N.L. immigration minister slams feds over lack of support
CBC
Newfoundland and Labrador's minister of immigration, population growth and skills is demanding more help — and more money — from his federal counterpart to support immigration and settlement in a province where deaths outstrip births two to one.
While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Gerry Byrne touted Newfoundland and Labrador's population growth while slamming the federal government for a lack of support.
"There are many issues that need to be resolved with Ottawa," he said. "Many."
Byrne's central frustration is the province's federally granted immigration allocation, which he said was fulfilled as of Oct. 7.
Now that those spots have been filled, the provincial government won't be able to nominate any more newcomers for permanent residency until Jan. 1. He said the province will continue to process applications and submit them to the federal government in the new year — but in the meantime, any newcomers who apply will have to wait.
"There is no room left this year," Byrne said emphatically. "None."
According to Byrne, the provincial government can nominate 1,140 people for permanent residency under the federal pathway, and 453 people under the Atlantic pathway.
"In previous years, we were lucky if we could fill a third of those spots," he said.
Byrne said the provincial government is asking the federal government to expand Newfoundland and Labrador's nomination capacity for the rest of 2022, and double capacity in 2023.
Byrne said he already asked federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser for more capacity this year, but was turned down.
"Now we are seeing the results of this," he said.
CBC News has asked the federal Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship for comment.
According to Byrne, Newfoundland and Labrador's population grew by 6,200 people in the past 18 months — the largest increase since 1971 — largely through migration from other provinces and countries. He said 5,600 people have immigrated to Newfoundland and Labrador, while 3,700 people have moved to the province from other parts of Canada.
He said the growth doesn't include Ukrainians who have moved to the province since March.
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