'It's not appropriate to judge someone's intention to live in Manitoba just on the basis that they have relatives here'
Skilled trade workers in Manitoba are calling on the provincial government to resume the National Occupational Classification (NOC) to help fill in-demand jobs in the province.
Since the new government assumed office in October, there has been a cessation of the draws specific to NOC, said skilled trade workers in Winnipeg who staged a protest at the legislature late last week.
Stopping NOC draws has resulted in processing times doubling from 6 to 12 months, which leaves many skilled workers and permit holders in a state of uncertainty and distress, said the protestors in a City News report.
“We haven’t had any general draw for skilled workers or NOC-specific draws since this government came into power,” said Syadin Joshi, protest organizer.
“Those who have close relatives here, this government was trying all of those people, and it’s not appropriate to judge someone’s intention to live in Manitoba just on the basis that they have relatives here.”
In March, a group of skilled workers in Manitoba called on the provincial government to do away with the family-ties consideration in its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Because of the rule, some skilled workers living in Manitoba said they're being passed over for permanent residency, according to a previous CBC report.
What Manitoba skilled trade workers want
On top of wanting the provincial government to resume NOC draws, skilled trade workers in Manitoba in the City News report also want the provincial government to:
- prioritize in-demand jobs and other streams
- reduce processing times for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program applications to three to four months
- implement special draws for individuals awaiting their draws for over two years
“We are trying to set up an intermediary to the minister so we can communicate efficiently and effectively, and we can convey all the demands and requests to the minister,” said Joshi in the report.
Meanwhile, both the federal and provincial governments can do some things happen to address the issue, said Kevin Lamoureux, Winnipeg North MP, who attended the protest, according to the City News report.
“The federal government needs to look at ways of how they can help the province in preventing people who have working visas that are expiring, that are going to be receiving a nomination certificate so that the working visas can be extended or new pilot project working visas can be given so they don’t have to leave the country,” explained Lamoureux.
Budget 2024 will “significantly increase the number of staff in the immigration division who can process Manitoba Provincial Nominee applications,” said Malaya Marcelino, federal minister of labour and immigration, in a statement, according to City News.
Last year, Manitoba made changes to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) General Regulation, allowing internationally educated physicians in specific membership classes to practice in Manitoba without passing the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part 1 (MCCQE1).