Maple News reports that the province of Manitoba conducted a new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on December 16, issuing a total of 349 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to immigration candidates across multiple streams. This move reflects Manitoba’s continued commitment to selecting skilled workers and graduates who can contribute to the province’s economy and communities.
The latest draw included invitations under three key streams of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP):
– Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 296 candidates received LAAs, with the lowest-ranked applicant having an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 447.
– Skilled Workers Overseas: 13 invitations were issued under this stream, requiring a minimum EOI score of 712.
– International Education Stream: 40 invites were extended without any EOI score requirement, targeting recent graduates from Manitoba institutions.
Among the total chosen, 64 invitations were issued to Express Entry candidates. These individuals had previously submitted profiles to Canada’s federal Express Entry system and declared that they also had connections to Manitoba, such as work experience or family ties.
Express Entry is Canada’s online application management system for its three federal immigration programs—the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are awarded points using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), with factors such as age, work experience, education, and language proficiency influencing their scores. Provincial nominations add a significant 600 points to a candidate’s CRS, nearly guaranteeing an invitation to apply (ITA) in future federal draws.
The MPNP plays an essential role in Manitoba’s immigration strategy. While provinces cannot grant permanent resident status on their own, they can support applications by nominating promising candidates to the federal government. Interested individuals must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be considered. Each candidate is scored out of 1,000 points based on human capital and ties to the province.
Manitoba’s latest draw highlights the province’s targeted approach to immigration—focusing not only on skilled workers already contributing to their local labor force, but also attracting overseas talent and supporting local graduates. As Canada continues to welcome newcomers to address labor shortages and propel economic recovery, provincial draws like this remain a vital component of the broader immigration landscape.