Last Updated On 21 March 2023, 2:42 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
On January 23, 2023 International students and work permit holders held a protest in the front of the Manitoba Legislative building.
The protestors demanded for the new changes to Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).
According to the protestors, the criteria for obtaining the permanent residence (PR) status is unachievable for individuals moving to Manitoba after graduation.
Manitoba PNP is designed in such a way that it penalizes by assigning minus 100 points to international students or work permit holders moving from another Canadian provinces.
| Risk factor | Ranking points |
|---|---|
| Work experience in another province | -100 |
| Studies in another province | -100 |
This is quite challenging for international students and skilled workers who moved to Manitoba from another Canadian provinces.
A former international student, Inderjit Gill said, Students who have worked in the province for the previous two years are awaiting an invitation to apply under MPNP.
He stated that since 2022, candidates must gather around 700 points based on education, experience, age, and language skills in order to get PR in Manitoba.
“Their temporary statuses are expiring soon. They are in stress, panic,” said Inderjit Gill
This higher cut off points to be selected for PR in Manitoba seems unrealistic for those who previously studied or worked in a different province of Canada.
What are the demands?
Skilled Workers and International Graduates raised two major demands:
- Lowering the cut off points so that everyone has path to permanent residency (PR).
- Work permit extensions for those that are expiring soon.
Advanced Education, Skills, and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes told CTV News that he anticipates new changes will be coming to the Manitoba provincial nominee program (MPNP).
He added that the Manitoba Immigration Advisory Council has been looking into ways to strengthen current policies and programs, including the provincial nominee points system.
As per minister, the report from the advisory council including the recommendations is expected to be released soon.
Jon Reyes said, “I’ve spoken with many postgraduates who have created lives for themselves here in Manitoba, and I’m always open to suggestions if it helps the settlement of newcomers who can contribute to our province’s economy.”
Role of Federal Government
It seems like not everything is in the hands of Manitoba government. Province is allocated a set quota of provincial nominations by the Federal Government.
This quota was only 6,367 for the Manitoba PNP in 2022. The number of profiles in Manitoba’s Expression Of Interest (EOI) pool exceeds the allotment for yearly nominations.
As a result, not everyone who submits an EOI profile is chosen by MPNP. So, MPNP issues Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) based on priority by stream and the highest ranking points at the time of a given EOI draw.
Even work permit extensions responsibility is also assigned to the Federal Department for most of the part.
Manitoba protest is a wake up call as similar scenario is in almost all of the Canadian provinces in regards to provincial nominee programs (PNPs).
Repeatedly, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and other provinces have been seeking to increase their annual allocation for provincial nominations to fill the labour shortages.
Temporarily, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) can renew the temporary public policy extending Post Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) that expired in December 2022.
IRCC must also work on long term solution offering clear path to permanent residency (PR) for international students.
New Canada Cellphone Plan Rule Coming In June 2026
New Canada Cellphone Plan Rule: The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has officially eliminated the fees that have long discouraged Canadians from switching their cellphone and internet plans. This landmark decision, announced on March 12, 2026, under Telecom Decision CRTC 2026-43, will take full effect on June 12, 2026 and is expected to reshape…
How Canada’s New IRCC Digital Identity Rules Affect Newcomers
Canada’s immigration system is undergoing a fundamental shift. IRCC’s Digital Platform Modernization program is moving nearly every step of the application process online — from document verification to fee payments — and newcomers need to understand what this means for them practically. This isn’t just about convenience. The change reflects a broader government strategy to…
New Canada Express Entry Overhaul: Here’s All You Need To Know
Canada is preparing to make the most significant structural change to its Express Entry system since the program launched in 2015. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has published a new regulatory initiative on its Forward Regulatory Plan that proposes the creation of a single new federal high-skilled immigration class. This new class would completely replace…
New Canada Early Retirement Incentive – Who Qualifies And How It Works
The Government of Canada has officially launched the Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) program for federal public servants across the country. Applications opened on March 27, 2026, and eligible employees now have until July 24, 2026, to submit their requests through the designated portal. This program allows qualifying federal workers to retire earlier than their standard…
New Ontario OINP Draws On April 8 Send 1,828 PR Invitations
On April 8, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program issued a massive 1,828 invitations to apply across four separate targeted draws. Ontario has unleashed its biggest OINP draw day in April 2026 so far, and the numbers are staggering. This single day of activity dwarfs the 759 mining sector invitations that Ontario issued at the…
Settling in Canada: How New Immigrants Can Build a Balanced Life in Their First Year
