Canada and Yukon announce new agreement to encourage immigration in the territory

To establish a collaborative approach encouraging immigration to Yukon, the federal government and the territorial government of Yukon have decided to strengthen their existing partnership by announcing a new agreement on immigration.

The ‘Canada-Yukon Cooperation on Immigration’ agreement will provide a framework to the governments at both level in discharging their shared responsibility on immigration. Build upon the original agreement signed between the two governments in 2001, the new agreement introduced various new provisions aimed to help Yukon’s businesses and economy continue to grow.

For example, new agreement includes a provision that will enhance cooperation between Canada and Yukon in overseas promotion and recruitment activities to help attract skilled immigrants, temporary workers and students to Yukon. Similarly, a modified Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) will run on a one-year pilot with no annual limit.

To address the settlement and integration needs of immigrants and refugees, both governments will promote better working relationship to secure recognition of foreign qualifications and faster integration of immigrants into the labor market.

The new agreement also ensures that federal government will continue to invest in basic settlement services delivered in Yukon through partner agencies. The ongoing funding to the territory since 2006-07 has reached to more than $1 million after a recently announced $341,000 and $219,000 in December 2007. This funding is going toward the delivery of programs and services for newcomers such as information and orientation sessions, language training, and support in establishing networks and contacts.

Besides this settlement funding, federal government is also contributing more than $800,000 over four years to help Yukon launch an immigration web portal for the territory. The new territorial web portal (http://www.immigration.gov.yk.ca/) complements the agreement by enhancing online content, tools and services for newcomers. The portal will serve to promote the territory as a destination of choice, and help immigrants settle and prosper in the region. The portal will also be used to support eligible municipal-level online projects relevant to newcomers.

The agreement also recognizes the territory’s interest in enhancing the vitality of French linguistic minority communities in its jurisdiction.

As of December 2007, Yukon's population was 32,335, an increase of only 379 compared to December 2006. Additionally unemployment is relatively low at 3.9 per cent. In 2006, Yukon welcomed 193 newcomers: 65 permanent residents and 128 temporary residents.