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. The meeting in Steinbach will be held on August 4.

“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 Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon 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 a session in Steinbach at the Days Inn, 75 Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 12 N, on Aug. 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“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 Lloyd 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 immigratemanitoba.com.