On February 12^th, 2024, members of the AMBM Group’s leadership team, Mr. Gab-Riel Turenne and Mrs. Madeleine Arbez, respectively President and Executive Director of the Economic Development Council of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba or CDEM), and Mr. Justin Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the AMBM, met with the Honourable Malaya Marcelino, Minister of Labour and Immigration and Minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

The purpose of the meeting was to present to the Minister the strength of the AMBM Group in Francophone and bilingual economic immigration in the province.

Minister Marcelino discussed with interest CDEM’s role in direct and indirect services and programs in Francophone economic immigration and employability, including the formal partnership established between the Manitoba government and CDEM for the coordination of the Francophone strategic sub-component Invitation au Manitoba under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

We also discussed key elements of economic immigration from the Strategy to Support Economic Immigration to Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipalities and the Notice on the 16 Strategic Priorities of Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipal Leadership published in September 2023, including:

• A substantial increase in Francophone and bilingual economic immigration to Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities, particularly in rural areas, by attracting a targeted workforce that meets the needs of local employers, as well as immigrant investors.
• Maintain the role of the CDEM in Francophone and bilingual immigration within the MPNP and strengthen its capacity to respond effectively to demand, particularly in rural areas.
• Implementing a customized initiative to support the recruitment of immigrants who match the economic fabric and Francophone and bilingual workforce needs of bilingual rural municipalities.
• Raising awareness and supporting rural employers in attracting and including new talent to support their growth.
• Increasing access to affordable housing in rural areas, taking into account the corresponding municipal infrastructure.
• The importance of retaining and accrediting (skills recognition) Francophone newcomers in key sectors, notably health and education. In the Minister’s view, the key to retention is family ties.

In closing, the parties confirmed the alignment of their values, as well as their mutual interest in continuing their collaboration and investing the necessary efforts to make a success of Francophone and bilingual economic immigration, and to build together Manitoba communities that are increasingly attractive, diversified, inclusive and prosperous.

The AMBM is the voice of bilingual municipal leadership in the province of Manitoba. It represents 15 local governments committed to providing services in both official languages to their citizens. Together, these municipalities represent the majority of Manitoba’s population. Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership is also at the head of the AMBM Group, a consortium of three complementary organizations: the AMBM, the Economic Development Council of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, or CDEM) and Eco-West Canada (EWC), which specializes in the green economy. These three complementary organizations actively contribute to the development, vitality and sustainability of the province’s Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) and of the province as a whole.

Information: Office of the Chief Executive Officer (O-CEO), 204-289-4077, [email protected].