Province hiring new immigration agents

“These new agents will be specifically tasked with making new immigrants aware of the significant opportunities in rural Prince Edward Island.” Rural and Regional Development Minister Pat Murphy

The provincial government has issued a request for proposals for immigration agents who will work to attract immigrants to P.E.I., especially to rural areas of the province.

Population growth is a priority for Prince Edward Island, and this is being done by attracting more immigrants to the Island.

“It is vital that we maintain or increase our rural population in order to make rural communities more vibrant and sustainable into the future,” said Rural and Regional Development Minister Pat Murphy.

“Immigrants arriving through the Provincial Nominee Program represent a significant opportunity for rural areas given that they are required to open, purchase or invest in a business or work in areas where critical labour shortages exist.

“These new agents will be specifically tasked with making new immigrants aware of the significant opportunities in rural Prince Edward Island.”

Each of the new immigration agents will work collaboratively with the recently announced regional economic councils. The main goal of those councils is to develop strategies to drive economic and population growth across the Island. One of the focuses of these councils – which will have its first meeting later this week – will be to encourage new immigrants to purchase or invest in existing businesses and attract new immigrant entrepreneurs.

“A significant portion of our most critical labour gaps and business succession issues exist in rural Prince Edward Island,” said Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Sonny Gallant.

“By putting a sharp focus on the many attractive qualities of a rural business and lifestyle, we know we can attract immigrants who will choose to live, work, study or own a business outside of our major centres.”