The Atlantic Immigration Program, a critical initiative facilitating the hiring of skilled foreign workers and international graduates, is experiencing significant updates. The program, alongside the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream, has temporarily halted new applications for food service supervisors. This move is part of a broader strategy to bolster sustainable community growth in the region.
Key Facts
- The Atlantic Immigration Program assists employers in hiring skilled foreign workers and international graduates from Canadian institutions.
- The program temporarily paused intakes for specific sectors, specifically food service supervisors under NOC 62020.
- Nova Scotia formalizes a new expression of interest process by November 28, 2025, aiming for sustainable long-term growth.
- The Nova Scotia Nominee Program paused new expressions of interest from the Accommodation and Food Services sector as of April 17, 2024.
- Employers must demonstrate unsuccessful local hiring efforts to receive endorsements for foreign workers.
Breaking News Overview
The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration has announced a temporary suspension of the Atlantic Immigration Program for food service supervisors, impacting employers in the accommodation and food service sectors. This decision aligns with Nova Scotia’s initiative to implement a structured expression of interest (EOI) process by November 2025, aimed at fostering sustainable community development. The suspension comes alongside a halt in the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry (NSEEE) stream, particularly affecting sectors under NAICS 72.
Detailed Breakdown
The Atlantic Immigration Program, a cornerstone for addressing regional labor shortages, requires employers to be designated and have positions endorsed by the province. To qualify, employers must prove efforts to hire locally were unsuccessful, ensuring only jobs critical to the economy are filled through this channel. The current pause targets food service supervisors, a role categorized under NOC 62020. This pause is part of a strategic realignment to ensure the sustainability of the labor market in Nova Scotia and the broader Atlantic region.
Furthermore, to streamline operations and enhance efficiency, Nova Scotia is preparing to roll out a formal EOI process by late 2025. This approach is expected to balance the demand and supply of labor, focusing on long-term community benefits.
Who This Affects
The impact of these changes will be most felt by employers within the food services sector, particularly those seeking to fill supervisory roles. However, candidates employed in accommodation and food service occupations with employers outside the specified NAICS 72 can still pursue applications through other Nova Scotia Nominee Program streams. Employers in these sectors are advised to adjust their recruitment strategies in anticipation of these adjustments.
Key Takeaways
The temporary pause of the Atlantic Immigration Program and related streams indicates a strategic shift by Nova Scotia towards sustainable labor market solutions. Key takeaways for stakeholders include:
- Employers must explore alternative recruitment channels in light of the program pause.
- The forthcoming EOI process represents a significant policy shift aimed at balancing labor supply with community growth objectives.
- Employers should remain informed about further developments to align their workforce planning with regulatory changes.
What This Means
The suspension of the Atlantic Immigration Program for specific sectors signals a significant shift in Nova Scotia’s approach to immigration and labor market policies. The immediate consequence is a temporary disruption for employers relying on these streams to fill critical roles. In the long term, however, the introduction of a formal EOI process by November 2025 is expected to provide a stable framework for labor market planning, potentially leading to more sustainable economic growth in the region.
This realignment will necessitate adjustments by employers, who may need to explore alternative methods of recruitment and workforce development. For international candidates, the changes may limit opportunities in the short term but promise a more structured pathway to permanent residency in the future.