Immigration numbers setting records, province says

Nova Scotia broke immigration records again in 2019 as the province finds new ways to target workers in sectors with the greatest need, the government says.

The Office of Immigration had approved 2,780 applications as of Dec. 27, up 21 per cent over 2018 and more than 300 per cent over 2013.

As a result, the province’s population is at an all-time high and getting younger, while filling persistent labour needs in key sectors, including health care, the government says.

“We are being innovative in our recruiting and processing more applications than ever,” said Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab. “It is making a difference in industries and communities across the province.”

The Office of Immigration works closely across government and with employers to identify labour needs, develop programs to target those professions and streamline the immigration process.

Health care continues to be a focus and Nova Scotia is attracting more family doctors, specialists and continuing care assistants than ever before. Since 2018, 52 physicians (33 family doctors and 19 specialists) and 184 continuing care assistants have been approved to come to the province through various immigration programs.

"We are encouraged by the success we are seeing by working with immigration to support the recruitment of health professionals,” said Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey. “Building on this success and with input from foreigntrained doctors, we created a second pathway this year (2019) to accelerate permanent residency for doctors.”