A new immigration agreement has been signed between Nova Scotia and Canada to attract and retain more immigrants to meet provincial labour market needs.

The Agreement for Canada-Nova Scotia Co-operation on Immigration renews the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), highlights the importance of involving community stakeholders in welcoming newcomers to the province, and clearly defines federal and provincial roles and responsibilities with respect to Nova Scotia immigration.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada Minister Diane Finley was on hand for the announcement today. “We want to help Nova Scotia grow economically by attracting new immigrants. Today’s agreement will help Nova Scotia share in the benefits of immigration to Canada, and will make our shared immigration programs more responsive to Nova Scotia’s unique needs.”

The agreement removes the restrictions on the number of individuals that Nova Scotia can nominate for Canadian Permanent Residency, allowing the province to bring in more immigrants with skills in demand by Nova Scotia businesses. Through information sharing, Nova Scotia and Canada will develop labour force integration strategies, including foreign credential recognition programs. Canada and Nova Scotia will also work collaboratively on overseas immigration promotion initiatives, including marketing to temporary foreign workers and international students.