This introductory section of the Immigration Planning Guide provides background information about immigration to Canada and more specifically to Manitoba. It explores why communities are choosing immigration as one economic growth strategy, where immigrants are settling and how immigrants come to Manitoba.

Immigration to Manitoba is steadily growing. More people are choosing to settle in regions outside Winnipeg. The province has set a goal of receiving 20,000 annual immigrants within 10 years.

Key destinations are the communities and surrounding areas of Winkler, Steinbach, Brandon and Morden.

Immigration is one strategy to meet Manitoba's labour market and demographic challenges.

Why communities choose immigration as a growth strategy

Many rural areas and smaller centres in Canada have experienced depopulation and a shift of population toward larger urban centres. As a result communities are looking for ways to reverse this trend to help ensure a vibrant future by exploring economic growth strategies. Immigration is one economic growth strategy that has been used successfully by some communities.

Manitoba's action strategy for economic growth outlines seven strategies for growth, growing through immigration is one of these strategies. Strategy Diagram

As a growth strategy, immigration will have a major impact on your community; however, it is only one component. Consider other economic strategies such as local retraining, aboriginal recruitment, inter-provincial migration and business recruitment, in order to ensure a balanced approach that complements your current population base and community assets.

For immigration to effectively help build your community, it requires community involvement, patience and planning.

Where are immigrants settling?

Canada''s Federal, Provincial and Territorial immigration ministers are looking for ways to spread the benefits of immigration more evenly across Canada, including to smaller communities and regions. This policy is called "regionalization." Currently, almost 75 per cent of immigrants arrive in three cities in Canada: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Immigration is the shared responsibility of the governments of Canada and Manitoba. Through the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement, Manitoba has negotiated an active role in immigrant recruitment and selection to reflect Manitoba’s priorities including regional economic and labour market needs.

How immigrants come to Manitoba

Manitoba works closely with federal partners, communities, business, service providers and other stakeholders to support a balanced approach to immigration through the provincial nominee program and the federal categories: refugees, economic class, family class and business class.

Through the Canada Manitoba Immigration Agreement PNP applicants are selected and nominated by the province, then the individual applies for Canadian permanent resident status; CIC conducts security and medical checks.

The PNP provides Manitoba with the flexibility to respond to local needs and strengthen opportunities for economic growth.

Since 1998 Manitoba has led provinces in developing our provincial nominee program as an effective immigration response to local economic and community needs. The business component of the Provincial Nominee Program operates in co-operation with Manitoba Competitiveness, Training and Trade.

Resources

• How Immigrants come to Manitoba Chart and Glossary
• Manitoba Immigration Facts 2006 Statistical Report
  This publication describes Manitoba's strategy on immigration including statistics on immigration by country, professions immigrating and immigration by community.
• Canada's immigration plan 2005
• Manitoba’s Action Strategy for Economic Growth
  Outlines Manitoba’s seven-point strategy for economic growth.
• Premier's Economic Advisory Council
  Description of the council, how it was formed, why it was formed, and who is part of the current council.
• Growing Through Immigration Strategy
  Provides Manitoba immigration statistics including settlement locations. The site highlights success of the Provincial Nominee Program
• Regional Immigration Strategies: A Policy-Research Perspective
  Citizenship and Immigration Canada presentation on immigration settlement and reasons for settlement. Provides a perspective on what can be done to increase immigration, and how the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments can work together to initiate a better system.
• Regionalization of Immigration
  Discusses issues of regionalized immigration and options to counteract this trend and the impact of regionalization on rural Canada. States reasons why immigrants choose to settle in certain regions.
• Provincial Nominee Program for Business Immigration
  Information for business applicants through the PNP. Provides information on how to apply, who is eligible, and how to get help with the applications. Forms are offered in several languages.