Engagement, Collaboration, and Partnerships Drive Immigration Action Plan

Today, the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, launched the province’s strategic approach to achieving better immigrant attraction and retention outcomes in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government committed to developing a five-year plan to increase immigration by 50 per cent and welcome approximately 1,700 immigrants annually by 2022. Minister Byrne held the launch at Verafin, a leading technology employer that exemplifies the partnerships the plan will pursue.

The plan is divided into two phases, the first addressing immediate actions to be taken in 2017, and the second detailing sustained efforts to continue into 2018 and beyond. Collaboration, engagement, and partnership are integral to the plan in recognition that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians play a role in immigrant attraction and retention.

Highlights of these partnerships include:

• Collaborating with employers to support better planning and maximize the use of the province’s annual Provincial Nominee Program allocation;
• Exploring opportunities to introduce new categories under the Provincial Nominee Program, including International Entrepreneur and International Graduate Entrepreneur;
• Engaging community organizations and service providers to deliver settlement supports for immigrants;
• Partnering with community organizations and service providers to increase Francophone immigrant attraction and retention;
• Engaging employers to implement the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project, an opportunity to welcome up to 442 immigrants and their families to the province annually;
• Collaborating with employers to pilot international student placements and the My First Newfoundland and Labrador Job program for international graduates; and
• Partnering with employers to promote the province nationally and internationally.

By working together, the Provincial and Federal Governments, communities, employers, post-secondary education institutions, settlement support providers, and others will build a brighter future for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Quotes

“Our government is focused on ensuring Newfoundland and Labrador becomes a destination of choice for immigrants and their families, while also encouraging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians abroad to move back home. To do that, we must strengthen community partnerships, maximize pathways to immigration, improve immigrant retention, and celebrate the multiculturalism and diversity of our province.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

“Through collaboration with key stakeholders, I am confident that the province’s five-year plan to increase immigration will be a key contributor to population and economic growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Megan Morris
Executive Director
Association for New Canadians

“A strong immigration plan is important to the growth of our province. That’s why Verafin is proud to host the launch of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Immigration Action Plan. Knowing from our experience here at Verafin the value of teamwork and partnership, we’re very pleased to see the plan focusing on these qualities.”
Brendan Brothers
Co-Founder
Verafin

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Learn more

• The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism
• Association for New Canadians

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @AESL_GovNL

Media contacts:
Ryan Crocker
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca

Megan Morris
Association for New Canadians
709-726-6885
mmorris@nfld.net

Tanya McCarthy
Verafin
709-752-3050
Tanya.McCarthy@verafin.com