FRANCAIS

January 20, 2004

Manitoba’s innovative strategies have resulted in doubling the annual provincial immigration levels since 1998, Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced today.

"Manitoba’s highly successful Provincial Nominee Program is adding valuable skilled and professional immigrants to the provincial workforce at a significant rate," said Allan. "The skills, knowledge and expertise of newcomers are critical to expanding our ability to be productive, competitive and innovative in the new global economy of the 21^st century. Manitoba currently selects over 70 per cent of Canada’s successful provincial nominees."

Preliminary Citizenship and Immigration Canada statistics show Manitoba’s share of overall immigration to Canada increased to 6,470 individuals in 2003 in comparison to 2,993 in 1998.

The 2003 immigration data for Manitoba also shows:

• a 40 per cent increase in the annual number of immigrants compared to 2002;
• a total of over 3,100 nominees and their dependents, representing 48 per cent of the province's total immigration;
• 62 per cent of adult immigrants (1,800 individuals) were highly educated;
• 30 per cent of provincial nominees located outside of Winnipeg;
• 18 per cent of Canada’s privately sponsored refugees and 7.21 per cent of government assisted refugees—a total of 1,200 individuals—settled in the province surpassing the previous year level of 971;
• the business component of the Provincial Nominee Program approved 172 entrepreneurs representing a combined investment potential of $64 million and commitments for the creation of about 450 new jobs; and
• over 9.3 million visits were recorded to the provincial immigration website in the past 12 months.

"Manitoba’s immigration strategy is a comprehensive response to demographic challenges such as declining birth rates, an aging workforce and the impending retirement of the baby boomers," said Allan. "The upcoming federal, provincial and territorial immigration ministers’ conference will address a wide range of immigration issues facing newcomers. From these discussions, I am confident new ideas will help Manitoba reach our own goal of 10,000 immigrants annually by 2006."

Ministers attending the conference, scheduled for Victoria Jan. 21 and 22, will discuss a variety of issues and strategies to promote immigration to Canada and the provinces.

For more information on Manitoba and its immigration programs visit the website at http://www.immigratemanitoba.com.

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