Why Manitoba is one of the Best Places to live in

Almost 70% of foreigners looking to relocate to Canada choose provinces like Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, drawn by attractive salaries and job opportunities. But what most immigrants don’t realise is that these cities are some of the most expensive cities to live in and because most people choose to immigrate to Canada in search of new job opportunities, the likelihood of finding jobs in your field may be very competitive and therefore may affect your ability to get permanent residence, especially if the program you are immigrating through requires a job offer.

One province that is among the best places to live in, and is often overlooked, is Manitoba. Not only does it have 10 of the top 20 In-demand jobs , but some of these occupations have higher salaries than the national average as well as provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia.

One of these in-demand occupations falls in the IT industry. Although Ontario is regarded to be the Tech Capital of Canada, software engineers can expect to earn an average salary of $100,000 per year in Manitoba which is substantially higher than the national average of $92,463 as well as Ontario, which has an annual average salary of $90,034 per year and is also well below the national average, according to Neuvoo.ca.

Manitoba also has a lower cost of living than most provinces and territories in Canada. Cost of living for a single person in Vancouver, British Columbia, for example, which may have 2 of the most liveable cities in the world but are also the most expensive cities to live in, in Canada. The average cost of living, according to Expatistan.com, for a single person in Vancouver is estimated at $3,497 per month and Toronto $3,472 compared to Winnipeg, which averages at $2,184 per month.

Besides greater employment opportunities and a lower cost of living, Manitoba also offers a lively cultural scene as well as beautiful national parks to explore. Two other great benefits that all Canadian citizens have access to, is free public healthcare and education, making it a great place for young professionals and families to relocate to.

Ready to find out how we can help you get permanent residence in Manitoba? Simply click the link below or keep reading to find out what your best options are to relocate to one of Canada’s most amazing provinces.

Top 3 Reasons Why Manitoba is the Place for You

There are many wonderful places to set roots in Canada as equally as many reasons why you should consider Manitoba as your new home. To help narrow your choices, we’ve chosen the top 3 reasons why you should apply for permanent residence in Manitoba.

1. Lucrative Job Opportunities

As mentioned earlier, Manitoba has 10 of the top In-Demand Jobs for 2020 on its list, which means that you have a great chance of finding work in Canada. These top occupations are as follows:

Top 10 Occupations In-Demand in Manitoba for 2020
Occupation	Provincial Average Annual Salary(CAD)
Nurses Aides	$24,375
Welder	$40,950
Industrial Electrician	$72,930
Software Engineer	$100,00
Aircraft Pilot	$90,324
Early Childhood Educator	$33,150
Chef or Cook	$27,300 – $35,100
Pharmacist	$92,000
Construction Estimator	$49,250
Management Consultant	$190,125

Other in-demand occupations in Manitoba include:

• Industrial butchers
• Bakers
• IT professions such as Database analysts, Information systems analysts and computer programmers

2. Low Cost of Living

Manitoba has a very low cost of living compared to other Canadian provinces and territories. According to Expatistan.com, Winnipeg is not only the 3rd cheapest city to live in, in Canada, but is also cheaper than 81% of all cities in North America. Monthly rent for a furnished studio apartment can cost anywhere from $940 to $1,259 per month whereas a furnished home would cost about $1,278 to $1,483 for rent each month.

The average cost of living for a single person is about $2,184 per month whereas the estimated monthly cost for a family of 4 is approximately $1,590 per month.

3. High Quality of Life

It goes without saying that Canada as a whole is well known for its exceptional quality of life. With benefits such as free universal healthcare as well as primary and secondary education, you will be left with extra money to put away for your children’s university tuition or simply save up for a rainy day.

With permanent residence you are eligible to apply for a Manitoba Health Card, which you will need to provide when you visit your GP (General Practitioner) or if you need to be admitted to hospital. It is important to note that not all services are covered however most employers offer extra health coverage.

Manitoba has plenty of fantastic schools to choose from, where your children will receive high-class education and also has some of the country’s top tertiary institutions, including the University of Manitoba.

Top cities in Manitoba, includes Winnipeg, Brandon and Steinbach. Cities are both clean and safe and are home to welcoming communities. The weather is generally very pleasant and is one of Canada’s sunnier provinces although winter can get quite chilly and is subject to heavy rainfall some snowfall.

Overall, whether you are a young professional in search of great opportunities or are looking for a new place for your family to call home, Manitoba is the place for you.

How Do I Immigrate to Manitoba?

There are various ways to immigrate to Manitoba, but the best way is through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.

What is the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program?

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has various streams, each aimed at targeting experienced foreign workers who would like to relocate to Manitoba. There are 3 main streams, each giving newcomers the opportunity to get permanent residence in Canada.

• Skilled Worker Stream
• International Education Stream
• Business Investor Stream.

Each stream has subcategories:

MPNP
Stream	Category
Skilled Worker Stream (for skilled applicants who want to live and work in Manitoba)	Skilled Workers in Manitoba(for skilled worker based in Manitoba) Skilled Workers Overseas (for skilled workers applying from outside Manitoba)
International Education Stream ( for international students graduating from an institution in Manitoba)	Career Employment Pathway (for post-secondary graduates with a job offer in Manitoba) Graduate Internship Pathway (for international  master’s and doctoral graduates) International Student Entrepreneur Pilot (gives up to 20 graduates in Manitoba the chance to pursue entrepreneurship)
Business Investor Stream (for those who want to start or buy a business in Manitoba)	Entrepreneur Pathway (for applicants who want to start a business in Manitoba) Farm Investor Pathway (for those who want to start and operate a farm in rural Manitoba)

How does it Work?

Step 1: Expression of Interest

In order to apply for a provincial nomination, you will need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), which is basically an online profile which is entered into a pool and ranked against other eligible applicants, based on factors such as language proficiency, age, work experience, education, adaptability and risk assessment.

Step 2: Apply for the MPNP

If you are selected among the highest-scoring applicants you will receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) or an invitation to apply for the MPNP.

Step 3: Apply for permanent residence

Once your application has been submitted and assessed, successful applicants will then need to submit an application for permanent residence to the Government of Canada.

What Do I Need?

Before applying, it is a good idea to make sure that you have all your necessary documents needed to complete your expression of interest as well as apply for the MPNP as you will only have 60 days after receiving your LAA to complete your application.

Below is the required supporting documentation for the MPNP:

• Birth certificate;
• Passport;
• Marital status documents (if applicable);
• Dependents birth certificates (if applicable);
• Academic certificate, diploma, degree and transcripts;
• Employment history (reference letter from employer including start and end date, position and duties as well as salary)
• Immigration history and status;
• Language ability (approved test results);
• Settlement funds – $10,000 plus $2,000 for your spouse and each dependent; and
• Settlement plan stating why you have chosen Manitoba and how you plan to adapt to life in Manitoba.

How We Can Help You

Navigating the Canadian immigration system can be a bit tedious, with a copious amount of forms and documents to complete and strict submission dates, we wouldn’t blame you if you felt apathetic about getting started on your application. But that’s what we’re here for. At sober Immigration, we take the stress and hassle out of planning to relocate abroad. Our accredited RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) are ready to evaluate your eligibility, review all documentation and submit all documentation on your behalf. Using an RCIC not only gives you the best possible chance of receiving an ITA but will make the entire process simple and stress-free.