Provincial Government Releases “What We Heard” Document from Provincial Immigration Consultations

The Provincial Government recently held a series of roundtable discussions across the province to help inform priorities and commitments regarding actions to enhance immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador. Today’s release, Planning for the Future: Consultations to Help Develop a New Provincial Immigration Action Plan, outlines the feedback gathered through this engagement process.

“Immigrants diversify and enrich the cultural and social fabric of our province, bring valued skills and contribute to labour market and economic growth in both urban and rural regions. This document reflects what we heard from stakeholders across the province as we engaged in meaningful discussions around immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador.”
– The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Provincial Government is committed to supporting immigration to the province. Through the consultations held between August 12 and October 5, 2016, stakeholders were asked to provide input on the role of government, employers, communities and individual residents in supporting immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador. In-person roundtables were held in St. John’s, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and St. Anthony. Virtual sessions were also held for stakeholders who could not participate in-person.

Over 100 individuals, including stakeholders representing 47 groups (30 organizations and 17 businesses) attended the roundtable sessions. The department also received 11 written submission from individuals and organizations.

Input from the roundtable discussions and written submissions reflected in this document will be considered in the development initiatives as part of The Way Forward. This plan will provide the specific approach to increasing immigration to our province and welcoming 1,700 immigrants annually by 2022.

Planning for the Future: Consultations to Help Develop a New Provincial Immigration Action Plan can be found at www.aesl.gov.nl.ca/immigration_consultations.html

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government today released Planning for the Future: Consultations to Help Develop a New Provincial Immigration Action Plan
• In-person roundtables were held in St. John’s, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and St. Anthony. Virtual sessions were also held for stakeholders who could not participate in-person.
• Over 100 individuals, including stakeholders representing 47 groups (30 organizations and 17 businesses) attended the roundtable sessions. The department also received 11 written submission from individuals and organizations.
• The Way Forward has set government’s target of increasing immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador by 50 per cent, welcoming 1,700 immigrants annually to the province by 2022.
• Immigration is viewed as an important component of government’s economic growth strategy.

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Source: releases.gov.nl.ca