Manitoba NDP accused of threatening people protesting provincial nominee program changes
CBC
The Opposition Progressive Conservatives say people protesting immigration delays have been threatened by Manitoba's labour and immigration minister, in an attempt to keep them silent.
The Tories presented a heavily redacted letter during question period at the legislature Thursday that contained the allegation.
It claimed Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino threatened to intentionally delay specific draws through the provincial nominee program draws if individuals continued to hold protests.
Some of those protests have occupied the front steps of the legislature.
Information redacted in the letter included the name of the person who sent it to Jodie Byram, the PC Party's labour critic. The individual, who is trying to get permanent residency, fears retribution from the NDP government, Byram said.
The labour critic said she met with the letter writer and trusts them.
"These individuals are extremely fearful of retribution by this NDP labour minister," Byram said after question period.
"We do not bring forward these accusations against the labour minister lightly. These are real, frightened individuals who are worried about their future here in Manitoba and that it may be taken away from them."
The PCs called on Marcelino to resign, describing her alleged interference in people's right to protest as a breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Opposition has also asked for an independent investigation.
Marcelino strongly denied the PC's allegation.
"That is completely false. I have never threatened folks."
The allegation comes after some newcomers have spoken out in recent weeks about the provincial nominee program, saying it's increasingly stacked against them.
The province periodically selects people from expressions of interest who are invited to apply to the provincial nominee program — which matches foreign workers with specific labour needs in Manitoba. A certain number of those applicants are then approved to come to the province.
The draws are not random, but determined using a ranking scale, with points awarded for a range of factors. The NDP government's recent draws have prioritized skilled workers who already have family in the province — a move the province believes will help Manitoba retain more newcomers.
Premier Doug Ford says his government plans to give Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport special designation that would allow the province to bypass municipal and provincial laws as it pushes to expand the runway downtown.
Jenelle Hughes says she worries every time her two older children take their car to get to Fanshawe College in London, Ont., from their home in Dutton.
Oil prices fell Monday morning after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would hold off on striking Iran’s energy infrastructure amid productive talks between the two countries.
While spring technically started late last week, Newfoundland and Labrador isn't free from winter weather just yet.
The Sudbury School Bus Consortium is suspending all school buses in Greater Sudbury as the community continues to clean up following a major storm.
Two large corporate landlords owning a combined 9,008 rental units in Halifax are reporting smaller annual increases in their average rents for 2025 than the previous year.
The Holt government has reached a deal with Ottawa on compensation for tens of millions of dollars in lost sales tax revenue from the Christmas season in 2024.
The government of Saskatchewan has announced plans to reduce the length of non-resident game bird hunting licences to combat illegal guiding.
An 87-year-old Alberta man is fighting extradition to the United Kingdom to stand trial for historical allegations of physical and sexual assault involving minors.
Eight casinos across southwest B.C. have been sold to First Nations in the last two years, with the province's gambling scene set to be reshaped as a result.
Hamilton hosts the Junos Sunday, and the musical awards show is bringing tourists, musicians, concerts and a ton of themed events to the city this week.
The multi-million-dollar deal at the heart of a high-profile fight between the Canadian government and one of the world’s biggest carmakers contains multiple clauses about the company’s footprint in Ontario, according to a copy obtained by CBC Windsor.
In recent months, Calgary police have carried out three day-long safety blitzes, parading out dozens of officers to flood an area with their increased presence — at least, temporarily.