The province of Manitoba is continuing its targeted approach to immigration, as demonstrated by its latest provincial nominee program draw. On July 24, 2025, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) completed a small but highly focused Expression of Interest (EOI) selection round.
In this draw, a total of 19 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker stream, formally inviting them to submit a full application for a provincial nomination. A notable detail of this round is that all 19 invited candidates, whether classified under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba or Skilled Worker Overseas pathways, shared a common characteristic: they were all directly invited by the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.
Data released by the province shows that the lowest-ranked candidate invited in this draw had a score of 611. This score reflects the unique nature of such targeted draws, where selection criteria often extend beyond the standard EOI points system.
Focus on Francophone and Regional Development Evident in Invitation Breakdown
The results of this draw clearly illustrate Manitoba's current immigration priorities. The distribution of the 19 invitations is as follows:
- Francophone Community: 11 invitations
- Employer Services: 2 invitations
- Regional Communities: 3 invitations
- Ethnocultural Communities: 3 invitations
From this data, it is evident that Francophone candidates were the primary beneficiaries, securing over half of the invitations. This aligns perfectly with the long-term goals of both Manitoba and the Canadian federal government to attract French-speaking talent and bolster Francophone communities across the country. Furthermore, the focus on regional and ethnocultural communities highlights Manitoba's commitment to promoting balanced provincial growth and multicultural integration.
Link to Federal Express Entry to Potentially Accelerate Immigration Process
Among the 19 individuals invited, 3 candidates were also found to have a valid Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code.
For these candidates, receiving a provincial nomination from Manitoba is a significant advantage. Once their nomination is approved, they will receive an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the federal Express Entry pool. This boost effectively guarantees they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent federal draw, allowing them to benefit from the faster processing times of the federal system.
In summary, this draw, though small in scale, sends a clear signal: Manitoba is increasingly utilizing a proactive and precise "strategic recruitment" model to select immigrants. Rather than passively waiting for high-scoring applicants, this approach allows the province to more effectively align new immigrants' skills and backgrounds with specific labour market demands and community development goals. For prospective applicants, this means that active participation in Manitoba's recruitment missions, building connections with local communities, and possessing French-language skills could be key factors in receiving an invitation to immigrate.
