Ottawa makes about-face after slashing immigration spaces in N.L., minister says
N.L. will have to take 290 humanitarian migrants over 2 years
In a partial reversal, the federal government is easing a previous decision to slash economic immigration numbers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Immigration, Population Growth, and Skills Minister Sarah Stoodley said her federal counterpart Marc Miller made the offer to increase spaces from 1,525 with an additional 1,000 spaces, for a total of 2,525 newcomer spots per year — though it still falls short of the previous 3,050 spaces.
"We're not whole, but 83 per cent is certainly better than 50 per cent. So we are very pleased with this. I think this is the best we can do," Stoodley told reporters on Friday morning.
"While we're always hoping for more, I think this won't be too bad."
The announcement comes two weeks after Miller announced he would halve their economic immigration numbers.
Last year, Ottawa allocated Newfoundland and Labrador 3,050 immigration spaces under two immigration programs: the Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Program.
As part of the federal government's offer of 1,000 spaces, Stoodley said the province has agreed to take in 290 humanitarian migrants over the next two years.
Stoodley said these humanitarian migrants are in Ontario and Quebec, speak English, have open work permits and are in industries Newfoundland and Labrador needs to fill, like early childhood education and construction.
Already, she said 100 people have reached out to the province to voice their interest in coming to Newfoundland and Labrador for work.
Stoodley chalked up the change in Miller's policy to the province's willingness to take in more humanitarian migrant workers.
"I think that the federal government has always told us ... if we played ball on asylum seekers or humanitarian migrants that we would get our number."
Business opportunity
Stoodley said she's asking business owners to reach out to the provincial government in order to be matched with available workers, adding that the federal government is taking on the cost of relocating the workers to Newfoundland and Labrador.
She said businesses don't have to do any paperwork or administrative tasks to get matched with workers.
"We think that this could be a really interesting opportunity for rural and local businesses," said Stoodley.
"We're the first province to be there recruiting from this pool of individuals with a mixed background."
She added the government put out a release a few weeks ago for a partner to help settle the newcomers, and that partner will be finalized soon.
WATCH | The CBC's Elizabeth Whitten was there for Sarah Stoodley's announcement:
Stoodley said the province has also been under pressure to take the federal deal, noting businesses have told her they need workers. Her next challenge is deciding what skill sets to recruit.
The minister said priorities are in fields like health care, early childhood education and residential construction.
"Our team have been really looking at how they can be creative in terms of helping people come here. Obviously because we have a declining birth rate, this number will not be enough. We still need to do more."
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