Overview of the Manitoba PNP

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) was Canada’s first PNP. It became a permanent immigration program in 1998.

The program launched to help grow the province’s economy through immigration, based on their economic and labour market needs.

In its first year, the MPNP welcomed 418 new immigrants. Today, the province nominates more than 4,000 new immigrants through the program per year.

Manitoba has been very successful with the MPNP. In fact, without it, Manitoba’s GDP would be up to 30 per cent lower.

Manitoba is also popular among newcomers. Having a friend or relative in Manitoba helps you to immigrate through the MPNP. In addition, over 90 per cent of provincial nominees get a job in their first year. The province’s retention rate is high with almost 90 per cent choose to stay in the province.

Some of the province’s immigration streams are base streams and others are enhanced streams.

Enhanced means that the stream is aligned with the Express Entry system. This is the system that the federal government uses to manage permanent residence applications through the country’s three main economic class immigration programs.

The Express Entry system gives a candidate a point score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence.

If you get a nomination from a provincial program that is enhanced, you get an extra 600 CRS points, practically guaranteeing getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. They also get their nomination through their Express Entry profile.

Base streams are streams that are not aligned with the Express Entry systems. Candidates who get a provincial nomination are required to apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).