15 March 2005

Canadian Maritime provinces target immigrants and skilled visa applicants

Canada’s Maritime Provinces, including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, are launching their own initiatives to attract new immigrants. The programs are designed to lure business people and skilled workers to immigrate to Canada.

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia is so committed to attracting immigrants it has appointed the only provincial minister of immigration. According to the minister, Rodney MacDonald, immigrants to Canada, and specifically his province, are the key to the future. A declining population on the East Coast of Canada will spell economic doom without an influx of new residents Mr MacDonald said.

Mr MacDonald said the province is moving forward very aggressively on its immigration strategy. Nova Scotia's fledgling program was launched last year. It targets immigrants with specific skills, entrepreneurs and business immigrants with a net worth of at least $300,000. People who are approved under the provincial nominee program are screened by the federal government only to make sure they are healthy and don't pose a security risk.

The complicated point system used by Ottawa to determine eligibility does not apply to the immigrants sponsored by Nova Scotia and other provinces with provincial nominee programs. In Nova Scotia, the most popular version of the program opens the door to successful business people. It is similar to a federal program, but cheaper and faster.

Last year, Nova Scotia only received about 1,500 immigrants. Mr MacDonald wants to bump that up to 3,700 immigrants a year by the end of the decade. The other challenge, he said, will be to figure out a way to ensure immigrants stay in Nova Scotia after they arrive. Right now, about 60 per cent of new immigrants leave Nova Scotia for Montreal, Vancouver or Toronto, Mr MacDonald said.

Overall, Canada is looking to attract approximately 245,000 new immigrants in 2005.