Last week, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held a draw targeting candidates outside Canada who have a strong connection to the province.

On May 15, a total of 62 candidates received Letters of Advice to apply for provincial nomination through the province’s Skilled Workers Overseas stream.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams

Of these 62 candidates, eight declared a valid Express Entry profile number and job validation code.

The score of the lowest-ranked candidate in this draw was 626.

Candidates who submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) for this stream were only considered if they were invited directly by the MPNP under a strategic recruitment initiative.

Who qualifies for Manitoba’s Skilled Worker Overseas stream?

This permanent residency pathway is available to foreign workers outside Canada who are able to demonstrate an established connection to Manitoba through one of the following.

• The support of family or friends;
• Previous in-province education or work experience; or
• Having received an Invitation to Apply from the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.

Each form of provincial connection has specific requirements that must be met in order to qualify under it.

In addition to having an established Manitoba connection, foreign nationals must score at least 60 out of 100 points on the province’s assessment grid to be eligible for the Skilled Workers Overseas stream.

Five factors are assessed to calculate the score, including adaptability, age, education, language proficiency, and work experience.

Strategic recruitment initiatives in Manitoba

The MPNP leverages strategic recruitment initiatives to assist Manitoba employers in addressing labour gaps by recruiting qualified foreign talent.

Designed for employers demonstrating an immediate and ongoing need for skilled workers unable to be met through the local labour market, employers must

• Meet certain eligibility criteria for the positions they are hiring for; and
• Complete Manitoba’s required ABC Recruitment process.

Following approval, employers can provide the details of international candidates who meet the required program criteria (regarding age, education, work experience, and language proficiency).

Candidates are required to have a full-time permanent or long-term job offer and an intent to reside in the province in order to be referred to these initiatives.

Priority under these initiatives is given to individuals intending to reside outside the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region.

Candidates cannot self-select as eligible for this Manitoba connection, but rather are identified as eligible by the MPNP.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams