Manitoba has formally announced its first provincial immigration draw in August, inviting skilled workers to submit their applications for a provincial nomination under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The draw aimed at inviting candidates possessing certain skills required in the labor market of the province and targeting those involved in strategic recruitment initiatives.
Also Read Manitoba Targets Skilled Talent in August’s First PNP Invitation Round
August 7 MPNP Draw Summary
On August 7, 2025, the province held Expression of Interest (EOI) Draw #251 in the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas streams. A total of 37 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were given to the candidates.
To get an invitation during this round, candidates had to:
- Obtain a minimum of 724 points on Manitoba’s ranking system, and
- Had been invited directly by one of the province’s strategic recruitment campaigns.
Breakdown of Invitations by Initiative
Strategic Recruitment Initiative Number of LAAs Issued:
- Employer Services 15
- Francophone Community 19
- Regional Communities 1
- Ethnocultural Communities 2
As a notable fact, seven of these invitations were also sent to candidates who had active Express Entry profiles and active job seeker validation codes.
Why Some Candidates Miss Out
The MPNP explained that while candidates scoring at or above the minimum score might miss out on an invitation, if their application has incomplete or invalid information. The most typical reasons are:
- Listing a test approved, but no valid test number is being provided or the results have expired.
- Not reporting receipt of a direct invitation, but not providing the correct invitation number in their EOI profile.
Understanding Manitoba’s Strategic Recruitment Initiatives
These programs are employer-led, community-led, or culture-led specialized initiatives in Manitoba. They are designed to find foreign talent who possess skills that are highly sought after and that cannot be readily obtained locally. By doing so, employers are able to address long-standing labour gaps, and international workers have an opportunity to become permanent residents.
Employers need to adhere to Manitoba’s official hiring processes, meet position suitability requirements, and collaborate with the province’s Employer Services staff. Candidates, for their part, must meet requirements involving language skills, work experience, education, and other stream-specific requirements.
Retention Considerations
The MPNP also checks if a candidate is eligible to stay in Manitoba in the long run. Candidates who have better connections in another Canadian province, like previous work history, education, or family ties in another region of the country, are likely a retention risk and can affect their approval possibilities.
This most recent MPNP draw continues Manitoba’s emphasis on focused recruitment to meet the immediate labour market demands. With only 37 invitations, competition is still high, especially for applicants wanting to come in through the strategic recruitment channels.
