Canada and PEI announce new agreement to encourage immigration in the province

To establish a collaborative approach encouraging immigration to the Prince Edward Island (PEI), federal government and the provincial government of PEI have decided to strengthen their existing partnership by announcing a new agreement on immigration.

The ‘Canada-PEI 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 PEI’s businesses and economy continue to grow.

For example, new agreement includes a provision that will enhance cooperation between Canada and PEI in overseas promotion and recruitment activities to help attract skilled immigrants, temporary workers and students to PEI. Similarly, another provision will not only remove the limit on annual nominations made by Province under its Provincial Nominee Program (PEI-PNP) but also encourage the recruitment and retention of Francophone immigrants through the targetted use of this Nominee Program. This initiative, in particular, will give the Province authority in selecting required number of immigrants to fill labor market gaps as well as in addressing particular social and demographic needs to boost its declining population.

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 the Province through community stakeholders, including service providers, municipalities and the private sector. After an increase of $239,475 over the previous year, the ongoing settlement funding to the Province has reached to around $1.4 million for 2008-09.

Recently, the federal government has provided more than $2.6 milion, over a three year period, to four partner agencies across the Province. This funding will not only use for the delivery of programs and services to newcomer refugees such as language training, translation and interpretation, job search support and resettlement assistance, but also for improving anti-racism programs and culture-bridging activities.

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

Located at the Atlantic coast, the Prince Edward Island is the smallest province of Canada having total population of 135,851 as of May 16, 2006 Census. In 2005, PEI welcomed 586 newcomers: 330 permanent residents and 256 temporary residents.