Starting fresh in Canada is exciting and challenging at the same time. You’re building a life from scratch while figuring out how everything works, from groceries and transit to paperwork that doesn’t always move quickly. Canada’s population hit about 41.5 million in 2025, with immigration driving over 97% of that growth, so most newcomers are…
Example of How International Platforms Should Function
International platforms are drawing more attention than ever. They are expected to handle users from different regions, adapt to varying needs, and still run without interruptions. That balance is difficult to get right, and many platforms fall short once traffic grows or user demands become more complex. Some services, however, show that it can be…
Latest IRCC Processing Times As Of April 2026
On April 7, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its latest round of processing time data, and the April numbers tell a story of sharp contrasts. Citizenship grants are now processing faster than at any point since late 2025, with the queue finally shrinking for the first time this year. But Quebec parents’…
5 New Lotto Max Changes Coming In April 2026
Canada’s most popular and favourite national lottery game, Lotto Max is about to undergo its biggest transformation in 17 years. Lotto Max players across the country will experience sweeping changes starting this week as the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation rolls out a major overhaul to the beloved game. The rollout starts after the Friday, April 10,…
New Fuel Surcharges In Canada To Raise Costs This Week Amid Iran War
Canadians are bracing for higher costs on nearly everything from airline tickets to online shopping as a wave of fuel surcharges sweeps across the country. The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has triggered what energy analysts describe as the largest supply disruption in the history of global oil markets. With Iran…
How Professional Basketball Has Evolved in the Modern NBA Era
A reported look at how the NBA changed: spacing, shot diet, play-in pressure, mobile habits, and the faster rhythm shaping the 2026 league.
Canada Will Need To Increase Immigration Again Sooner Than Expected
Canada’s historic population decline in 2025—the first since Confederation—has produced devastating economic results that economists severely underestimated. While 2024 forecasts predicted moderate GDP slowdowns, actual 2025 performance was far worse: GDP grew just 1.7% (the weakest since 2020) and contracted 0.6% annualized in Q4 and it is now projected to contract in 2026 under trade…
New Canada Food Recall Warnings In April 2026
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued multiple critical food recall warnings during the first week of April 2026. Several major food products have been pulled from grocery store shelves across Canada due to serious contamination concerns. Listeria monocytogenes contamination has emerged as the primary threat affecting cheese products, salads, and meal kit ingredients nationwide.…
6 New British Columbia Laws and Rules In April 2026
April 2026 stands out as one of the most consequential months for policy changes in British Columbia, touching everything from how healthcare professionals are regulated to how casinos and gaming facilities operate under provincial oversight. The most substantial changes centre on two major pieces of legislation that have been years in the making: “a complete…
New Express Entry Draw Predictions and CRS Score Trends For April 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already issued over 58,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across 20 Express Entry draws since the beginning of 2026. Something is shifting inside the Express Entry pool and most candidates are not paying attention to it yet. The pace of draws is accelerating while the pool composition is changing…
New Flight Delays Hit Canada And US On Easter Monday 2026
Travellers across North America are facing flight disruptions on Easter Monday, April 6, 2026, as airlines work through weather impacts and holiday travel demand. According to official FlightAware data as of 9:40 AM EDT, a total of 10,229 flights have been delayed globally today, with 491 cancellations affecting airports worldwide. The United States has recorded…
New Ontario Trillium Benefit Payments to Be Sent on April 10
Ontario residents who depend on provincial tax credits for financial support should prepare for the next Ontario Trillium Benefit payment scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026. The Canada Revenue Agency will deposit this tax-free monthly payment into the bank accounts of hundreds of thousands of eligible Ontario households on behalf of the Ontario government. The…
New Canada Fixed Mortgage Rates Increase As Renewal Costs Climb In April 2026
Canada Fixed Mortgage Rates Increase: Fixed mortgage rates across Canada are climbing in April 2026 as bond yields rise amid geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty. Over one million Canadian homeowners face mortgage renewals this year, with many set to experience payment increases of 15% to 20% compared to their pandemic-era rates. Newcomers to Canada planning…
6 New Ontario Laws and Rules Taking Effect In April 2026
Ontario residents are waking up to a transformed province this month as sweeping changes to alcohol sales, healthcare billing, tax rules, and fire safety regulations all take effect. April 2026 marks one of the most significant regulatory shifts in recent memory for the province. From the way beer and wine are priced at your local…
New Canada LMIA Rules Now In Effect
Canada has introduced important Labour Market Impact Assessment changes that affect low-wage Temporary Foreign Worker Program applications effective from April 1, 2026. The two main federal changes are an extended advertising period of at least 8 consecutive weeks and a new requirement to target youth in recruitment efforts for low-wage LMIA applications. Separate temporary rural…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.