2002-45

CANADA AND MANITOBA RENEW IMMIGRATION AGREEMENT

WINNIPEG, November 13, 2002 -- The Honourable Denis Coderre, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and the Honourable Becky Barrett, Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration, agreed today to update and extend the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement until October 22, 2003.

"Immigration has always contributed to both Canada's and Manitoba's social and economic development, and we look forward to further collaboration to ensure continued benefits," said Minister Coderre. "This agreement is especially timely, given the recent immigration ministers' meeting where we committed to greater federal-provincial partnership," he added.

A highlight of the renewed agreement is an amendment to increase the allocation under the Provincial Nominee Program. It allows Manitoba to identify and nominate individuals with the potential to provide significant economic benefits to the province. Other amendments were made to update the terminology to reflect the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

"Since its inception, the Provincial Nominee Program has been an important tool in recruiting and retaining skilled immigrants," noted Minister Barrett. "Canada and Manitoba have now agreed to an annual allocation of 1,500 nominees, plus their accompanying family members. This is a considerable increase from the original 200 allotted in 1998."

The provincial nominees portion of the renewed agreement enhances the original 1996 framework agreement in support of the development of Francophone minority language communities and validates provincial consultation with representatives of Manitoba's Francophone community.

Minister Coderre and Minister Barrett also signed a letter of intent signaling both parties' commitment to developing a new Canada-Manitoba immigration agreement to expand Manitoba's role with respect to immigration. The parties are aiming to conclude the negotiation of that agreement by the end of March 2003.

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Visit the Manitoba Labour and Immigration Web site: http://www.gov.mb.ca/splash.html

For information:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Sarah Bain
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
(613) 954-1064

René Mercier
Media Relations
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 941-7042

Government of Manitoba
Peter Dalla-Vicenza
Press Secretary to Cabinet (Manitoba)
(204) 945-1494

Gerald L. Clement
Assistant Deputy Minister
Manitoba Immigration and Multiculturalism Division
(204) 945-8174

AMENDMENT TO THE
CANADA-MANITOBA IMMIGRATION AGREEMENT

BACKGROUNDER

• The Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement defines the respective roles and responsibilities of Canada and Manitoba related to immigrants and non-immigrants wishing to come to Manitoba under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Under the terms of the agreement, Manitoba and Canada cooperate closely when developing immigration policies.
• The amendment to the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement extends the agreement to October 22, 2003. The agreement was first signed in 1996.
• The amendment updates the existing agreement to reflect the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

 
Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program was established in 1998 as an addendum to the 1996 Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement.

1. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) provides the province with a mechanism to increase the economic benefits of immigration based on economic priorities, labour market conditions and community needs.
2. With the agreement of both ministers and in the spirit of enhanced cooperation on immigration, Manitoba can now nominate 1,500 PNP candidates. When candidates' accompanying family members are taken into account, the total number of newcomers could be as high as 4,500. The PNP numbers had previously been 1,250 candidates.
3. Manitoba nominates potential candidates who will contribute significantly to its social and economic development and who will be able to establish themselves successfully in Manitoba.
4. Manitoba provides recruitment plans to Canada to identify target markets and potential source countries and regions.
5. Provincial nominees brought in under the agreement become permanent residents of Canada.
6. The Canadian government will continue to enforce the statutory requirements related to the security and medical screening of immigration applicants and retains the right to final selection.
7. Changes to the provincial nominees' portion of the renewed agreement build on Canada and Manitoba's joint commitment in the original 1996 agreement to consider the needs of the minority official language community in the province. The addendum has been amended to recognize the importance of encouraging Francophone minority language community development through immigration and to formally provide for provincial consultation on the program with representatives of Manitoba's Francophone community.
8. In 2001, Manitoba took in 4,574 immigrants, or 1.82 percent of Canada's 250,346 immigrants.

 
Settlement Services

• An addendum to realign settlement services was added to the original Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement of 1996.
• Under the settlement realignment addendum, the provincial government is responsible for the design and administration of general immigrant settlement services in Manitoba.
• Canada provides support for general settlement services in all provinces and territories except Quebec, which receives a grant under the Canada-Quebec Accord. For fiscal year 2002-2003, the total allocation for settlement services is $173.3 million, of which approximately $6 million is directed to Manitoba. The province assumes responsibility for the delivery of settlement services while undertaking community consultations.
• Settlement services are the economic and social services designed to help newcomers adapt to Canadian society. They include orientation, reception, adult language training, settlement counselling, labour market preparation and referral to other services.
• Under the agreement, Manitoba has the flexibility to ensure that services meet the needs of newcomers.
• Canada continues to be involved in national activities that help improve the settlement of newcomers.
• Canada continues to resettle refugees from abroad and administers the program that provides immediate settlement services to refugees upon arrival in Canada, including income support.

BACKGROUNDER

National and Regional Immigration Statistics

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