New Brunswick has succeeded in its efforts to attract more newcomers to help meet the province’s workforce demands.
The provincial government announced Friday it has negotiated an increased immigration allocation with Ottawa.
We will now receive 4,250 permanent resident nominations this year, an increase of 1,500 from the figure announced in February.
Acting Labour Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours said they appreciate the federal government’s willingness to listen to their concerns.
“Newcomers are critically important to addressing New Brunswick’s workforce demands, and we have continued to make that clear with our federal counterparts,” D’Amours said in a news release.
Despite the increase, the total number of permanent resident nominations is still 1,250 lower than it was last year.
Officials said the focus remains on health, education and construction trades, while supporting other sectors when possible.
“We are still looking at the main number, and the reality is we need to continue to have people in our health sector, in our hospitals, in our nursing homes, same thing for our schools and the trades,” D’Amours said in February after the immigration cuts were first announced.
New Brunswick saw its permanent resident nominations cut by 50 per cent, down to 2,750 from 5,500 last year.
Federal officials said that provinces willing to take on asylum seekers could regain spots under the Provincial Nominee Program.
That is exactly what happened for New Brunswick, which has agreed to accept 400 asylum claimants “contingent on their consent” within two years.
The province will receive more than $14.1 million from the federal government to help with temporary housing for the asylum claimants.
Provincial officials will meet with asylum claimants who are already in Canada and have expressed an interest in moving to New Brunswick.
Those who move will be connected with local settlement agencies to assist with housing, transitioning to independent living and entering the workforce.
