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Sean Fraser, the Immigration Minister and other provincial leaders declared that the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) will become a permanent program from 1st January and the name will change into the Atlantic Immigration Program.

This program will allow 6,000 newcomers to Atlantic Canada per year.

According to Fraser, AIP has brought around 10,000 new comers to the region since it was launched in 2017. Engaging employers have produced over 9,800 job offers, including accommodations, health care, and food services. After one year, more than 90% of newcomers on the AIP were still living in Canada, which is much higher than other immigration programs in the region.

This news comes in a while after Nova Scotia states that its population grew to 1 million. In the first part of 2021, 5,696 people moved to Nova Scotia from other countries and other parts of Canada, and the province's population grew by 2,877. The province also has an immigrant retention rate of 71%, which is the highest in Atlantic Canada.

The pilot will officially close on 31st December 2021, but Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will still accept applications under the pilot from those with a valid provincial endorsement until March 5, 2022.

What is the AIP and why is it viewed as success?

Atlantic Canada has earlier populations in the country. Huge numbers of workers in these provinces are retiring, along with that; few new workers are coming in.

It is especially evident in the four east-coast provinces, that is, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

However, ''The demographic challenges of having an old population have long been a case in support of economic immigration in Canada. However, despite the success of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), created in 1998 to address the regional labour market and demographic needs, Atlantic Canada has struggled to retain immigrants.

According to an IRCC report, it was launched in 2017, and has already begun to show early signs of success. The report suggests that the AIP is uplifting retention rate in the region.

Through the AIP, immigrants come to Atlantic Canada with a job and a settlement plan from a designated service provider. These elements address the reasons why many immigrants tend to leave the region, due to lack of job opportunities. Those who stay, oftentimes do so because of family or friends in the area''.

Source: Canada.ca