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2005-07 |
![Graphic for New Brunswick Provincial Government](/web/20061026005712im_/http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/press/05/nb.gif) |
CANADA AND NEW BRUNSWICK RENEW PROVINCIAL NOMINEE AGREEMENT
OTTAWA, March 29, 2005 — The Honourable Joe Volpe,
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Peter Mesheau,
Minister of Business New Brunswick, today announced the renewal of the
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Agreement.
“I am pleased that Canada and New Brunswick enjoy such a positive
and cooperative relationship on immigration matters,” said Minister
Volpe. “This renewed agreement reinforces the ongoing commitment
of the Government of Canada to continue to collaborate with the provinces
on our immigration programs,” he added.
“This agreement will help us attract the skilled workers and entrepreneurs
we need to strengthen the New Brunswick economy,” said Minister
Mesheau. “The Government of Canada’s willingness to negotiate
agreements specifically tailored to the needs of our labour market illustrates
how we can put the benefits of immigration to work for New Brunswick,” he
said.
The renewal of the Provincial Nominee Program allows New Brunswick to
select immigrants to fulfill specific economic needs, or create and expand
employment and business opportunities. Canada retains the responsibility
for issuing immigrant visas to provincial nominees and their accompanying
dependants after they have met all federal legislative requirements,
including those related to health, criminality and security.
The Government of Canada also has provincial nominee agreements in place
with Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba,
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.
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For more information (media only):
Stephen Heckbert
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
(613) 954-1064
Maria Iadinardi
Media Relations
Communications Branch
(613) 952-0740
Sarah Ketcheson
Communications Officer
Business New Brunswick
(506) 444-4983
![line](/web/20061026005712im_/http://www.cic.gc.ca/images/common/rule.gif)
BACKGROUNDER
CANADA-NEW BRUNSWICK PROVINCIAL
NOMINEE AGREEMENT
The Provincial Nominee Program allows provinces to play a more direct
role in selecting immigrants with specific skills that will contribute
to the local economy.
Regulations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act establish
a provincial nominee class, allowing provinces and territories that have
agreements with Citizenship and Immigration Canada to nominate individuals
for immigration based on their ability to become economically established
in Canada. Nominees must meet federal admissibility requirements, such
as those related to health, criminality and security. The Government
of Canada retains the right to make the final selection decision.
The first five-year Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on Provincial Nominees
was signed in February 1999. It was extended for one year while the terms
of the new agreement were finalized. The new agreement does not have
an expiry date, but will remain in effect indefinitely. The new agreement
provides New Brunswick with a mechanism to increase the economic benefits
of immigration to the province, based on its industrial and economic
priorities and labour market conditions.
The agreement allows New Brunswick to nominate immigration candidates
whose presence in New Brunswick will contribute to the province’s
growth and vitality. The dependants of provincial nominees are also admitted
to Canada under the agreement.
The new agreement will require New Brunswick to provide a nomination
strategy to Canada to identify target markets and potential source
countries and regions, and will include a joint evaluation framework.
The evaluation
will assess New Brunswick’s recruitment strategies, analyse the extent
to which the nominees have benefited New Brunswick’s industrial and
economic development, and evaluate how successfully the nominees have
established
themselves in New Brunswick.
The Government of Canada also has provincial nominee agreements in
place with Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova
Scotia, Manitoba,
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Yukon. |