Canadian Immigration Ministers Convene in Halifax to Shape Future Policies

March 10, 2023 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – The Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) gathered today at the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to deliberate on the future of immigration in Canada. The meeting aimed at advancing joint initiatives to address Canada's immigration priorities, and participants expressed satisfaction with the strides made in enhancing the effectiveness of the immigration system to cater to economic and regional needs.

Increasing Provincial and Territorial Roles

Following up on discussions from the previous July, the ministers explored ways to increase provincial and territorial involvement in the selection of economic immigrants. Key topics included:

• Expansion of Provincial/Territorial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Ministers celebrated Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) first Multi-Year Allocation Plan, which forecasts a remarkable 44% increase in PNP allocations for 2023, along with anticipated allocations for 2024 and 2025.
• Improving Application Processing: Discussions emphasized reducing duplication and providing greater provincial and territorial autonomy over PNPs. Efforts to streamline and expedite processing times were also a focal point.
• Settlement and Integration: Productive conversations were held on settlement efforts and Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR), alongside Canada's humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis.

Canada’s Humanitarian Stance on Ukraine

The ministers unequivocally condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, discussing support mechanisms for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. They reviewed the Ukraine Rapid Impact Evaluation results, assessing the effectiveness of policies and support systems. The discussions stressed the importance of a collaborative approach to cost and information sharing, ensuring newcomers are welcomed comprehensively. Provincial and territorial ministers called for clarity on the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) timeframe and urged for extensions of temporary assistance measures.

Addressing Asylum and Credential Recognition

Concerns were raised about the high number of asylum seekers crossing between official ports of entry. The ministers emphasized the need for continued collaboration in supporting these vulnerable individuals. The dialogue also extended to collective priorities on FCR, focusing on internationally-educated healthcare professionals. The ministers highlighted the critical role of immigration in addressing labor shortages and agreed on enhancing credential recognition processes.

Streamlining Economic Immigration

A unanimous commitment was made to deliver a more agile, client-centered economic immigration system. Key points include:

• Enhanced Provincial and Territorial Involvement: Ministers recognized the unique roles of federal, provincial, and territorial governments in the immigration ecosystem, stressing the importance of complementary and adaptable programs.
• Express Entry and PNP Integration: Updates were provided on category-based selection through the Express Entry platform, with discussions on reducing application processing redundancies.
• Federal Processing Improvements: The necessity of improving federal immigration processing times for both temporary and permanent pathways was highlighted, with a focus on meeting economic and regional demands.

Regional Immigration and Settlement Services

Ministers reflected on the significance of regionalizing immigration to address local labor market needs. As immigration targets rise, the capacity of communities to accommodate newcomers was identified as a critical area for examination. Settlement service delivery models were also scrutinized, with an emphasis on PT involvement and funding enhancements. The value of locally-informed, flexible services was acknowledged as vital for the integration and retention of immigrants.

Ensuring Public Support and Future Collaboration

Ministers agreed on the importance of maintaining robust public support for immigration and committed to working collaboratively to ensure long-term immigration and settlement objectives align with Canada's prosperity. Minister Fraser extended an invitation to colleagues to participate in the newly launched Strategic Immigration Review.

Note: Quebec's immigration minister participated as an observer, consistent with the Canada-Québec Accord, which grants Quebec autonomy over its immigration policies. Prince Edward Island officials also attended as observers due to a provincial election.

About the FMRI

The Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration is a federal-provincial-territorial decision-making body dedicated to supporting a flexible, timely, and