Local program may take a hit from immigration cuts

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This article was published 20/01/2025 (238 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The federal government’s decision to cut Manitoba’s provincial nominee program allocation by half could significantly impact the city of Brandon’s recently launched Brandon Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Immigration Initiative, Mayor Jeff Fawcett said.

The province was informed last Thursday, during a private meeting in Winnipeg between Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Manitoba’s Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino, that its immigration quota for 2025 would be reduced to 4,750 nominee slots — down from 6,325 in 2022 — despite Manitoba’s lobbying efforts to double the quota to 12,000.

Fawcett expressed concern over the impact of the cuts, stating that while immigration is primarily managed at the federal and provincial levels, Brandon’s inclusion in such programs is critical for the city’s growth.

“All of that goes through the province,” Fawcett told the Sun. “We’ll continue to implement whatever we’re allowed to do within the parameters, but this reduction will likely have some impact.”

The federal government had previously announced plans to cut provincial nominee program targets in half, reducing Canada’s overall allocation from 110,000 nominations in 2024 to 55,000 annually over the next three years.

Fawcett explained the provincial government is working to address the issue with federal authorities.

“Minister Marcelino is making the argument for Manitoba, pointing out that federal decisions often appear more focused on major cities like Toronto and Vancouver,” Fawcett said. “There’s a Manitoba argument to be made at the federal level. Places like Brandon can sustainably bring in people who will add to the community.”

The province and federal government have the City of Brandon on the map for immigration at whatever levels they bring in, Fawcett said: “Not a lot of communities have programs like ours.”

Marcelino, voiced her disappointment, emphasizing the province’s dependence on immigration to address labour shortages.

“Businesses are telling us this is going to hurt Manitoba’s economy and worsen labour shortages,” Marcelino said. “We will continue to advocate for Manitoba’s immigration needs and explore all available tools.”

Launched in November 2024, Brandon’s provincial nominee program was designed to tackle the city’s specific economic challenges. The program focuses on filling skilled labour gaps in industries such as health care, construction, and manufacturing while introducing an entrepreneurial stream to attract business investors.

The program is a tailored approach to meeting local needs, Brandon’s Economic Development director Gerald Cathcart said.

“The (program) is not only about filling labour gaps but also fostering long-term economic growth by attracting entrepreneurs to sectors with ownership gaps, such as health care,” Cathcart said.

Under the program, international entrepreneurs with a net worth of at least $500,000 can qualify for nomination if they invest a minimum of $150,000 in a Brandon-based business. Endorsed candidates are given priority in the provincial nomination process.

“Places like Brandon have sustainably integrated newcomers into the community, and keeping immigration levels consistent or increasing them would be beneficial,” Fawcett argued.

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