MBiz

14 SUMMER 2023 IMMIGRATION BY JUDY OWEN Jon Reyes recalls walking his dog one day when a man he didn't know approached him. It wasn't a negative encounter. In fact, it was just the opposite for Manitoba's minister of labour and immigration. "I actually had somebody come up to me and say, 'Minister, because of the changes that your government has made with regards to the pathways through professional development, I've become a full-fledged engineer,'" says Reyes, MLA for Waverley. Hearing about the man's positive im- migration experience boosted the spirits of Reyes. "I'm very happy to see that these individuals are practising in the professions they should be," he says. "They're gainfully employed, contributing to our province." Steps toward achieving more success stories are outlined in the Immigration Advisory Council report. Released in Feb- ruary, the report includes recommenda- tions to improve the province's immigra- tion policies and programs and to address labour shortages. "The value of the plan is very important because we have 70 recommendations there to improve and enhance the Mani- toba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)," Reyes says of the immigration program that began in 1998. "With respect to the business com- munity, it's very, very important because there is a shortage of labour, a shortage of skilled labour, across the province and across the country." The council was formed in February 2022 with a panel of 20 experts from across the province and was co-chaired by Reyes and Lloyd Axworthy, the chair of the World Refugee & Migration Council and former Canadian foreign affairs minister. It had three mandates: attracting immi- grants to the province, streamlining the MPNP and enhancing settlement services. The consultation process included stakeholders representing business, government, community and immigrants from across the province. Information was gathered through presentations, emailed submissions, online surveys and town hall meetings. Action has already taken place on some of the recommendations, such as targeting the labour shortage in different regions of the province, Reyes says. A pilot project is underway in Winkler and the Rural Municipality of Stanley. Through a partnership with the provincial government and the Winkler Stanley Eco- nomic Development Corp., 150 nominee spots will be allocated for the region for each year of the three-year project. Can- didates will be recruited for in-demand jobs and their applications reviewed by Report's recommendations address labour shortages PHOTO BY DARCY FINELY John Reyes, Manitoba's minister of labour and immigration, showcases the Immigration Advisory Council report at the Manitoba legislature. Blueprint for IMMIGRATION

• Cover