June 16, 2004
A new Manitoba Immigration Council will advise government on immigration strategies, Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced today.
"The council will bring the views and insights of our stakeholders forward to government as we work together to increase immigration to Manitoba," said Allan. "We are confident this new partnership will be able to create innovative approaches and draw a greater share of newcomers to our communities, fostering future economic growth."
The council represents business, labour, regional and multicultural sectors and will provide information and advice on immigration issues to the minister. The wide variety of issues to be addressed include attracting more skilled and professionally qualified immigrants, the availability of settlement services for newcomers and improving immigrant retention rates.
The members are:
Tom Denton - chair - former executive director of the International Centre of Winnipeg, participant on Premier’s Economic Advisory Council Immigration Task Force
Dr. Madhu Gupta - vice-chair - co-chair, Standing Committee on Immigration and Employment, Manitoba Ethnocultural Advisory and Advocacy Council (MEAAC)
Daniel Boucher - president and CEO, Société franco-manitobaine
Dr. Ron Britton - professor and associate dean, faculty of engineering, University of Manitoba, past-president of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists
Cheryl Campbell - adult educator with Pembina Valley Workplace Language Training in the Morden/Winkler area
Marty Dolin - executive director, Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council
Bob Freedman - executive director, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg
Otto Lang - consultant, distinguished member of the Business Council of Manitoba Immigration Committee, former federal minister of immigration
Dr. Romulo Magsino - professor, University of Manitoba, faculty of education
Carmen Nembhardt - honorary Jamaican consul and member of the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council Immigration Task Force
Lorraine Sigurdson - Manitoba Federation of Labour
Fatima Soares - co-ordinator, Employment Solutions for Immigrant Youth, and past executive director of Employment Projects of Winnipeg and the International Centre of Winnipeg
"Strong and sustainable immigration growth is an essential part of any realistic blueprint for Manitoba’s future development and prosperity," said Allan. "By tapping into our stakeholder resources through this council, I am confident our current momentum in immigration will continue to gather strength and carry our province forward."
The 12 council members are appointed for three-year terms with a two successive term limit.
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