How the New Rules Impact Hospitality and Skilled Trade Workers
Major Updates to Manitoba’s TRRP Program
Firstly, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has announced important updates to the Temporary Resident Retention Pilot (TRRP). These changes will directly impact many temporary residents as well as employers across Manitoba.
Most importantly, these updates will come into effect on February 4, 2026, making them time-sensitive for anyone planning their immigration pathway.
Hospitality & Food Services No Longer Eligible
To begin with, the Hospitality and Food Services sector has been fully removed from the list of eligible industries under the TRRP.
As a result:
- Workers in restaurants, hotels, and food services
- And employers hiring in these sectors
will no longer be able to rely on TRRP as a pathway to permanent residency.
Therefore, temporary residents working in hospitality now face uncertainty and must reassess their long-term plans.
Skilled Trades Get New Opportunities
At the same time, Manitoba has taken a different direction by adding 16 new skilled trades occupations to the TRRP eligibility list.
Consequently, workers with technical and mechanical skills now have stronger chances to qualify for permanent residence through this program.
Newly Added Eligible Occupations
Specifically, the following skilled occupations have been added along with their NOC codes:
- Agricultural Equipment Technician – 72401
- Auto Body and Collision Technician – 73202
- Automotive Refinishing Technician – 73202
- Automotive Service Technician – 72410
- Boilermaker – 72304
- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician – 72401
- Instrumentation and Control Technician – 72201
- Landscape Horticulturalist – 22114
- Parts Technician – 72410
- Recreation Vehicle Service Technician – 72410
- Transport Trailer Technician – 72410
- Truck and Transport Mechanic – 72410
- Aircraft Maintenance Journeyperson – 72404
- Diesel Engine Mechanic – 72410
- Railway Car Technician – 72403
- Water and Wastewater Technician – 22101
Why Manitoba Is Shifting Its Focus
Notably, most of the newly added occupations belong to the automotive, heavy equipment, and transportation maintenance fields.
This is because Manitoba’s economy heavily depends on agriculture, transportation, and resource-based industries. Therefore, the province urgently needs skilled technicians and mechanics to keep these sectors functioning smoothly.
As a result, immigration priorities have clearly shifted toward skilled trades.
Impact on Hospitality Workers
However, for temporary residents currently working in hospitality and food services, this update is deeply concerning.
Since TRRP is no longer an option:
- Their PR pathway may be delayed
- They may need to change employers or job roles
- Or they may need to explore other immigration programs
Thus, early planning and professional guidance have become even more critical.
MPNP Draws Continue in 2026
Meanwhile, despite the TRRP changes, Manitoba has continued to conduct regular MPNP Expression of Interest (EOI) draws throughout 2026.
These draws provide valuable insight into the province’s current immigration priorities.
Latest MPNP Draw Results
Draw #263 – January 29, 2026
In this draw, a total of 47 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued:
- Employer Services: 24
- Francophone Community: 3
- Regional Communities: 4
- Ethnocultural Communities: 2
- Temporary Public Policy: 14
- Express Entry linked: 6
Draw #262 – January 15, 2026
Earlier, Draw #262 issued 55 LAAs, distributed as follows:
- Employer Services: 21
- Francophone Community: 7
- Regional Communities: 15
- Ethnocultural Communities: 9
- Temporary Public Policy: 3
- Express Entry linked: 10
What These Draws Tell Us
When comparing both draws, several trends become clear.
Firstly, the total number of invitations decreased from 55 to 47.
Secondly, Employer Services invitations increased, showing stronger employer involvement.
Meanwhile, the Temporary Public Policy category saw a sharp rise.
In contrast, Regional and Ethnocultural Community invitations dropped significantly.
Overall, this fluctuation shows that MPNP regularly adjusts its selections based on labour market needs.
Importance of Express Entry Links
Although the number of Express Entry-linked invitations is relatively small, they remain highly valuable.
This is because candidates benefit from:
- Provincial nomination support
- Faster and more secure PR processing
Therefore, eligible candidates should not overlook this pathway.
Final Summary
In conclusion:
- The TRRP is a pilot program, so frequent updates are expected
- Skilled trades workers currently have stronger opportunities
- Hospitality workers must explore alternative PR pathways
Ultimately, those who act early, stay updated, and prepare strong applications will be best positioned to succeed.
Get in touch with SPS Global
Receive advice on any of your questions regarding Immigration Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).
