The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Manitoba's international reputation as a great place to live, work and raise families is growing among immigrants, based on a 40 per cent increase in new arrivals to the province shown in the latest statistics, Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan said Friday. "Our immigration strategies are yielding very favorable results and the numbers released today for the first quarter of 2004 continue the upward trend," said Allan. "Manitoba's strong economy, affordable housing, educational opportunities and excellent health care are attracting the interest of more potential immigrants on an almost daily basis." Recent provincial immigration statistics show: in 2003, Manitoba received 40 per cent more immigrants, a total of 6,496; first quarter immigration levels for 2004 (1,530 individuals) are 38 per cent higher than the same period in 2003 (1,108 individuals); and private refugee sponsorship levels for 2003 (597 individuals) and the first quarter of 2004 (154 individuals) are surpassing government assisted refugee levels. Statistics for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program indicate: an increase of 40 per cent, from 522 individuals in the first quarter of 2003, to 738 in the same period of 2004, since 1999, Manitoba has consistently received greater than 70 per cent of all provincial nominees landing in Canada, and since the Manitoba's Provincial Nominee program began in 1998, over 7,858 principal applicants and family members have settled in the province. "Manitoba is balancing our approach to increasing immigration levels through all applicant categories," said Allan. "We are also working with our partners to address issues such as the use of qualified immigration consultants, boosting settlement services such as language training and employment related services, and keeping our strategies evolving to reflect the needs of Manitoba communities." See 'Regulations' P.# Con't from P.# Manitoba supports new federal regulations requiring all paid immigration consultants to be either members in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC), lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian law society or students-at-law under the supervision of a qualified lawyer. Effective June 1, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program will recognize only those accreditations for individuals acting as a paid immigration consultant or representative. Potential applicants are advised that Manitoba does not require the use of any consultants in the immigration process and are encouraged to deal directly with provincial staff.
