Manitoba Expands Health Care Workforce with 328 New Positions

The Manitoba government is taking significant steps to address health care staffing shortages by inviting over 300 temporary foreign workers to apply for permanent residency in the province. Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced the initiative on Tuesday, which is part of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This program aims to fortify the province’s health system in response to ongoing staffing challenges in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.

Through the latest expression of interest (EOI) draw, 328 health-care workers currently employed in Manitoba have been invited to apply for permanent residency. Among those invited are 187 health-care aides, 21 physicians, and 11 registered nurses, along with other specialized professionals dedicated to patient care.

“Our government is rebuilding health care after years of cuts and neglect,” Marcelino stated. “By making it easier for skilled workers to stay and build their careers here, we’re ensuring the staff needed to provide care in our hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities can be there for Manitobans.”

Since October 2023, Manitoba has successfully added nearly 3,400 net new health-care workers across the province. This addition is a crucial element of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing patient care and reducing wait times. Health Minister Asagwara emphasized the importance of retaining skilled professionals in the system.

“This is about putting patients first,” Asagwara remarked. “Every nurse, health-care aide, and doctor we retain strengthens the health-care system and brings us one step closer to a Manitoba where people can get care close to home.”

The program’s benefits are already evident in rural areas, such as Killarney. Two physicians invited through the nominee program are now serving in this community, providing immediate advantages to local residents. Mayor Janice Smith of the Municipality of Killarney–Turtle Mountain expressed the positive impact of the program.

“The impact of this draw for Killarney means that we have two doctors who are choosing to stay and make our community their home,” Smith said. “It can be more challenging to recruit in rural communities compared to larger centres, but the right fit sees the incredible value of small-town life. Here, doctors truly become part of the community.”

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program enables the province to nominate skilled workers for permanent residency based on local labor needs. The government has indicated that ongoing draws through this program will continue to focus on high-demand sectors, with health care remaining a top priority.

As Manitoba works to strengthen its health care system, this initiative represents a vital step in ensuring that the province’s residents have access to the quality care they need.