Manitoba Opens August with Targeted Skilled Worker Invitations Under MPNP
On August 7, 2025, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) conducted its first provincial draw of the month, focusing on skilled workers both in Manitoba and overseas. This latest round of invitations—Expression of Interest (EOI) Draw #251—was aimed at attracting foreign nationals with the skills, work experience, and adaptability to meet the province’s labour market needs.
A total of 37 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) for provincial nomination were issued under two key streams:
- Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway
- Skilled Worker Overseas pathway
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
To be selected in this draw, candidates needed to:
- Achieve a minimum score of 724 under MPNP’s unique points-based assessment system.
- Receive a direct invitation through a strategic recruitment initiative.
Breakdown of Invitations
The draw targeted specific employer- and community-led initiatives aimed at filling critical labour shortages:
| Strategic Recruitment Initiative | LAAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Employer Services | 15 |
| Francophone Community | 19 |
| Regional Communities | 1 |
| Ethnocultural Communities | 2 |
Out of the 37 invitations issued, 7 were sent to candidates with valid Express Entry profile numbers and job seeker validation codes, giving them a faster route to permanent residence through an enhanced PNP nomination.
Why Some Candidates Missed Out
Even if candidates met or exceeded the cut-off score, they may not have received an LAA due to:
- Missing or invalid language test numbers in their EOI, or expired test results.
- Claiming to have received a direct invitation through a strategic recruitment initiative but failing to provide a valid invitation number.
What Are Strategic Recruitment Initiatives?
These are specialized programs run by Manitoba in collaboration with employers and community organizations to directly recruit international talent in high-demand occupations. The initiatives include:
- Employer-led recruitment for positions with persistent labour shortages.
- Community-focused recruitment targeting specific regions, language groups, or cultural communities in Manitoba.
Employers must meet strict eligibility standards and follow Manitoba’s ABC Recruitment Process. Meanwhile, candidates must fulfill MPNP’s standard criteria—language proficiency, relevant work experience, education, and age—plus meet initiative-specific requirements.
However, the program carefully evaluates each candidate’s likelihood of staying in Manitoba. Stronger ties to another province, such as past work or study there, could be seen as a retention risk and lead to refusal.
Pathway to Permanent Residence
An LAA from MPNP is an important step for foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in Canada. Once nominated, candidates can apply for PR to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) either through the paper-based process or the Express Entry system if they qualify.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
