Already a leader in attracting and integrating provincial nominees, Manitoba is partnering with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) through the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP) to pilot a new pre-arrival initiative for provincial nominees destined for Manitoba. This initiative, funded by the federal Department of Citizenship and Immigration, was announced here today by Premier Greg Selinger and federal Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.
“Manitoba is dedicated to providing more supports to assist provincial nominees to begin their employment and settlement planning before they arrive in our province,” said Selinger. “The more informed and prepared immigrants are before they arrive, the more likely they are to achieve their career goals and contribute to Manitoba’s economic growth.”
To start, the pilot initiative will provide Manitoba nominees in China and the Philippines with pre-arrival settlement orientation and labour-market preparation services. These services will include the development of a career plan based on Manitoba-specific labour-market information and guidance on qualifications recognition procedures. It will then be adapted for provincial nominees destined to other provincial jurisdictions as well as for Manitoba nominees in other parts of the world.
These new services for provincial nominees will be delivered through phase 2 of the CIIP, funded through a $15-million contribution agreement from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
“Pre-arrival services are an essential part of our strategy to help newcomers succeed. ACCC’s partnership with Manitoba to create province-specific CIIP information and services is an important step in our commitment to prepare immigrants before they arrive in Canada,” said Kenney. “This pilot demonstrates our aim to meet specific needs of newcomers destined for provinces across the country.”
“ACCC members play a vital role in the economic integration of newcomers in Canada,” said James Knight, president and CEO of ACCC. “Through ACCC’s overseas offices, they are also providing pre-arrival advice to federal skilled workers in their country of origin. Red River College has been delivering this service for three years and is now working with ACCC and the Manitoba government to develop overseas pre-arrival services for provincial nominees.”
Prior to arriving in Canada, nominees will also have access to Manitoba’s successful English Online language program which provides facilitated English-language training using Manitoba specific scenarios. Students will be able to interact with adult English-as-an-additional-language teachers based in Manitoba, who will provide one-on-one guidance throughout the student’s training.
The initiative will begin in November with approximately 40 Manitoba nominees. CIIP services for provincial nominees will be available at all CIIP locations in the coming year.
