Significant Progress
Way Forward Commitment:
Immigration is a key component of economic and labour market growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and contributes to the social and cultural vibrancy of the province. In 2015, 1,122 immigrants came to the province. Our Government will increase immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador by 50 per cent by 2022 by welcoming approximately 1,700 newcomers to the province each year.
Committed to in Phase 1, our Government released The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador on March 24, 2017, which outlined our specific approach to increasing immigration. Our Government is focused on ensuring that Newfoundland and Labrador becomes a destination of choice for newcomers and their families, while also enticing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians abroad to return to their home province.
To help meet our target for increased immigration, we have to make it easier for newcomers to come to this province so they can make social and economic contributions. In 2017, the number of individuals supported through provincial immigration programs increased by 25 per cent, compared to 2016. This represents significant progress toward the 2022 goal.
In 2018-19, our government will streamline immigration application processes and make them available online. We will also add a dedicated stream for immigrant entrepreneurs to the Provincial Nominee Program. This requires working to: strengthen partnerships; maximize pathways to immigration; enhance education, attraction and promotion activities; improve settlement and retention initiatives; support better awareness and understanding of the benefits of multiculturalism and diversity in the province; and, support and increase the repatriation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians living abroad.
In 2018-19, our government will collaborate with communities to increase newcomer attraction and has introduced a regional Welcoming Communities pilot program to help address barriers to community participation and integration. We will also promote multiculturalism through the K-12 school system and support students from diverse cultural backgrounds by building capacity for educators through training and professional development opportunities focused on multicultural education.
We will work with employers and service providers to offer employment mentorship and leadership opportunities for immigrant women. We will also increase English as a Second Language (ESL) training for newcomers and the number of ESL sites in Labrador, which represents the fastest growing region in the province for immigration.
This work is all part of The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador.
What We’ve Accomplished:
- On March 24, 2017, the Provincial Government released The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- In 2017, the number of individuals supported through provincial immigration programs increased by 25 per cent, compared to 2016. This represents significant progress toward the 2022 goal of welcoming 1,700 newcomers to NL annually.
- The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) increased its staffing capacity by creating an additional two Immigration Program Development Officers, and by the addition of two managers (Manager of International Student Engagement and Manager of Labour Attraction) to the division.
- The OIM is currently making efforts to enhance application service standards, including through the development of an online application system and streamlining of application processes. The first phase of the online application system for the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program is now complete. This means applicants and employers wishing to hire immigrants for their workforce needs may avail of an online application system that streamlines the process. Paper applications will continue to be accepted until the implementation of the online system is completed.
- The OIM announced $567,000 on April 24, 2018 to support a WelcomeNL Initiative in partnership with MunicipalitiesNL (MNL) to promote the integration and retention of newcomers to the province, with individuals and organizations working together to provide services and supports to help them feel at home. By promoting diversity and multiculturalism, these communities aim to attract and retain new residents, encouraging social, cultural, and economic growth.
- In 2017-18, the OIM partnered with the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women to build an understanding of promising practices in the area of employment mentorship and leadership for immigrant women.
- The provincial government also approved a project led by Memorial University’s Genesis Centre, to explore ways to increase entrepreneurship among women and immigrants in the technology sector.
- In 2018-19, the Provincial Government provided over $500,000 in settlement and integration funding to support newcomers in Newfoundland and Labrador, including the provision of English as a Second Language classes, supports for newcomers in community integration, French-language settlement services, intercultural competency training, and promotion of human and workplace rights to newcomers in the province.
- The Provincial Government has provided $150,000 to Memorial University’s English as a Second Language Programs to create eight online learning modules for the delivery of technology-mediated language learning.
- The OIM also partnered with College of North Atlantic, as part of a public Call for Proposals for demonstration projects to support the labour market integration of refugees. The partnership will result in the development of blended delivery English language courses for academic purposes, with a focus on the labour market integration of refugees in rural areas of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Assisted the Multicultural Women’s Organization of NL and the Bethesda Pentecostal Church to offer informal English conversation classes.
- In May 2018, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development recruited a Program Development Specialist for Multiculturalism.
- The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development provided allocations for six additional English as a Second Language and Literacy Enrichment and Academic Readiness for Newcomers (LEARN) teachers as part of Budget 2018. ESL and LEARN programs will be expanded to two additional high schools beginning in September 2019.
- A Multiculturalism Advisory Committee has been formed and is working to develop a provincial multicultural education framework, which is anticipated to be completed in December 2019.
- On December 20, the Provincial Government released application guides for two new business immigration categories under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) which will facilitate pathways to permanent residency for international entrepreneurs who wish to move to or remain in Newfoundland and Labrador and operate their business in the province:
- The International Graduate Entrepreneur – open to graduates of Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic who wish to create or co-own and manage a business in the province; and,
- The International Entrepreneur – open to prospective immigrants who wish to settle in the province and be engaged in the daily operation of a business they create, join or take over.
- On January 9, 2019, the Provincial Government provided $75,000 in funding for the YWCA to deliver a Newcomer Women’s Leadership and Employment Mentorship Project. The project will help improve confidence and leadership skills, ensuring newcomer women are better able to join the workforce.
- On April 9, 2019, the Provincial Government announced 24 new Immigration Action Plan initiatives which aim to increase newcomer attraction and retention through concerted action by all levels of government, employers, communities, and residents.
News Releases:
Changes to Corporations Act Support Immigration and Economic Growth
Minister Hawkins Highlights Expansion of Welcoming Communities Initiative
Engagement, Collaboration, and Partnerships Drive Immigration Action Plan
Minister Hawkins Highlights Success of Recent International Immigrant Recruitment
Provincial Government Announces Pilot Employment Programs for International Students
Proposals Sought to Help Integrate Refugees into the Workforce
Provincial Government Releases Newfoundland and Labrador Guide to Immigration
New Immigration Categories Enable Newcomers to Establish Businesses, Create Jobs
Provincial Government Announces New Initiatives for Newcomer Settlement and Integration
Provincial Government Releases Application Guides for Business Immigration Categories
New Initiatives Enhance Efforts to Increase Immigration, Retention