What Changed with Canada’s Immigration Agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador?

2 minute read

"On August 12, 2021, the Canadian Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino announced that the federal government will be extending the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement for another year till July 31, 2022. This agreement was first signed in 2016."

Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on: Sep 16, 2021

On August 12, 2021, the Canadian Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino announced that the federal government will be extending the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement for another year till July 31, 2022. This agreement was first signed in 2016. This agreement set out the objectives, roles and responsibilities for federal-provincial cooperation.

This is the agreement that allows the government of Newfoundland and Labrador to nominate foreign workers with skills and experience relevant to the local labor market. This agreement also allows the government to meet federal and provincial immigration objectives.

Why Was This Agreement Renewed?

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has agreements with almost all Canadian provinces and territories regarding immigration objectives. These agreements state the IRCC’s relationship with every province and the roles and responsibilities of both parties.

Gerry Byrne, Immigration Minister of Newfoundland and Labrador says that this extension will allow the province necessary time to settle more newcomers till 2022. This will also provide the province with necessary time to negotiate with the IRCC for a new agreement that will allow the province to welcome 5,100 new permanent residents every year by 2026.

What Was the Current Agreement?

The current agreement included the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP). The AIPP encouraged economic immigration to the four Atlantic provinces of Canada by facilitating the hiring of foreign workers by employers in these provinces. Launched in 2016, the AIPP helped Newfoundland and Labrador to invite in-demand foreign workers to the province.

Through this program, employers in the province have made more than 9,200 job offers for occupations in manufacturing and healthcare as of May 2021. According to the survey, the AIPP helped the province to welcome 8,000 new permanent residents, 90% of which are still residing in the province after one year.

The success of this program indicates that the AIPP may become a permanent program by 2022. Newfoundland and Labrador has gained around 275 new foreign workers and 300 accompanying family members in 2021, so far through its PNP and the AIPP. Another 400 immigrant workers in the healthcare sector were invited through the Priority Skills pathway, part of the Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP).