Manitoba continues to strengthen its workforce through targeted immigration efforts. On January 29, the province conducted its second immigration draw of 2026 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), extending 47 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to candidates in the Skilled Worker Stream.
According to Maple News, this draw emphasized Manitoba’s ongoing commitment to strategic recruitment, selecting candidates who had declared in their Expression of Interest (EOI) profile that they were invited to apply under a specific initiative.
The LAAs were distributed across several strategic recruitment missions. Of the 47 invited candidates, 24 were selected through the Employer Services initiative—reinforcing Manitoba’s preference for candidates with strong employment connections in the province. Other allocations included 14 through the Temporary Public Policy pathway to facilitate work permits, four for regional communities, three for the Francophone community, and two tied to ethnocultural communities.
Additionally, six candidates received invitations due to having valid Express Entry profile numbers and job seeker validation codes, aligning with Manitoba’s approach to integrate federal immigration pathways.
So far in 2026, a total of 102 LAAs have been issued by Manitoba across two draws. A common trend is emerging: the province increasingly favors candidates connected to Employer Services initiatives, highlighting Manitoba’s focus on immediate labor market integration and employer needs.
Candidates from both within Manitoba and overseas were targeted through the two Skilled Worker pathways: Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas. Eligibility was dependent on the applicants’ licensing status in regulated professions, among other factors.
Manitoba’s selective draws stand apart from other streams such as the International Education Stream. This strategy underscores the province’s goal to directly address regional labor shortages and support long-term economic growth through immigration.
Maple News will continue to monitor provincial draws across Canada as immigration programs evolve in response to local workforce needs.