Exciting news!
This morning I was pleased to announce that the Atlantic Immigration Pilot will be made a permanent feature of Canada’s immigration system beginning on January 1st.
The program, which began with a Motion put forth by my former colleague Alaina Lockhart to examine immigration in Atlantic Canada, seeks to connect businesses in the region with skilled workers to fill labour shortages across different sectors of our region’s economy.
I’ve been a vocal supporter of this program from the beginning, and over the past few years we’ve seen enormous success in this program’s ability to help sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, tourism, accommodation, and more hire the talent they need when they cannot find Canadian workers.
In fact, the AIP has brought in over 10,000 newcomers to Atlantic Canada, where they are laying down roots and helping businesses grow.
Over the past few years, the population of our region has been growing. In fact, just this week Nova Scotia has surpassed a population of 1 Million people!
Making this pilot a permanent fixture is good for our region and our economy. It is making our communities a more vibrant place to call home. That’s why the permanent program will begin with at least 6,000 dedicated spots in the new year.
I look forward to seeing its continued success in the years ahead!
** This clip is from my speech in the House of Commons arguing in favour of a formal study on the issue of immigration in Atlantic Canada back in 2016. That study ultimately led to the implementation of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, which we’ve made permanent today.
“Nova Scotia is preparing for its next chapter of strategic growth and our goal of reaching 2 million people by 2060. The Atlantic Immigration Program is one innovative option that will help us focus on our specific labour needs. We’re very glad that the Government of Canada is making sure the program is here to stay.”
– The Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia
“The Atlantic Immigration Pilot has been an important part of New Brunswick’s population growth strategy and integral to building more cohesive, diverse and inclusive communities in our province. We are delighted to see this highly successful pilot become a permanent program, and we look forward to partnering with our federal colleagues on this innovative initiative and being part of its continued success in Atlantic Canada.”
– The Honourable Arlene Dunn, Minister of Immigration, New Brunswick
“Without a doubt, the Atlantic Immigration Program contributes greatly to the overall growth and success of Prince Edward Island. For a province of our size, programs like this go a long way and make a big impact on the Island. We’re very pleased to know the AIP is here to stay, so we can continue to welcome more people to our province to live, work and stay.”
– The Honourable Matthew MacKay, Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture, Prince Edward Island
“The Atlantic Immigration Pilot’s great success for Newfoundland and Labrador resulted from it being both flexible and precise in responding to our province’s challenges in attracting newcomers. 2021 will be the first year that targets were not only met, but exceeded. This demonstrates that flexibility is crucial to resolving the unique challenges we face as a province, while also building on and maximizing the many strengths of the Federation. We will now make every effort to ensure our new Atlantic Immigration Program builds on work to accelerate the arrival of more newcomers to Newfoundland and Labrador than ever before, while also being responsive to the needs of employers to meet evolving labour demands.”
– The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, Newfoundland and Labrador
“The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program is a prime example of what we can achieve as governments when we work together. Immigration is key to Atlantic Canada’s long-term economic prosperity, and through sustained, ongoing federal-provincial collaboration, we can ensure that the now-permanent Atlantic Immigration Program remains a resounding success.”
– The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
“Over the past few years, I have witnessed firsthand the impact that the Atlantic Immigration Pilot has had on our region’s economy and I am thrilled it is being made permanent. This important program will help our businesses attract the talent they need to succeed, and help our communities welcome the newcomers they need to thrive. I am excited to see the difference it will make in communities across Atlantic Canada for years to come.
– The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Source: canada.ca
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