Under a new agreement, Canada and Prince Edward Island will enjoy closer cooperation in developing immigration policies adapted to the province's needs. Development and Technology Minister Mike Currie and Citizenship and Immigration Canada Minister Elinor Caplan have signed an agreement covering a variety of subjects ranging from immigration planning to integration, and establishing the Provincial Nominee Program.
"Immigration has always contributed to the social and economic development of both Canada and Prince Edward Island. We are committed to working together to ensure that this mutual benefit continues," said Minister Caplan.
The agreement is intended to ensure that Prince Edward Island's needs are better reflected in setting the number of immigrants to be admitted to Canada each year and in decisions relating to the selection and recruitment of immigrants. Canada will continue to determine national policy, annual plans and admission and selection standards for immigration. At the same time, Canada will work with the Province to tailor these activities to meet Prince Edward Island's unique needs.
One way the agreement accomplishes this is through the Provincial Nominee Program. Under the pilot program, the Province may nominate up to 200 individuals annually for a period of five years for immigration based on skills and entrepreneurial assets that they possess.
"This agreement makes immigration work better for Prince Edward Island," Minister Currie said. "The Provincial Nominee Program in particular will enable Prince Edward Island to recruit immigrants who have potential to make a significant contribution to the provincial economy."
The Canada-Prince Edward Island Immigration Agreement appropriately balances national objectives with the unique circumstances that exist in Prince Edward Island. The two Ministers commented that agreements like the one announced today respond to the wishes of Canadians who want their governments to work together in the delivery of their social and economic programs.
BACKGROUNDER
Agreement for Canada-PEI Co-operation on Immigration
The Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Canada Agreement establishes a partnership for cooperation and consultation which maximizes the economic and social benefits of immigration while minimizing the costs to both Canada and PEI. The agreement does not change the authorities of the federal and provincial government over the immigration program. It has several key elements:
Promotion and recruitment
· The agreement formalizes the existing cooperation between Canada and PEI for the promotion and recruitment of immigrants to the Province.
Policy Development and Levels Planning
· Canada shall consider PEI's demographic, social and economic objectives and needs when developing the Multi-Year Immigration and Refugee Plan which is tabled with Parliament each year, and when developing immigration policy in general.
Selection, Admission and Control
· The agreement provides PEI with an opportunity to influence selection and control policies through bilateral and multilateral consultations. Canada will continue to establish national immigration standards and objectives, and determine who is admissible to Canada.
The Provincial Nominee Program
· Under this program, PEI may select 200 nominees annually for a period of five years whom it has identified as being of significant benefit to the Province's economic and industrial development, and as being likely to successfully establish themselves in PEI.
Information Sharing and Research
· The agreement provides a framework for sharing information and cooperating on research related to immigration.
Consultation
· A joint coordinating committee will be established to discuss the implementation and other matters related to the agreement. The committee will meet at least once a year.
· Canada and PEI will consult each other on immigration issues, either bilaterally or on a multilateral basis.
The Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program provides Prince Edward Island with a mechanism to increase the economic benefits of immigration to the Province, based on industrial and economic priorities and labour market conditions.
Prince Edward Island will recruit potential immigration candidates who will be of significant benefit to its industrial and economic development and who will be able to successfully establish themselves in Prince Edward Island.
Prince Edward Island will be entitled to select 200 nominees and their accompanying family members annually for a period of five years; if successful, this arrangement could be expanded in the future.
Prince Edward Island has provided a nomination plan to Canada to identify target markets and potential source countries and regions.
Canada will evaluate candidates nominated by Prince Edward Island using admissibility criteria, which will include security, criminal record and medical checks. Canada will also continue to issue immigrant visas to the nominees who meet the criteria.
Canada and Prince Edward Island will jointly develop an evaluation framework and carry out an evaluation of the nominee program. The evaluation will assess Prince Edward Island's recruitment strategies, analyse the extent to which the nominees have benefited Prince Edward Island's industrial and economic development, and evaluate how successfully nominees have established themselves in Prince Edward Island.