Regional Labour Market Demand Stream

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Good news for International students. The Province of Nova Scotia has created a new immigration stream for aspiring permanent residents called the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream. Nova Scotia Nominee Program is administering this excitable program, through which Nova Scotia immigration officials select the eligible candidates. Aspirants need not have a job offer in hand to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

The Regional Labour Market Demand Stream was announced in early March, and began considering applications on March 6, 2014.

To become eligible the candidate needs to:

• The candidate needs to attend for an interview, if required.
• Meet minimum language proficiency requirements,
• Intend to work in an eligible occupation;
• Have sufficient funds for settlement in Nova Scotia;
• Have at least two years of continuous full-time work experience within the past five years in an eligible occupation*;
• Have at least a high school level of education and a degree, diploma, or certificate from a post-secondary institution;
• Demonstrate intent to live in Nova Scotia and ability to become economically established in the province;
• Completed post-secondary program must be at least one year in length
• Complete an Employment Settlement Plan; and
• Be aged between 21 and 55,
• Be a legal resident in current country of residence;

*The NSNP (Nova Scotia Nominee Program) came up with 43 eligible occupations. The list contains, occupations in the following fields: food service, skilled trades, health services (including nursing), and engineering.

The Settlement Plan

NSNP is providing this stream in which, applicants need to complete an Employment Settlement Plan. The settlement plan requires applicants to answer questions on the following topics:

• Where they wish to settle and why.
• Reasons for choosing Nova Scotia; and
• Intended occupation in Nova Scotia;

By answering these questions, applicants need to demonstrate their desire to live in Nova Scotia as well as their readiness to quickly settle into their new homes.

The Application Process

Just like other Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), the NSNP provides a two-step process to obtain a permanent residency.

First, applicants must apply to the NSNP for provincial approval. NSNP has stated that depending upon the volume of application documents, processing and the assessing the application documents may take up to one month or more for the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream. Nova Scotia of Immigration has the sole right to nominate the desirable candidates, which will be then issued with a Provincial Nomination Certificate. The overall application, including the Provincial Nomination Certificate, must then be approved by the Federal government.

In the next step of the process, the Federal government assesses an applicant’s criminality/security/ and medical concerns with his/her ability to the admission. The Federal Government has the final authority, which is ultimately accountable for granting Canadian permanent resident status.

The Regional Labour Market Demand Stream provides an opportunity for applicants to immigrate to one of Canada’s most economically and culturally dynamic provinces.

According to Attorney David Cohen, many prospective immigrants possess valuable skills and experience that are needed in Canada. However, due to the gradual restriction of some immigration programs, many have not yet been successful in obtaining Canadian Permanent Residency.

“In recent years, many if not most new Canadian immigration programs require that individuals first obtain a job offer in Canada in order to be eligible to apply,” said Attorney David Cohen. “The fact that this new stream does not require a job offer is likely to generate large amounts of interest.”

At the moment there is no deadline for submission of applications. However, the NSNP notes that this can change at any time.

“This new program is a wonderful opportunity for individuals to immigrate to one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces,” said Attorney Cohen. “However, such opportunities do not last forever. Now is the time for eligible applicants to seize the moment and have a chance to realize their immigration goals.”