Over the past years, the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have worked together closely to help more newcomers choose, settle and thrive in the province. Central to these efforts is the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement. First signed in 2016, the agreement sets out joint objectives and lays a blueprint for federal-provincial cooperation on immigration.
Building on this success, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced the extension of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement. This extension will deepen the already close partnership between the federal and provincial governments and ensure that immigration policies respond to the province’s needs, support its labour market requirements and help its communities grow and prosper.
This immigration agreement extended today will govern the federal-provincial relationship on immigration until July 31, 2022. It will allow the Provincial Government to nominate aspiring Canadians who will help grow Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy and population, and meet both federal and provincial immigration objectives.
The agreement complements the Atlantic Growth Strategy, which includes the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. Launched in 2017, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot helps employers in Atlantic Canada hire qualified candidates for jobs they have not been able to fill locally. It has been an incredible success in both attracting and retaining talent. As of May 2021, Atlantic Immigration Pilot employers have made over 9,200 job offers in sectors from manufacturing to health care and welcomed over 8,000 newcomers and their families to the region. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada evaluation of the pilot found that over 90 per cent of surveyed Atlantic Immigration Pilot newcomers were still living in Atlantic Canada after one year.
To date this year, 275 new employees and 300 of their family members were assisted toward permanent residency in Newfoundland and Labrador through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and Provincial Nominee Program. Further, the province has invited almost 400 individuals in the health care sector to apply for permanent residency as part of the Priority Skills NL pathway, and will be extending invitations to professionals in the technology and aquaculture sectors in the coming weeks. This success will lead to the Atlantic Immigration Pilot becoming a permanent program in 2022 once the pilot is completed.
Quotes
“Newfoundland and Labrador is welcoming more newcomers than ever before to join us as we build a prosperous future together, and they are critical to our population growth and future prosperity. The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement sets us on a shared course for a more diverse and inclusive Canada.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“In our efforts to build Canada through immigration, Newfoundland and Labrador is an invaluable ally. I want to salute the leadership of my friend Premier Furey, who has put immigration at the heart of the province’s economic growth. The extension of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement sets the stage for many more years of fruitful cooperation, as we work together to help more of the world’s best and brightest come to Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship“We want more newcomers to choose Newfoundland and Labrador to work and settle in our increasingly welcoming and diverse communities. This extension of the existing Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement allows us time to negotiate a new agreement, one that will accelerate our work with federal partners to achieve this province’s ambitious goal for immigration by welcoming 5,100 newcomers annually by 2026.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
“Newcomers will always be welcomed with open arms to Newfoundland and Labrador, just like my grandfather was. Newcomers make our communities stronger. That’s what this agreement will do.”
Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr.
Minister of Natural Resources
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Learn more
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement
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Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca
John Tompkins
Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
709-729-0753, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca
Alexander Cohen
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-954-1064
alexander.cohen@cic.gc.ca