The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the four Atlantic provinces have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on working together to attract immigrants while retaining and expanding the region’s labour force.
The agreement involves joint investments totalling just over $4.4 million over three years to promote immigration, create more effective linkages between the current labour force and economic opportunities, and welcome Atlantic Canadians home who have been working outside the region.
“While each province has something unique to offer, there are many areas where working together can accomplish more and this initiative is a prime example,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “While much is being done within each province, even more can be accomplished working in co-operation on a regional basis.”
Specific activities will include the creation of an Atlantic immigration brand, assisting employers to adopt more innovative and inclusive human resource practices, and cultivating a better understanding of all the factors that affect population and workforce retention.
“We know that the population is declining in Atlantic Canada and that by the year 2011 more people will be leaving the workforce than entering it,” said Richard Brown, PEI's Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning. “Addressing these issues in a joint strategy will benefit the region because we all will be able to leverage more resources than if we acted on our own.”
ACOA is investing $2,010,600 in the Atlantic Population Initiative, with additional Government of Canada funding totalling $1,100,000, The four Atlantic provinces are also investing in this Initiative: Nova Scotia $523,405, New Brunswick $421,888, Newfoundland and Labrador $296,640, and Prince Edward Island $76,467.
The number of immigrants putting down roots in Atlantic Canada is growing, most notably in such urban areas as Charlottetown, Halifax and Moncton.