Manitoba’s early-December draw prioritizes in-province candidates and TPP applicants
Manitoba opened December with its largest single draw since October, issuing 184 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) on December 5, 2025. The province again focused selection on candidates tied to its strategic recruitment initiatives — particularly those covered by the federal Temporary Public Policy (TPP) that enables prospective provincial nominees to obtain two-year open work permits — underscoring Manitoba’s near-term emphasis on retaining workers already contributing to the local labour market.
This account explains who was invited, why the province continues to favour recruitment-linked candidates, what applicants should check if they applied but were not selected, and how the TPP and Manitoba support letter deadlines interact with the recent draw.
Draw snapshot: volume, streams and priority pathways
- Draw date: December 5, 2025
- Total LAAs issued: 184 (Expression of Interest Draw #259)
- Primary streams used: Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas
- Notable feature: 61 of the invited candidates declared an active Express Entry profile and job seeker validation code
This was Manitoba’s single largest LAA issuance since early October and continued a pattern seen since June: draws concentrated on candidates identified through province-led recruitment programs rather than broad, open draws from the entire pool.
Strategic recruitment initiatives accounted for most invitations
Manitoba again recruited from targeted employer- and community-focused initiatives. Of the 184 LAAs issued, the distribution by strategic stream was:
- Temporary Public Policy (TPP) candidates: 126 LAAs
- Regional Communities: 21 LAAs
- Francophone Community: 20 LAAs
- Employer Services: 10 LAAs
- Ethnocultural Communities: 7 LAAs
The TPP cohort represented by far the largest share — reflecting Manitoba’s effort to stabilize local workforces by supporting candidates who qualify for the federal temporary policy and who can apply for a two-year open work permit once they obtain a Manitoba support letter.
Why the TPP focus matters — deadlines and practical effects
Manitoba’s emphasis on TPP candidates is consequential because the federal temporary public policy provides a short-term route to two-year open work permits for qualifying PNP candidates who face expiring or expired work permits. To use that route, candidates must obtain a Manitoba support letter and then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before the federal policy expires.
Key time limits applicants must note:
- Manitoba support-letter application deadline: December 16, 2025 at 12:59 a.m. EDT (province’s online form closes).
- IRCC acceptance of OWP applications under the temporary policy: through December 31, 2025 (the federal policy’s scheduled end date).
Because Manitoba can limit how many support letters it issues, being eligible does not guarantee a letter — receiving an LAA tied to the TPP significantly improves your practical pathway to a two-year open work permit.
Who missed out and common application pitfalls
Manitoba cautions that candidates who met published selection criteria but were not invited may have been excluded for avoidable administrative reasons, including:
- Invalid or missing language-test numbers: Candidates reporting third-party English or French test results must enter a valid test number in their EOI; expired or incorrectly recorded scores will disqualify a profile for selection.
- Missing or invalid recruitment-invitation numbers: Candidates who claimed selection under a strategic recruitment initiative must provide a valid invitation number; absent or incorrect codes remove them from consideration.
Applicants who believe they should have been invited should first confirm that test numbers, invitation numbers and Express Entry job-seeker validation details were entered correctly in their EOI, and then contact MPNP for clarification where appropriate.
What strategic recruitment initiatives are and how they work
Strategic recruitment initiatives are employer- or community-driven programs that help Manitoba find workers for specific local shortages. Examples include employer-led hiring campaigns, Francophone-community recruitment, and region-specific outreach. Employers must meet eligibility standards and follow Manitoba’s recruitment process; once approved, they can nominate candidates for consideration or forward candidate information to the province’s Employer Services unit.
These initiatives allow Manitoba to select candidates who demonstrate a clear connection to the province and who are most likely to remain and contribute locally — a priority the province has emphasized throughout 2025.
Practical advice for candidates
- If you were not invited: double-check that your language test number, recruitment invitation number, and Express Entry validation code (if applicable) are correctly entered in your EOI. Small data errors often explain non-selection.
- If you qualify under TPP: submit your Manitoba support-letter application before the province’s December 16 deadline and be prepared to file your IRCC open work-permit application before December 31, 2025.
- For employer-linked candidates: ensure your employer’s recruitment paperwork and authorization are complete and up to date. Employer Services referrals materially improve selection chances.
- Document continuity of intent to settle: Manitoba favours candidates with clear local ties; showing ongoing residence, job continuity and community engagement strengthens your case.
Bottom line
Manitoba’s December 5 draw reinforced the province’s strategic approach: prioritize candidates who already have a Manitoba connection or who are part of targeted recruitment streams — especially those eligible for the federal Temporary Public Policy. With tight national timelines for the TPP and the province’s own online support-letter deadline fast approaching, prospective nominees should act quickly to confirm documentation and submit any outstanding applications.
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