Canada and Yukon Announce New Agreement on Immigration; Launch New Web Portal Aimed at Attracting Newcomers
WHITEHORSE, YUKON–(Marketwire – May 21, 2008) – The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Patrick Rouble, Minister of Education for Yukon, announced today the new Agreement for Canada-Yukon Cooperation on Immigration and launched a new immigration Web portal for the territory.
The new agreement helps strengthen the partnership between the two governments to encourage immigration to Yukon.
“The Yukon is an exciting territory with vast potential for growth and our government wants to help,” said Minister Finley. “With this renewed partnership, the Government of Canada is committed to helping ensure that the territory benefits, as other provinces and territories do, from the significant level of immigration to Canada.”
“With Yukon's low unemployment rate and growing economy, our governments are working together to help businesses and the economy continue to grow. This Agreement will help Yukon businesses find the employees they need,” said Minister Rouble. “By putting some of the decision making in the hands of Yukon government through the Yukon Nominee Program, this Agreement also ensures we can be more responsive to changing labour market needs and keep the economy strong.”
The immigration agreement, which sets out the roles and responsibilities in immigration matters and replaces a previous agreement signed in 2001, includes several new provisions aimed at keeping pace with Yukon's growing economic, social and demographic needs. Specifically, the new agreement:
– enhances cooperation between Canada and Yukon in overseas promotion and recruitment activities to help attract skilled immigrants, temporary workers and students;
– allows Yukon to nominate more immigrants, like with many provinces, with specific skills to respond to the territory's labour market needs, for quicker processing by the federal government;
– commits the two governments to working together to secure better recognition of foreign qualifications and faster integration of immigrants into the labour market; and
– ensures that Canada provides fair and ongoing funding for immigrant settlement services delivered in Yukon.
In December 2007, the Government of Canada announced $219,000 in basic settlement funding for the territory for 2008-2009, bringing the total since 2006-2007 to more than $702,000. This funding is going toward the delivery of programs and services for newcomers such as information and orientation sessions, language training, and support in establishing networks and contacts.
The new territorial Web portal (www.immigration.gov.yk.ca) complements the agreement by enhancing online content, tools and services for newcomers. The portal will serve to promote the territory as a destination of choice, and help immigrants settle and prosper in the region. In May 2007, the Government of Canada announced its agreement with the Yukon to provide it with more than $800,000 over a four-year period for the development and ongoing enhancement of this portal.
“With the global competition for talent, we need to increase our efforts to attract immigrants to Canada,” said Minister Finley. “As the Internet often serves as a primary source of information, the Yukon portal will help promote the unique characteristics and opportunities of the territory to potential immigrants around the world.”
In 2006, Yukon welcomed 193 newcomers: 65 permanent residents and 128 temporary residents.
For an electronic copy of the Agreement for Canada-Yukon Cooperation on Immigration, please visit www.cic.gc.ca.
