Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has approved a special request from the province of Manitoba to extend the work permits of certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. This move is expected to benefit approximately 6,700 temporary foreign workers whose current permits are set to expire in 2024.
Most of the affected individuals are holders of Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and have active applications through the Manitoba Skilled Worker Program, a provincial initiative designed to meet the province’s growing labour demands. These workers will now be able to remain employed while awaiting official provincial nominations and are expected to transition to permanent resident status within two years.
This temporary measure highlights both provincial and federal efforts to create smoother pathways for economic immigration, particularly for individuals already contributing to the local economy. According to IRCC, similar partnerships with other provinces and territories to support economic immigration could emerge following the upcoming meeting of the Federation of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) on May 10.
Manitoba was Canada’s pioneer in launching a Provincial Nominee Program back in 1998, with the goal of attracting newcomers who might not otherwise settle outside of major cities like Toronto or Vancouver. The initiative has since proven so effective that nearly every other province and territory—except Quebec and Nunavut—has adopted its own PNP model.
According to recent figures, over 10,000 temporary workers in Manitoba transitioned to permanent residency in 2023. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, 1,560 Expressions of Interest were issued to Skilled Worker Program candidates, resulting in 1,478 approvals.
PNPs now play an essential role in Canada’s immigration strategy. In 2022, one in five new permanent residents came through these programs. The current Immigration Levels Plan aims to welcome 110,000 new permanent residents through PNPs in 2024, increasing to 120,000 annually in both 2025 and 2026.
This extension is considered a win for both the province’s economy and the workers who contribute to it, offering greater stability and a clear path to long-term settlement in Canada.