The Canadian government announced today that it is renewing its immigration agreement with the province of British Columbia. The new agreement is intended to formalize and build on the existing cooperation between the federal and provincial governments regarding immigration and settlement issues.

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the agreement will serve to:

• Give British Columbia a continued say in immigration to the province (for example, through its Provincial Nominee Program) and in settlement issues;
• Enhance the cooperation between the federal and provincial government regarding overseas immigration marketing initiatives and providing newcomers with the information they need before they arrive in Canada;
• Provide ongoing federal funding and support for immigrant settlement and integration initiatives immigrants within the province; and
• Increase the cooperation between the federal and provincial governments and francophone communities to develop support for francophone immigration to British Columbia.