With this article first published in 2012, we are now in 2015 & Nova Scotia has set ambitious plans to double the number of settled immigrants in the province by 2020.  However, those plans won’t become a reality until the federal government releases restrictions. Later this month, provincial and territorial ministers of immigration will meet with their Federal counterparts in Toronto to discuss the province’s plans and lobby the federal government to release its restrictions.
Currently, the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) places hand-picked immigrant workers on a fast track through the federal process.  However, by doubling the allocated number of certificates by the year 2015, Nova Scotia would welcome 5000 new immigrants to the province each year– with  2,500 from the provincial nominee programs and another 2,500 through federal immigration channels.
The provincial nominee programs has benefited some provinces more than others. Â This is particularly true in areas where the labor supply gaps are not popular destination for new immigrants. Â For example, in Manitoba, the province was able to triple the number of participants in the provincial nominee program from 4000 in 2004 to 12000 in 2010.
Nova Scotia on the other hand launched its first immigration strategy in 2005 with a goal of attracting 3600 immigrants a year by 2010. Â By the 2011, the province had added an additional $750,00 into a budget of $4 million to start its second immigration strategy of attracting at least 7200 immigrants a year with half of that number consisting of new nominees and their family members with a remainder of those who qualified through various federal immigration channels.
Immigration Categories for Nova Scotia PNP
With the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) consisting of six different categories such as skilled workers, international graduates, community identified workers, non-dependent children, family businesses, and agriculture, Nova Scotia has every intention of maximizing its benefits.
On a national level, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has brought in around 36000 immigrants a year.  Once approved as a member of the program, immigrants are granted permanent resident status.
Currently, the Prime-minister’s office has announced proposed changes to the federal immigration system which will include a face-track to citizenship for international students, a new category of skilled tradespeople along with the system of accepting applicants being projected to move a lot smoother.  However, federal immigration officials speaking in Toronto have stated that there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople and the provincial nominee programs do not properly address these issues because the programs are primarily aimed at attracting professionals.
Under the Prime-minister’s approach, a stricter language policy will be set in place leaving some analysts to speculate that a stricter language requirement will flush out temporary foreign workers with limited English or French skills leaving them unemployed.
Along with the Federal government’s measure of imposing language requirements, the provincial nominee program will also start to introduce language testing making these tests mandatory for people apply for semi-skilled and low-skilled paying jobs that will assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities.
Any alien national who has every intention to capitalize on immigrating to Nova Scotia under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) must be aware that in order to impeccably process an immigration and visa application, an aspirant must be properly assisted by an immigration attorney. Â If an immigration case is being handled by a decent licensed lawyer, an intending immigrant will have more chances of accomplishing the purpose.
Need Help with a Nova Scotia PNP Application?
Foreign immigrants, who find working in Nova Scotia attractive, may consult us at Niren and Associates (located in Toronto). We have been serving people with immigration problems for decades and can be reached via our contact page or at the office number, 1-877-296-0874.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
