Manitoba broke from its recent pattern of large Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) rounds by issuing only 29 Letters of Advice to Apply on October 23. The draw targeted candidates in the Skilled Worker stream who had been directly invited through strategic recruitment initiatives, including employer services, francophone and regional community engagement.
The prairie province had earlier surprised observers with a 3,347-invite “mega-draw” in early September and health-sector-focused rounds on September 18 and October 9. Immigration analysts interpret the modest October 23 selection as a recalibration toward employer-driven nominations after clearing a backlog of occupation-specific profiles.
Of the 29 invitations, nine went to Express Entry candidates, underscoring Manitoba’s continued use of the federal pool to accelerate processing. Temporary Public Policy (TPP) candidates—primarily work-permit holders already in the province—received 19 invitations, aligning with IRCC’s push to transition in-Canada workers to permanent residence.
For employers, the small draw suggests that Manitoba is reserving remaining 2025 nomination spaces for applicants with job offers and community ties. Companies with acute labour shortages should coordinate with provincial employer services to position candidates for future strategic draws. Prospective nominees are advised to maintain active Express Entry profiles and document regional links.
Looking ahead, stakeholders expect Manitoba to alternate between niche selections and larger occupation-specific rounds as it balances retention goals with overall quota management before year-end.
The prairie province had earlier surprised observers with a 3,347-invite “mega-draw” in early September and health-sector-focused rounds on September 18 and October 9. Immigration analysts interpret the modest October 23 selection as a recalibration toward employer-driven nominations after clearing a backlog of occupation-specific profiles.
Of the 29 invitations, nine went to Express Entry candidates, underscoring Manitoba’s continued use of the federal pool to accelerate processing. Temporary Public Policy (TPP) candidates—primarily work-permit holders already in the province—received 19 invitations, aligning with IRCC’s push to transition in-Canada workers to permanent residence.
For employers, the small draw suggests that Manitoba is reserving remaining 2025 nomination spaces for applicants with job offers and community ties. Companies with acute labour shortages should coordinate with provincial employer services to position candidates for future strategic draws. Prospective nominees are advised to maintain active Express Entry profiles and document regional links.
Looking ahead, stakeholders expect Manitoba to alternate between niche selections and larger occupation-specific rounds as it balances retention goals with overall quota management before year-end.
