Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - October 2007
In 2006, for the first time ever, Manitoba had the highest rate of immigration in Canada. Statistics Canada reports that nearly 11,000 new immigrants moved to Manitoba last year. This is up from 3,000 immigrants in 1997 and 5,000 in 2000.
Until this year, Ontario had the highest provincial immigration rate, followed by British Columbia and Quebec.
Manitoba credits the Provincial Nominee Program, which brings in workers to fill province-specific occupational shortages, for the recent increase in the immigration rate. Started in 1999, this program lets provinces much more actively advertise and recruit workers.
The largest group of immigrants to Manitoba come from the Philippines, with 2,500 Filipinos moving to the province in 2006 alone. In addition to advertising slogans like �Friendly Manitoba� which are becoming well known there, many Filipinos already have family in Manitoba and are coming to join them.
Increased immigration is being coupled by population growth in Manitoba. For a long time Manitoba has suffered a net loss of population every year as people move out to the more prosperous western provinces. However, an increased cost of living in Alberta and British Columbia is reversing this trend. Hopefully friendly Manitoba will continue to see increases in both immigration rates and population.
Source: Winnipeg Free Press 2007
