Manitoba asks Ottawa for 26-per-cent increase from 2024's allotment
The government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is currently reviewing its immigration program after delaying the re-opening of the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP), according to the government.
The GNWT previously announced that it would start accepting 100 new applications in January 2025 with the potential to add additional intake periods later in the year.
On Jan. 15, however, just a day before the supposed re-opening of the NTNP, Northwest Territories’ Department of Education, Culture and Employment was informed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that the territory’s nominee allotment for 2025 will be 150 – a 50 per cent reduction from the 2024 figure of 300.
“This reduction changes the landscape of the existing NTNP program. As a result, additional time is needed to re-assess the program to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of NWT residents,” says the territorial government.
Nomination allocations for each Canadian jurisdiction are determined annually by IRCC.
Despite the delay, the GNWT says it remains committed to re-opening the NTNP program and will communicate a new re-opening date as soon as possible.
“The government of the Northwest Territories acknowledges the various organizations who continue to advocate for successful immigration to the Northwest Territories, and looks forward to further engagement,” says the government.
Applicants are still encouraged to review the program guidelines and application checklists and begin compiling required information and documentation before the program re-opens.
Those who have questions can reach out to 1 (855) 440-5450 or [email protected], or visit www.immigratenwt.ca.
The federal government has previously made several changes to immigration rules, aiming to crack down on “exploitative relationships” in immigration.
The federal government has also lowered its target immigration numbers for this year and the next two years. Specifically, compared to each previous year, we will see Canada’s temporary population decline by:
- 445,901 in 2025
- 445,662 in 2026
- a modest increase of 17,439 in 2027.
Manitoba calls for increase immigration allocation
Despite this, Manitoba has asked the federal government for as many as 12,000 nominations this year, a 26 per cent jump from 2024's allotment and nearly double the 6,325 nominees Manitoba had in 2022, reports CBC.
"We need as many folks as we can get," says Malaya Marcelino, Manitoba's labour and immigration minister, in the CBC report.
This comes as the province continues to face labour shortages.
However, Bram Strain, president and CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, claims the province is in need not just more migrant workers, but people who have the necessary skills needed to fill job vacancies.
"Before, it was we needed more people regardless of where they went to work. Now I think you're seeing more of a skills match that needs to be filled, whether those are people working in manufacturing, whether those are professional skills or skilled trades," he says in the CBC report.
Welcoming highly skilled immigrants should be the federal government’s prime focus in its immigration policy, according to two experts.
The federal government should reform its immigration system and prioritize immigrants with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) qualifications and strong English or French language skills to help increase living standards for Canadians, two experts from Fraser Institute say in an essay.
"The primary focus of sensible immigration policy should be to attract newcomers who will help increase the living standards of people already living in Canada," says Jock Finlayson, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute.
A previous report by the C.D. Howe Institute highlights persistent overqualification among skilled immigrants in Canada, which undermines their economic potential and hinders the country’s labor market productivity.
