Legal scholar and UWinnipeg Human Rights faculty member Dr. Shauna Labman (Global College) is one of 20 specialized Manitobans appointed to the newly created Immigration Advisory Council announced earlier this week. This new advisory council plans to improve the province’s current immigration programs and policies.
The council is co-chaired by UWinnipeg alum and former President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Lloyd Axworthy and Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes.
This group is made up of individuals with expertise related to immigration services, governance, economic development, analysis, project management and community integration.
Lloyd Axworthy
“This group is made up of individuals with expertise related to immigration services, governance, economic development, analysis, project management and community integration,” Axworthy said.
Labman’s expertise is in refugee law, resettlement, and private refugee sponsorship within a broader context of human rights and public international law. She has had informal conversations with Axworthy on refugee issues over the years and points to past creative initiatives in welcoming newcomers, particularly the City of Winnipeg’s Private Refugee Sponsorship Assurance Fund as well as the Provincial Nominee Program , as influences on her decision to return to Winnipeg following her graduate work.
“I see my role on the council as ensuring that complementary pathways to welcome and support refugees, which are so central to my academic work, are heard and considered by the province,” said Labman. “I am also excited to work with Dr. Axworthy on this project as we share deep commitments to refugee protection and the Province of Manitoba”
The council will focus on finding ways to attract and recruit more immigrants and business investors to Manitoba, streamlining the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, and fostering the province’s settlement and integration programs and services, as well as foreign credential recognition programs. The council also wants to hone in on increasing the labour market and bolstering immigrant retention.
The council has been tasked with providing a final report by end of year.
“Manitoba is and will continue to be a welcoming new home for all newcomers, including immigrants, refugees and their family members, and a destination of choice for international students,” said Reyes. “This important work will ensure we’re better able to attract and retain newcomers to help build our economy for the future.”
For more information please visit Immigration Advisory Council.
