Province hikes immigration cap by 350 people, says it could go even higher

03/31/2015

Nova Scotia’s immigration cap will increase by 350 people in January and the minister responsible believes it could go even higher during 2015.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced Thursday a new immigration stream to come into effect next month called Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry.

The program, brought in at the direction of the federal government, “is intended to provide a faster route for skilled immigrants to enter Nova Scotia in response to labour-market demands,” said a provincial Office of Immigration news release.

Diab told reporters the program is a permanent addition above and beyond immigration streams already in place.

While the new program raises the province’s cap to 1,050 people, based on her interactions with federal officials and those of Colin Dodds and Wadih Fares, the chairmen of the premier’s immigration advisory council, Diab said she has reason to be optimistic the number of available nominees should go even higher during the upcoming year.

The number of people who can immigrate to Nova Scotia is actually already higher than the number of nominees, she said, because nominees bring with them family members, such as spouses and children.

“For example, I believe the stats in 2013 were that we had 600 nominations that we were allowed and we got 2,552 — if my numbers are correct — in terms of people.”

The express entry program was designed in consultation with the private sector, immigration lawyers and settlement organizations.

Herald News