Maple News reports that on August 28, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held a new immigration draw, extending 213 invitations to candidates across key streams aimed at attracting skilled international talent and recent graduates.
The invitations, formally known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), were issued through three MPNP pathways: Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas, and the International Education Stream. Of the total, the Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream received the bulk with 171 invitations, requiring a minimum Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 475. The Skilled Workers Overseas stream issued 8 invitations, with a significantly higher cutoff score of 824. The remaining 34 invitations were granted through the International Education Stream, which does not require an EOI score.
This marks the 97th draw conducted by the province since the MPNP launched in 2014. So far in 2020, Manitoba has issued a total of 3,299 nominations through these streams, reflecting the province’s ongoing commitment to meeting labor market needs and supporting its economic recovery post-pandemic.
Twenty-three of the selected candidates in this draw had profiles registered in Canada’s federal Express Entry system — an immigration selection system that ranks candidates based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Factors considered for CRS include age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
Receiving a nomination from Manitoba gives Express Entry candidates a significant advantage by adding 600 points to their CRS score, effectively guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The MPNP operates on an EOI system for its Skilled Workers in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas categories. Candidates must first submit an online profile and are then ranked out of 1,000 points based on qualifications, language skills, employment history, ties to Manitoba, among other criteria.
Maple News notes that programs like Manitoba’s PNP continue to play a vital role in decentralizing immigration and addressing specific regional workforce demands. By targeting skilled workers and international graduates, the province is strategically positioning itself to support long-term economic growth.