2003-37

GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

OTTAWA, October 2, 2003 -- The Honourable Denis Coderre, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today tabled the government's response to the report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration entitled The Provincial Nominee Program: A Partnership to Attract Immigrants to All Parts of Canada.

"I appreciate the committee's commitment to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and their valuable recommendations for its continued growth," said the Minister. "Their work and insight will go a long way toward helping us realize its full potential for encouraging immigration throughout the country."

The government recognizes the value of strengthening the PNP and will implement many of the standing committee's recommendations. Initiatives that address some of the recommendations are already under way, such as the establishment of the federal/provincial/territorial working group on the PNP who just concluded a meeting in Fredericton on September 25 and 26, 2003.

"Immigration has the potential to bring economic, cultural and social benefits to communities throughout Canada," said the Minister. "The government recognizes the importance of working in partnership with the provinces and territories so that all regions of our country can realise these benefits. The Provincial Nominee Program is a key tool we can use to help accomplish this."

In fact, sharing the benefits of immigration will be the focus of an upcoming meeting of Canada's federal, provincial and territorial ministers of immigration in Victoria, B.C., on October 15 and 16, 2003. The first federal/provincial/territorial meeting on immigration was held last fall where work began to improve the way Canada attracts and settles newcomers.

The PNP consists of a series of agreements that most provinces and territories have entered into with the Government of Canada. The agreements enable those provinces and territories to nominate immigrants who, in their assessment, will contribute to that province or territory's economic and social development. Provincial nominees are not subject to the selection criteria for skilled workers. However, CIC retains responsibility for the medical and security screening of applicants and is ultimately responsible for the final selection decision.

The government's response to the standing committee's report is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site at http://www.cic.gc.ca.

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For more information (media only):

Report:
Government Response to the Report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration: "The Provincial Nominee Program: A Partnership to Attract Immigrants to All Parts of Canada"

BACKGROUNDER
The Provincial Nominee Program

 
The Provincial Nominee Program allows the provinces and territories to select immigrants who have specific skills that will contribute to the local economy. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations have established a provincial nominee class, allowing provinces and territories that have agreements with CIC to nominate a certain number of foreign nationals for immigration to Canada. Nominees must meet federal admissibility requirements, such as those related to health and security.

Specifically:

• Provincial nominee agreements provide a mechanism for provinces and territories to increase the economic benefits of immigration, taking into account local industrial and economic priorities and labour market conditions.
• Each individual agreement entitles the province or territory to nominate a certain number of immigration candidates and their accompanying family members every calendar year.
• Provincial nominees brought in under these agreements become permanent residents of Canada.
• he Government of Canada will continue to enforce the statutory requirements related to the security and medical screening of the immigration applicants and retains the right to make the final selection.

Existing Provincial Nominee Agreements

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