April 11, 2011
Province Announces Appointment of New Manitoba Immigration Council Members
Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard today announced the appointment of new members to the Manitoba Immigration Council.
“The council will provide timely advice to governmentas we continue to work together to increase immigration to Manitoba,” said Howard. “We thank all former members of the council for their work and look forward to continue to enhance settlement services for newcomers and improve immigrant retention rates.”
In 2004, the Manitoba Immigration Council Act established the council to provide advice to government on immigration and integration programs in the province.
Council members come from diverse backgrounds including business, educational institutions, labour, regional, regulatory and professional, multicultural, and social-service sectors.
The new members are:
- Christina Semaniuk, chair – vice-president of human resources, Cambrian Credit Union and former member of the Manitoba Ethnocultural Advisory and Advocacy Council;
- Grant Christensen, vice-chair – chief executive officer, Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba;
- Dr. Ibrahima Diallo – president of the board of the Société franco-manitobaine and former dean of the faculty of arts, science and administration at the Collège universitaire de St‑Boniface;
- Simin Hadidi – social worker with the Correctional Service of Canada;
- Susan Irupang-Scott – social worker with Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs;
- Dushant Persaud – educator and principal at the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre;
- Faye Rosenberg-Cohen – planning director for the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and GrowWinnipeg co-ordinator;
- Lin Lin – UFCW Local 832 Westman training co-ordinator with responsibilities for the Brandon and Neepawa training centres;
- Catherine Rushton – vice-president, finance and administration at Red River College;
- André Doumbé – president of the African Communities of Manitoba (ACOMI);
- William Ashton – director of Rural Development Institute at Brandon University;
- Jeremy Janzen – senior director of human resources at Hytek and Affiliates.
“In 2010, over 15,000 immigrants came to Manitoba. Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program continues to be successful by selecting and nominating potential immigrants for permanent residence based on Manitoba’s labour market needs,” the minister said. “Over 75 per cent of immigrants came through the Provincial Nominee Program.
“Our provincial settlement and integration programs assist newcomers to feel at home and contribute to the provincial economy. Over the next three years, we will work together with the Council on Manitoba’s immigration priorities so we can continue to realize the many benefits of immigration to the province.”
The 12 council members are appointed for three years and no member may serve more than two successive terms. The term of office of the previous council ended in January 2011.
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