The Manitoba Labour and Immigration Minister announced the release of an independent study, the second since 2002, on the provincial nominee program earlier this month. An Evaluation of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program was prepared by Professor Tom Carter of the University of Winnipeg. His findings were based on a review of relevant information, analysis of data from Stats Canada, Manitoba Labour and Immigration, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, interviews with key informants, and roughly 100 landed nominee principal applicants and 50 spouses. The Philippines and Germany were the two most common countries represented by the interviewees.

The overall conclusion is that the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program is a success. The study found some dissatisfaction with pre-arrival information and misinformation about work in trade or professional areas, some criticism of the immigration process but “only a small proportion of those interviewed indicated their immigration to the Province has been a negative experience and their labour force trajectories …are positive. Only five percent indicated they plan to leave the Province over the next five years. Manitoba, for the majority, has become home.” (p. 120).

The evaluation of the immigration and settlement experience of the sample group included their pre-immigration experience, the immigration process itself, and their integration into Manitoba and the provincial labour force. One of the post-arrival determinants was to examine attitudes and experience over time or as “trajectories”: five to 26 months after arrival; 27 to 37 months after arrival; and 38 to 62 months. The findings over time for arrivals “working in an occupation (or related) in which they have training or experience” is 57.1% in first time frame; 53.8% in the second time frame; and 82.8% in the last time category. Some of the findings from the study included:

• 85 % of provincial nominees were working within three months of arrival and 89% had permanent jobs;
• 83% of respondents were working in their field or in a related field over time;
• Within 3 to 5 years 67% had purchased their first home;
• Only modest criticism of the administration and processing times during the application, approval, visa issuance, and arrival process;
• Arrivals were for most part satisfied with the Immigrate to Manitoba Website. 95% of users found the information to be useful;
• A majority of respondents were pleased with the settlement and language-training services provided upon arrival;
• 95% of respondents do not intend to move to another province within the next 5 years;
• Provincial nominees as a group were satisfied with their new communities as a place to live.

The findings of this independent study confirm much of what many know from our firsthand experience as nominees or supporters, family or friends of the applicants. The MPNP continues to be a great success for Manitoba and especially the Filipino expatriate community who have been number one in arrivals for a number of years: 1,559 (20.6%) in 2004; 1,837 (22.7%) in 2005; 2,539 (25.3%) in 2006; 3,279 (29.9%) in 2007; 2,671 (23.8%) in 2008; and 4,306 (31.8%) in 2009 (Manitoba Immigration Facts 2006 – 2009).

The Manitoba Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard was rightly proud of the results of the study: “We are pleased that many newcomers are finding jobs, buying homes and building a good life with their families here in Manitoba. The study … shows that our programs (MPNP, settlement and others) are on the right track.”

Howard tempered her remarks by cautioning that “the numbers of newcomers who have difficulty getting their credentials recognized remains too high. We must continue to build on our programs to ensure that newcomers get jobs that match their skills and experience.” (News Release October 6, 2010).

The content of this article is intended for information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Michael Scott invites all readers to contact him directly.

Michael Scott BA (Hon), MA, is a 30-year veteran of Canada Immigration and the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program who works as an immigration associate with R.B. Global Immigration Consultants Ltd. He can be reached at 838 Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba or by telephone at: (204) 783-7326 or (204) 227-0292.

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