View From the Legislature

Recently at the Legislature I had the opportunity to participate in a fantastic event with community members celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. Manitobans who have been involved in all levels of this program were joined by former Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon, former Cabinet Minister Bonnie Mitchelson, MPNP participant Elaine Verry, and SkipTheDishes CEO Chris Simair to discuss the multitude of impacts that the Nominee Program has had over the last twenty years, from it’s creation and lasting legacy to the life-changing opportunity to come to Manitoba, and the economic benefit that all Manitobans enjoy from increased economic migration.

Steinbach, like many communities in southern Manitoba, has benefited tremendously from the Provincial Nominee Program. Employers have played a key part in this success right from the very beginning as they have been instrumental in identifying their labour needs and helping match jobs to those entering through the Provincial Nominee Program.

This event was an opportunity to celebrate a truly Made-in-Manitoba solution to bring more people to our province and to ensure that they are able to move quickly into job that may otherwise go unfilled. These individuals make excellent additions to Manitoba, and with new streams recently opened for graduate students, I hope that even more skilled workers and students will want to make Manitoba their home. The success of this program is a legacy that all of those involved should be proud to be a part, as it changed the landscape of Manitoba for the better.