The Canadian government released a plan for a new program that will allow individual cities and towns to pick immigrants based on their local needs. The new program is called the Municipal Nominee Program and it is designed to help fill local labour needs. During Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election campaign the municipal nominee program was one of his promises to make immigration better for smaller communities.
What is the Municipal Nominee Program?
The Municipal Nominee Program will give local communities, chambers of commerce and labour councils a say in the selection of immigrants which will help match newcomers with labour needs in their specific community. There will be at least 5,000 newcomers allowed through this program each year.
The Immigration Minister, Marco Medicino said this new pathway to permanent residency is another example of innovation in Canada’s immigration programs, one that allows the system “to draw on local experiences, expertise, capacities to understand where are the labour shortages, where are the economic opportunities and how that information can help us select individuals who wish to come to Canada to ply their trade, to fulfil their opportunity.”
Canada continuously has been looking for new ways to bring good foreign candidates to their country. Over the last 10 years, Canada’s population growth has become 75% immigration and in 2031 it is expected to account for 80% of Canada’s population growth.
Programs for Filling Labour Gaps in Canada
There are other immigration programs that target newcomers to fill jobs in gaps in Canada
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program allows employers to recruit skilled workers abroad to fill labour gaps and become permanent residents. This program is limited to the Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Construction Pilot Project
The Canadian Labour Congress is working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to implement a temporary initiative that will help 500 out-of-status construction workers and their families find a pathway to permanent residence.
Provincial Nominee Programs
PNP Canada programs allow Canadian provinces to nominate individuals for immigration to their province based on criteria set by the provincial government. The PNP path is less job specific and more overall efficiency.
If you are interested in applying for the Municipal Nominee Program, contact us toady!
