In a significant move to recalibrate its immigration strategies, Nova Scotia has temporarily halted two pivotal immigration pathways for food service supervisors. This decision, effective as of April 17, 2024, affects the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream, with an aim to foster sustainable, long-term community development.
Key Facts
- The Atlantic Immigration Program aids employers in hiring international graduates and skilled foreign workers.
- The program and the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream for food service supervisors have been paused.
- Nova Scotia formalizes an expression of interest process as of November 28, 2025.
- Applications from employers outside the NAICS 72 sector are still being accepted.
- Participation requires employers to be designated and have their positions endorsed by the province.
Breaking News Overview
The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration has announced a temporary pause on the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry (NSEEE) stream for food service supervisors. This decision is part of a broader strategy to ensure that the employment opportunities in Nova Scotia are aligned with sustainable community growth goals.
Employers in sectors outside the Accommodation and Food Services category, known as NAICS 72, can still engage with the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) streams. The province aims to refine its approach by formalizing an expression of interest (EOI) process by late 2025.
Detailed Breakdown
The Atlantic Immigration Program is a federal initiative designed to help business owners in Atlantic Canada hire skilled workers from abroad when local candidates are unavailable. Employers must first achieve designation and position endorsement by the province. This ensures that all possible local recruitment efforts have been exhausted.
Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration has put a temporary hold on the program specifically for food service supervisors to reassess its impact on community sustainability. This pause allows for a reallocation of resources and a focus on sectors with more immediate needs.
Who This Affects
The temporary suspension impacts employers in the food services sector seeking to hire foreign workers through these immigration programs. It also affects international candidates aspiring to secure permanent residency in Canada through these pathways.
Conversely, sectors outside the NAICS 72 classification, such as technology and health care, continue to have access to these programs, allowing them to address their staffing needs.
Key Takeaways
Nova Scotia’s decision underscores a strategic pivot towards a more balanced and sustainable immigration policy. Key stakeholders, including employers in the food services sector, will need to explore alternative hiring strategies or adjust their timelines for foreign recruitment.
- Employers must ensure their designation and position endorsements are current and actively seek local candidates.
- Those in non-NAICS 72 sectors can continue utilizing the Atlantic Immigration Program and related streams.
- International applicants should remain informed of program updates and potential new opportunities in other sectors.
What This Means
The temporary pause in specific immigration streams reflects Nova Scotia’s commitment to a sustainable immigration framework. This pause is expected to contribute to more balanced economic growth and community development by ensuring that local labor market needs are met more effectively.
For employers, this means a temporary recalibration of hiring strategies, necessitating increased focus on local talent pools or shifting recruitment efforts to permissible sectors. For potential immigrants, staying informed and adaptable to policy changes will be crucial in navigating the revised immigration landscape.