News Releases

June 20, 2022

Manitoba's Immigration Advisory Council is launching a series of public meetings to inform its recommendations on improvements to Manitoba’s current immigration policies and programs, co-chairs Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes and Lloyd Axworthy announced today. 

“As we review the entire continuum of immigration, from promotion to retention of newcomers, we want to hear from others who have experiences and advice they would like to share,” said Reyes. “Meetings will be held in communities across the province to ensure we reach as many people as possible in the next few months to help us better understand what improvements are needed to support people choosing to make Manitoba home.” 

The council, created earlier this year, has 20 members with expertise related to immigration services, governance, economic development, analysis, project management and community integration. It represents front-line immigration service providers, ethnocultural community leaders and organizations, representatives of Manitoba’s business, industry and academic communities, and has urban, regional and francophone representation. 

Meetings will be held over the summer including sessions in:

• Winnipeg in room 230, Manitoba Legislative Building, 450 Broadway, on June 22 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
• Beausejour at the Beau-Head Seniors Association, 645 Park Ave., on June 23 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.;
• Dauphin at the Watson Arts Centre (Fire Hall Room), 104 First Ave. NW, on June 29 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.;
• Swan River at the Veterans Community Hall (Legion Meeting Hall), 110 Sixth Ave. NE, on June 29 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.;
• Thompson at the Best Western Thompson, 205 Mystery Lake Rd. on June 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.;
• Brandon at the Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave., on July 11 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.;
• Neepawa at the Neepawa Public Library, 280 Davidson St., on July 11 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.;
• Winkler at the Best Western Plus, 1705 Diamond Dr., on Aug. 4 from 10:30 a.m. to noon;
• Altona at the Millennium Exhibition Centre, 227-10th Ave. NW, on Aug. 4 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.;
• Steinbach at the Days Inn, 75 Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 12 N, on Aug. 4  from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.;
• Winnipeg at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque, 2445 Waverley St., on Aug. 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and
• Winnipeg at the Maples Community Centre, 424 Adsum Dr., on Aug. 11 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A bilingual session will also be held in east Winnipeg:

• Winnipeg at the Canad Inns Transcona, 826 Regent Ave. W, on July 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (bilingual session).

"The council brings a great deal of expertise to the table, but we also want to hear from others who can share their ideas with us,” said Axworthy. “The feedback from Manitobans and newcomers to Canada will help our team make informed recommendations to government.” 

The minister noted the work of the council focuses on:

• building on promotion to attract and recruit more immigrants and business investors to the province;
• streamlining the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, especially with regard to setting the right balance between the province’s regional labour market, economic development and community needs; and
• fostering Manitoba’s settlement and integration programs and services, as well as foreign credential recognition programs, to encourage labour market attachment, improve foreign credential recognition and bolster immigrant retention.

For more information on the Immigration Advisory Council’s mandate and membership, visit: https://immigratemanitoba.com/iac/. 

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