Background

Created in February 2022, the Manitoba Immigration Advisory Council serves as an expert panel to recommend improvements to current immigration policies and programs.

The council, to be co-chaired by the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration and Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, will review the entire continuum of immigration, from promotion to retention of newcomers. It will provide clear recommendations and concrete actions to the Manitoba government including strengthening the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement by looking at options to include new annexes or memoranda of understanding.

Description

The focus of the council includes:

• building on promotion to attract and recruit more immigrants and business investors to the province;
• streamlining the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, especially with regards to setting the right balance between the province's regional labour market, economic development and community needs; and
• fostering Manitoba's settlement and integration programs and services, as well as foreign credential recognition programs, to encourage labour market attachment, improve foreign credential recognition and bolster immigrant retention.

Membership

Twenty Manitobans have been appointed to Manitoba's Immigration Advisory Council:

• Lana Adeleye-Olusae (Winnipeg), pastor and human resource consultant, and involved with the African Communities of Manitoba and the Nigerian Association of Manitoba;
• Andrea Aiello (Winnipeg), director of workforce development, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, and a human resources professional;
• Yasmin Ali (Winnipeg), founding member and board president, Canadian Muslim Women's Institute, and a full-time community volunteer for more than 30 years;
• Michael Benarroch (Winnipeg), president and vice-chancellor, University of Manitoba and professor of business administration, Asper School of Business;
• Liz Choi (Winnipeg), chief executive officer of ECG Education Canada Group, a parent company of Robertson College, and chair of the board of directors, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce;
• Chad Friesen (Altona), president and chief executive officer, Friesens Corporation;
• Annie Henry (Winnipeg), business development manager, Tourism Winnipeg, and member of various boards such as Enterprises Riel and Sport Tourism Canada;
• Kerri Korabelnikov (West St. Paul), dean, School of Education, Arts and Sciences, Red River College Polytech, with extensive experience in English-language training and pathways to employment serving newcomers and immigrants;
• Shauna Labman (Winnipeg), associate professor of human rights, Global College, University of Winnipeg, and an active member of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers;
• Baerbel Langner (Winnipeg), in-house legal counsel, HyLife Foods, with more than 25 years of professional experience in the area of citizenship and immigration law;
• Shane Li (Winnipeg), chief executive officer and president, Red Leaf Capital, and president, North Forge East – North Forge Technology Exchange;
• Dr. Ghulam Memon (Winnipeg), a family physician practicing in Winnipeg and president, Pakistan Winnipeg Society;
• Debasish Mukherjee (Beausejour), a small business owner in Beausejour who is active in the Indian community and is on the board of Beausejour Brokenhead Development Corporation;
• Enver Naidoo (Brandon), executive director, Westman Immigrant Services, and co-founder, Interdisciplinary Immigration Research Network;
• Rosanna Pancotto (Winnipeg), immigration consultant, Prairie Sky Immigration;
• Gary Sarcida (Winnipeg), immigration lawyer, PKF Law, who currently sits on the board of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Manitoba Human Rights Adjudication Panel;
• Paramjit Shahi (Winnipeg), president, Winnipeg South Community Centre, and also a business consultant and respected community leader;
• Vicki Sinclair (Winnipeg), executive director, Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations, an umbrella organization for settlement service providers;
• Bramwell Strain (Winnipeg), president and chief executive officer, Business Council of Manitoba; and
• Denys Volkov (Winnipeg); executive director, Association of Manitoba Municipalities.

Public meetings

Manitoba's Immigration Advisory Council is launching a series of public meetings to inform its recommendations on improvements to Manitoba's current immigration policies and programs.

This presentation will be delivered during these public consultations, and it explains various aspects of immigration in Manitoba. All are encouraged to review these materials and attend these meetings to provide their perspectives.

Meetings will be held over the summer including sessions in:

• Winnipeg in room 230, Manitoba Legislative Building, 450 Broadway, on June 22, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.;
• Beausejour at the Beau-Head Seniors Association, 645 Park Ave., on June 23, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.;
• Dauphin at the Watson Arts Centre (Fire Hall Room), 104 First Ave. NW, on June 29, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.;
• Swan River at the Veterans Community Hall (Legion Meeting Hall), 110 Sixth Ave. NE, on June 29, 2022 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.;
• Thompson at the Best Western Thompson, 205 Mystery Lake Rd. on June 30, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.;
• Brandon at the Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave., on July 11, 2022 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.;
• Neepawa at the Neepawa Public Library, 280 Davidson St., on July 11, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.;
• Winkler at the Best Western Plus, 1705 Diamond Dr., on August 4, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. to noon;
• Altona at the Millennium Exhibition Centre, 227-10th Ave. NW, on August 4, 2022 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.;
• Steinbach at the Days Inn, 75 Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 12 N, on August 4, 2022 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.;
• Winnipeg at the Winnipeg Grand Mosque, 2445 Waverley St., on August 10, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and
• Winnipeg at the Maples Community Centre, 424 Adsum Dr., on August 11, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Arborg at the Arborg-Bifrost Community Centre, 409 Recreation Centre, on August 18, 2022 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.

A bilingual session will also be held in east Winnipeg:

• Winnipeg at the Canad Inns Transcona, 826 Regent Ave. W, on July 7, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (bilingual session).