Manitoba NDP accused of threatening people protesting provincial nominee program changes

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. CBC News hasn't spoken directly to the writer. 

"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. 

False allegation, Marcelino says

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.

However, it also has the effect of reducing the number of successful applicants who don't already have family ties to the province.

Critics of the provincial government's approach have held at least three demonstrations in front of the legislature, including an April 4 rally attended by hundreds, and one other protest outside the provincial nominee program's office on Notre Dame Avenue in Winnipeg.

Marcelino said Premier Wab Kinew met with some skilled workers who hope to attain permanent residency after one demonstration.

In a separate meeting at a later date, Marcelino says she told the group she's lobbying the federal government to secure work permit extensions, and she hopes to present a positive update shortly.

Ottawa has stopped offering extensions to those permits, which it had previously offered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are working so hard to make sure that these folks can stay in the country," Marcelino said.

Alleged threat a 'disservice and unethical': Liberals

The letter sent to the PCs alleges the minister warned "continued protests would result in another four-month suspension of draws" in the skilled workers and international education streams.

The Manitoba Liberals also heard the same warning about future protests. 

Interim leader Cindy Lamoureux said she was contacted by one skilled worker who wanted to organize a protest, but later got cold feet due to the alleged threat.

"It's very concerning because this [legislature] is, in fact, the people's building — that's something the NDP like to very much pride themselves on saying," Lamoureux told reporters.

"To suggest that [people] coming out to protest, any group coming out to protest peacefully in front of the Manitoba Legislature could jeopardize whether they are allowed to stay in Manitoba or not is a complete disservice and unethical."

Lamoureux said she doesn't know if the individual who contacted her heard the threat first-hand, or from someone else.

Byram also refused to tell reporters if the letter-writer heard Marcelino's comments first-hand or if they were relaying someone else's information, saying she was trying to protect the writer's identity.

Yatin Joshi, chairman of International Students and Skilled Workers Union Manitoba, denies hearing any threat during a meeting that involved him and four other skilled workers. 

He said Marcelino was receptive to each of their requests.

"She was very positive. We took her word that she's working on it and she's going to announce something very positive."

Joshi said Marcelino's assurances led the group to stop protesting, and he isn't aware of any other discussions that may have happened besides the meeting he attended. 

The provincial nominee program is also facing a glut of applications because of the high number of federal work permits expiring. 

"We're not going to be able to accommodate everybody who's in this position, and it's a really crappy position," Marcelino said in March.

Marcelino said recent delays in processing applications are due to unprecedented interest from prospective candidates and staffing challenges. She said the government has recently hired more staff to help sift through the applications.