Envision Saint John has begun the process of developing a regional immigration strategy.
Daniel Rito is the director of population growth and workforce development for the regional growth agency.
Rito said the regional strategy will expand on the city’s immigration strategy it released back in 2022.
“It’s taking what was done by the city, reviewing it and also listening to see what has changed and what the outlying communities are also saying,” Rito told our newsroom.
The strategy said Saint John must attract and retain 12,000 newcomers over the next 10 years to address persistent population declines.
By 2030, the city hopes it will have the support in place to convince 90 per cent of immigrants to stay.
Rito said data collection activities began in early September with the launch of an online survey, which will be open until the end of the month.
The survey, which has been translated into eight different languages, will help them to understand the needs, wants and aspirations of the community.
In addition, Envision is holding a pair of in-person dialogue sessions in Quispamsis and Saint John this week.
“We’re hoping for folks to come and have a chat face-to-face and be able to hear the voice of the community,” said Rito.
The first session is at the qplex in Quispamsis on Wednesday evening, followed by one at Samuel de Champlain School in Saint John on Thursday evening.
Both events will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. and registration is required online.
Rito said the plan is to have the strategy completed by January.
