Atlantic provinces draw more newcomers

Image credit: Josue Michel on Unsplash.

From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Immigration is vital to the future of communities across the country, and nowhere more so than Atlantic Canada.

Over the past few years, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot has brought and retained thousands of newcomers to the region. These new Canadians have helped communities thrive, businesses prosper and the region’s population grow.

Building on the success of the pilot, Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, recently announced the launch of the Atlantic Immigration Program. This new permanent program opened on January 1, 2022, helping the Atlantic provinces attract the skilled newcomers they need to address economic and demographic challenges, such as the labour shortage in the region.

Originally launched in 2017, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot has now brought over 10,000 new permanent residents to Atlantic Canada.

Participating employers have made over 9,800 job offers in key sectors, including health care, accommodations, food services and manufacturing. Most significantly, over 90 per cent of applicants were still living in the region after one year; a much higher retention rate than other programs.

The permanent program retains the three features that made the pilot such a success: a focus on employers, enhanced settlement support and a collaborative approach across all Atlantic provinces. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Atlantic provinces worked closely together to design the permanent program based on lessons learned and recommendations from the pilot evaluation. The changes include clarifying roles between partners, increasing employer support through training and strengthening program requirements to ensure newcomers can successfully establish themselves in the region.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is working closely with employers and provincial governments to ensure a smooth transition between the pilot and the permanent program. Candidates with a valid endorsement can begin submitting applications for permanent residence under the new program on March 6, 2022.

“Over the past few years, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot has made an incredible difference in communities across our region,” said Fraser.

“It has brought us the resource we need most: more people. They’re skilled, they’re young and they’re staying. Now, we’re doubling down on what works by making it permanent, so we can continue attracting the best and brightest to our region and build a vibrant, prosperous future.”

“Nova Scotia is preparing for its next chapter of strategic growth and our goal of reaching two million people by 2060,” said 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,” said 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,” said Matthew MacKay, Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture, 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 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,” said Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, Newfoundland and Labrador.

A few quick facts:

As part of the government of Canada’s Atlantic Growth Strategy, the pilot aimed to accelerate the growth of Atlantic Canada’s economy and was designed to test new approaches to attract and retain skilled immigrants in the region. It responded to the region’s acute demographic and economic challenges, including slow growth, chronic labour market shortages, an ageing workforce, and difficulty attracting and retaining immigrants.

With at least 6,000 admission spaces available yearly, the Atlantic Immigration Program will complement the Provincial Nominee Programs in each Atlantic province. In 2018–2019, the Atlantic provinces saw their highest population growth since the 1970s, with immigration, including from the pilot, being the main driver of this trend. The regulations for the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program come into force on January 1, 2022.