The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) will become a permanent program on January 1st, according to Immigration Minister Sean Fraser and provincial leaders. The Atlantic Immigration Program will be the new name.

6,000 newcomers will be able to come to Atlantic Canada each year as a result of the initiative.

Fraser was joined by provincial leaders from the other Atlantic provinces, as well as a fellow Liberal member of parliament Ginette Petitpas Taylor, who is the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

According to Fraser, the AIP has brought approximately 10,000 immigrants to the provinces since its start in 2017. Over 9,800 job offers have been issued by participating firms in critical industries such as health care, lodging, food services, and manufacturing. More than 90% of newcomers on the AIP were still residing in Canada after a year, which is significantly higher than other immigration programs in the region.

Nova Scotia recently declared that its population had surpassed one million people. In the first quarter of 2021, 5,696 people moved to Nova Scotia from other nations and regions of Canada, resulting in the province’s population increasing by 2,877, the most in a first-quarter since 1971. The province also boasts the highest immigrant retention rate in Atlantic Canada, at 71%.

Although the pilot will formally finish on December 31, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to accept applications until March 5, 2022, from those who have a valid provincial endorsement.

What exactly is the AIP, and why is it regarded as a success?

Atlantic Canada has one of the country’s oldest populations. In these provinces, a huge number of workers are retiring, while few new workers are arriving.

While this is a concern across the country, it is particularly acute in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia on the east coast.

In Canada, the demographic challenges of an aging population have long been a rationale in favor of economic immigration. Despite the success of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which was established in 1998 to meet regional labor market and demographic needs, Atlantic Canada has had difficulty retaining immigrants.

Then there’s AIP. According to an IRCC report from the winter, it was launched in 2017 and has already begun to show early indicators of success. According to the research, the AIP is helping to improve retention rates in the region.

Immigrants who come to Atlantic Canada under the AIP are given a job and a settling plan from a recognized service provider. These components address the reasons why many immigrants leave the region owing to a lack of employment prospects. Those who stay are frequently drawn to the area by family or friends.