What is the Atlantic Immigration Program?

The Atlantic Immigration Program replaced the former Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. Officially launched in January of 2022, the new Program is an employer-driven pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers and new graduates. The goal of the program is to help employers fill labour gaps in Atlantic Canada.

In order to utilize the AIP, employers must first become designated by the Province where they operate. They can then offer jobs to qualified candidates for their open positions. Applicants can be in Canada on a work permit and able to begin working immediately, or may need to apply for a work permit if they’re outside of the country or don’t have status.

Candidates selected for these positions and endorsed under the Atlantic Immigration Program may be eligible to apply for a work permit (if required), or permanent residence in Canada.

What is the Nova Scotia Nominee Program?

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program is an applicant-led process, meaning employers don’t submit the applications. There are currently 8 different streams of the NSNP. However, many of these streams are based on full-time employment in Nova Scotia.

• Applicants may be eligible for the Skilled Worker stream if they have a permanent, full-time job offer from a Nova Scotian employer.
• Applicants may be eligible for Occupations in Demand if they have a job offer in certain selected positions.
• Applicants may be eligible for International Graduates in Demand if they have have studied in Nova Scotia and have a job offer in certain selected positions.

How can we help?

The Cape Breton Partnership can guide employers and answer questions on the Atlantic Immigration Program and the employment-based streams of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

For more information, contact:

Dani Mombourquette
Immigration Engagement Coordinator
dani@capebretonpartnership.com
902-562-7182

Do you need further immigration support than guidance and support on the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Nova Scotia Nominee Program?

The Cape Breton Partnership’s Labour Market & Immigration Advisor can offer high-level immigration advice, answer immigration questions for employers and immigration candidates, and provide guidance on processes such as Labour Market Impact Assessments and the Global Talent Stream.

If you need help choosing the right stream for your employee, have questions regarding immigration, or would like to schedule an immigration consultation, reach out to our Labour Market & Immigration Advisor, Kelly MacKinnon, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).

Additionally, our Labour Market & Immigration Advisor may be able to provide ongoing immigration support to employers or, in some case, individuals. If you are a seasonal business, you may not qualify for the AIP or NSNP. If you are an entrepreneur, you may need some guidance on the options available to start your business. See below for a list of services provided.

Support offered includes:

• Immigration consultations for employers who are then provided with options for filling their labour gaps
• More detailed immigration support for employers than our Immigration Engagement Coordinator can provide
• Immigration consultations for entrepreneurs, physicians, and other applicants that provide a significant benefit to the Cape Breton economy
• Support and guidance to complete documents required for applications under the AIP, NSNP, or other immigration streams
• Guidance on when and how to complete an offer of employment through IRCC
• Immigration support for entrepreneurs and physicians
• Guidance on the Labour Market Impact Assessment process
• Referrals to the Global Skills Strategy & Global Talent Stream
• Referrals to a recruitment agency in Morocco for Francophone job-seekers eligible for a seasonal work permit

For more information, contact:

Kelly MacKinnon, RCIC
Labour Market & Immigration Advisor
902-202-5119
kelly@capebretonpartnership.com

The Cape Breton Partnership is a referral partner to both Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) on the Global Skills Strategy and the Global Talent Stream. These programs are for employers who want to attract top talent to work for their company with a fast and predictable process.

To be eligible for a referral through the Cape Breton Partnership, your organization must be making a significant investment that will generate positive impacts on the Canadian economy or labour market. This strategy allows for priority processing, short-term work permit exemptions, and access to a Dedicated Service Channel (DSC) with IRCC.

Through the DSC, employers will be assigned an account manager who can answer questions and provide guidance from within IRCC’s system.

The Global Skills Strategy allows for automatic 2-week processing if all eligibility requirements are met, including the applicant being in a high-skilled postion (NOC 0 or A), and applying from outside Canada.

Short-term work permit exemptions may be granted for up to 30 days in a 12 month period for high-skilled workers, or up to 120 days for researchers at a degree-granting institution or its affiliated research institution.

To request a referral for the Global Skills Strategy, submit a request form here:
CBP – IRCC – Global Skills Strategy Referral Request Form

For more information, contact:

Kelly MacKinnon, RCIC
Labour Market & Immigration Advisor
902-202-5119
kelly@capebretonpartnership.com

Workers who require an LMIA may be eligible for the Global Talent Stream (GTS). The GTS has requirements around eligible positions, salary the foreign workers will be paid, and require a Labour Market Benefits Plan that outline how this position will have lasting, positive impacts on the Canadian Labour Market.

The Global Talent Stream has two categories.

Category A

Category A of the GTS requires the employer to be referred by one of the Stream’s designated partners – Cape Breton Partnership is a referral partner. You may be eligible for this stream if you are hiring unique and specialized talent for a company that is focused on innovation and has the ability to scale up and grow. To be eligible, applicants must have advanced knowledge of the industry and extensive experience and/or an advanced degree in an area of specialization.

To request a referral for the Global Talent Stream, submit a request form here:
CBP – ESDC – Global Talent Stream Referral Request Form

Category B

Workers may be eligible for Category B if the position offered is on the Global Talent Occupations List. A referral is not required to be eligible for Category B.

For more information, contact:

Kelly MacKinnon, RCIC
Labour Market & Immigration Advisor
902-202-5119
kelly@capebretonpartnership.com