Canada’s four Atlantic provinces are to launch a three-year pilot project to dramatically increase immigration to the region.
At a meeting attended by the Premiers of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island along with members of the federal government, it was widely agreed that the region needs to enhance its capacity to develop, deploy and retain a skilled workforce by addressing persistent and emerging labour market needs to make Atlantic Canada a destination of choice for immigrants.
Under this new immigration plan – part of an overall Atlantic Growth Strategy, which is also aimed at boosting job creation and innovation – the provinces will be allowed to admit 2,000 additional immigrants and their families in 2017. If the new programme works well, the number of spots could increase over the remaining two years.
The 2,000 places will not be divided equally between the provinces, and will instead concentrate on matching the skills of immigrants to the requirements of local businesses and employers where they are most needed.
It’s also important to note that this increase is on top of the existing Provincial Nominee Programme intake target rates currently set for each province.
In addition to the promise of more immigrants, the new policy will also aim to improve infrastructure, such as providing better broadband connectivity, marketing the region internationally for its food products and tourism and creating clean-energy jobs as Atlantic Canada moves to a low-carbon economy.
Article by David Fuller