasized that “There will be attestations that folks will have to sign ...
That’s very important, because this is for Manitoba, not just so people can get permanent residency and move on.” She added that “We know that this kind of policy will help with retention, because the longer that folks stay in Manitoba ..
. the deeper the roots that they grow, the longer they’re here.” The two-year extension is much-needed good news for both employers and their employees, given that Manitoba is required to negotiate work-permit extensions with the federal government, which in December 2023 suddenly stopped allowing visitors to apply for work permits and extensions from within Canada.
The prospect of an immediate and severe labour shortage crisis caused by that policy change was averted in February of last year, however, when Marcelino successfully negotiated with the federal immigration department to extend the work status of 6,700 temporary residents working in Manitoba, whose permits were set to expire in 2024. The new extension provided through this week’s announcement creates an additional two years of much-needed breathing room. That reprieve will give the province additional time to negotiate with the next federal government to increase Manitoba’s provincial nominee program allocation, which was slashed from 9,540 in 2024 to 4,750 in 2025, as immigration target levels across Canada were sharply reduced.
One indication of the wisdom and necessity of the two-year extension is that it is supported by an opposition MLA. Cindy Lamoureux, the lone Liberal member of the legislative assembly, believes that the additional two years should help international students who chose to study in Manitoba because their decision promised a pathway to permanent resident status through the provincial nominee program. She says that “For those who have work permits that are expiring, but they have yet to hear back from the nominee program, this will help provide some confidence that they can stay here in Manitoba in the hopes of being chosen for provincial nominee program.
” We agree with both Marcelino and Lamoureux. Virtually every segment of the Manitoba economy is struggling to attract and retain qualified employees who are committed to remaining in the province for the long term. We are just one participant in a nationwide competition to fill ongoing labour shortages, the severity of which has become more urgent due to our aging population, economic upheaval caused by the post-pandemic recovery, and other jurisdictions being able to offer higher wages and a more pleasant climate.
Viewed from that perspective, it would be both counterproductive and detrimental to Manitoba’s economic interests to turn away qualified people who want to work and live in our province, and are already here. The two-year extension announced this week reflects that imperative. The decision is a much-needed step in the right direction for Manitoba’s economy.
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