On December 17, 2021, Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, joined Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to announce the new permanent Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This announcement was about introducing the new requirement for employers.
Employers will have to complete virtual and free of charge intercultural competency training during the on-boarding process. This will help to better understand cultural dynamics in the workplace and create welcoming workspaces for newcomers.
Employers who want to become designated employers under the new program will have to start the designation process in winter 2022. The Permanent Program will allow newcomers with valid endorsements from designated employers to submit an application for permanent residence starting March 6, 2022.
This new program will enable businesses to hire and nominate newcomers for permanent residency. It will help the province to aim its goals of welcoming 5,100 newcomers annually by 2026 and position itself as a national leader in immigration settlement and retention.
Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, stated:
"Over the past few years, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot has made an incredible difference in communities across our region. It has brought us the resource we need most: more people. They’re skilled, they’re young and they’re staying. Now, we’re doubling down on what works by making it permanent, so we can continue attracting the best and brightest to our region and build a vibrant, prosperous future for Atlantic Canada."