Online information sessions are underway about the impact of federal cuts on immigration spaces

    Thursday, 23 January 2025 07:00

    By Tonya Organ

    This reduction, from 3,050 to 1,525 spaces, with only 25% allocated to international immigrants, poses a substantial challenge for the community and economy.

    Online information sessions about recent cuts to immigration numbers are underway in this province. A decision by the federal government to reduce economic immigration spaces by 50% has raised significant concerns. This reduction, from 3,050 to 1,525 spaces, with only 25% allocated to international immigrants, poses a substantial challenge for the community and economy. Gabriel Williams is the province’s Director of Immigration. He says in 2023 they received 3,050 applications and almost filled the allocation that year. As such, they requested space for 3,510 last year but only received 3,050 and still reached 3,270 by the end of the year. Williams says there was room for more with a surplus of 700 applications that could not be supported. 

    Furthermore, Williams says this province’s allocation per population ratio is actually the lowest in Atlantic Canada at .56 percent. He says that’s significant since it’s actually the lowest of medium population provinces. Williams says NL is uniquely dependent on immigration pathways with 96 percent of all economic immigrants welcomed through these programs as of Nov 2024. He says the next highest is Nova Scotia with .88 percent.

     

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