November 1, 2013
Province Celebrates First-ever National Francophone Immigration Week
– – –Premier Announces Streamlined Process for Francophone's Applying to Provincial Nominee Program
The Manitoba government is celebrating the first-ever national Francophone Immigration Week, Nov. 3 to 9, and is unveiling a faster, easier electronic process for applying in French to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“Francophone Immigration Week is a perfect opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the positive contributions francophone immigrants have made to our communities and to the province’s economy as well as the important role the francophone community plays in welcoming newcomers and helping them successfully establish themselves in Manitoba,” said the premier. “Increasing francophone immigration is a key element of Manitoba’s economic development and labour market strategies, and we are pleased to offer new tools that will make it easier to get skilled workers to Manitoba.”
As part of national Francophone Immigration Week, the Réseau en Immigration Francophone Manitoba (a network promoting francophone immigration) has worked with community partners to organize a variety of activities and events.
“Francophone immigration and the successful inclusion of newcomers are among the priorities of Manitoba’s francophone community,” said Daniel Boucher, president and chief executive officer of the SFM. “We are part of a community that is enriched by cultural diversity. It is with its many community partners that the community will be able to achieve its full potential.”
The premier said the French online tool, for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, MPNP Online, will help increase francophone immigration and reduce processing times.
MPNP Online will help the francophone community in meeting Manitoba’s needs, the premier said. Applicants using the new online process will be able to predetermine eligibility for the program and connect to pre-arrival services including labour market and language services, he added.
In addition to offering a French online application process, the premier said computer kiosks will be added at the Bilingual Service Centres in St. Boniface, St. Vital and in the town of Notre Dame de Lourdes. The kiosks can be used by applicants or their family members applying to MPNP Online and offer the added benefit of being another of the services that Bilingual Service Centre staff can provide.
In November, Manitoba and community representatives will participate in an immigration recruitment forum in Belgium and France in an effort to sustain francophone immigration success and convince skilled workers to call Manitoba home, the premier said.
Since 1999, Manitoba has attracted more than 3,850 French-speaking immigrants. Last year, more than 500 French-speaking immigrants moved to the province, a little over nine per cent more than 2011 and the highest level since modern record keeping.
More information on MPNP is available at www.immigratemanitoba.com.
For a full listing of activities and events being held in Manitoba during National Immigration Francophone Week, visit www.immigrationfrancophone.ca/semaine2013.
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