The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, today announced the Provincial Government and its partners have exceeded the province’s immigration target two years ahead of schedule.

In The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government set a target of welcoming 1,700 permanent residents annually by 2022. Since 2017, immigration has increased nearly 40 per cent and, according to preliminary data from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, the province welcomed 1,850 permanent residents in 2019.

Most permanent residents settle in Newfoundland and Labrador through economic immigration programs. Most economic immigrants are nominated or endorsed by the provincial Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, and are later assessed by the Federal Government on their eligibility to become permanent residents.

In 2019, the provincial Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism increased the number of files it nominated and endorsed by nearly 25 per cent over the 2018 calendar year, a new record for Newfoundland and Labrador that indicates further growth in permanent residents in 2020.

As a result, Minister Mitchelmore announced the province’s new target, increasing immigration to 2,500 permanent residents annually by 2022.

This initiative delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.

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“Increasing immigration is the result of continued collaborative efforts by a number of partners, including the Federal and Provincial Governments, community organizations, employers and businesses, and our communities. Thank you to everyone throughout the province who played a role in this success. We continue to work together with our partners to support even more newcomers to make Newfoundland and Labrador their new home.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

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Learn more
The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador: 2019-20 Initiatives

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Media contact
Ryan Crocker
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
ryancrocker@gov.nl.ca