More immigrants coming to Atlantic Canada, but not staying: report

A report released by The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council recently stated that a record 8,300 immigrants arrived in 2015, and yet more the following year. The Halifax-based council said 11,600 immigrants came to Atlantic Canada in the first nine months of 2016, due in part to an influx of Syrian refugees- the increase is mainly due to expanded use of provincial nominee programs, which allow provinces to nominate people who wish to immigrate to their region, up to a cap. But not too many people are staying.

The low retention rate in Atlantic Canada is being attributed to lengthy processing times which are a major hindrance according to the report. Although express entry applications are being processed within six months, provincial nominee applications are taking 16 months to be processed by the federal government.

About 80 per cent of immigrants settle in the region’s major urban centres. The report is based on information from Statistics Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

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