September 16, 2008

PROVINCE REMOVES IMMIGRATION BARRIERS FOR SKILLED PROFESSIONALS:
ALLAN
Barriers have been removed for skilled professionals who want to
immigrate to Manitoba and strengthen the province's thriving economy,
Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced today.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is now more accessible to a wider
range of internationally skilled workers, Allan said. The licensing
requirements list, called Occupations with Additional Requirements, has
been removed and now any skilled worker with ties to Manitoba can apply.
Each applicant to the PNP is assessed on his or her own merits and those
who demonstrate good potential for employability based on their
training, experience and language skills are most likely to be
nominated.

"Manitoba's nominee program is the largest and most successful in the
country and by increasing accessibility for more skilled workers - from
early childhood educators to registered nurses -the program will
continue to strengthen our economy, help to build communities and enrich
our cultural diversity," said Allan.
"Growth in immigration is strengthening Manitoba's position in an
increasingly competitive and dynamic global economy."

In 2007, Manitoba welcomed almost 11,000 immigrants and their families,
the largest share of Canadian immigration in more than
25 years. The provincial population grew by over 13,000 people in 2007,
the second-highest increase since the '70s, primarily due to the
Provincial Nominee Program.

The removal of the list of occupational requirements will streamline the
program to make it more accessible for applicants with strong
connections to Manitoba to apply. An updated application kit is now
available at www.immigratemanitoba.com, a new website to help interested
applicants make informed decisions about immigration to Manitoba.

Manitoba's newcomers will be also protected by the strongest legislation
in Canada, the Worker Recruitment and Protection Act, which was
introduced this spring. Workers will be assisted in overcoming barriers
to employment through the Fair Registration Practices in Regulated
Occupations Act and they will continue to benefit from some of the most
effective and timely settlement and labour market services in Canada,
said Allan.

The website includes information and tools to assist newcomers to gauge
if they will get jobs and successfully settle in one of the dozens of
Manitoba communities that together welcome close to 11,000 immigrants
each year. Visitors to the site can explore employment possibilities
with the Working in Manitoba Canada Career Research Tool. The tool
provides applicants information to help them assess, plan and prepare
for employment in Manitoba including job searches.

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