New Executive Director Chosen

An executive director has been appointed to lead the new Office of Immigration. Elizabeth Mills will begin her duties effective Monday, Feb. 21.

"I'm very pleased to have this position filled quickly and with such a well-qualified person," said Immigration Minister Rodney MacDonald. "The immigration strategy we released last week will require a tremendous amount of energy and collaboration among people all over the province. Elizabeth is the ideal person to lead that process."

Ms. Mills has been a corporate policy analyst with Treasury and Policy Board for the past five years and was extensively involved in developing the immigration strategy. Prior to her Treasury and Policy Board role, Ms. Mills was executive director of Voluntary Planning, an advisory group to the provincial government.

"Elizabeth played a key role in the development of the immigration strategy," said deputy minister Bob Fowler. "The passion and skill that she brought to that job make her an excellent fit for this leadership assignment."

"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity," said Ms. Mills. "The immigration strategy will have a very significant impact on the future of the province. The job has the added bonus of allowing me to work closely with all of the private sector, academic and government partners I've enjoyed dealing with over recent years."

The Office of Immigration is the result of extensive consultations last fall with business, labour, industry, education and training partners, and the general public on a Framework for Immigration - A Discussion Paper. Based on public input the province drafted the provincial immigration strategy.

Subsequently, Cabinet approved the establishment of the Office of Immigration to implement the strategy, in active partnership with Nova Scotians. Successful implementation will require the involvement and support of service-providing organizations, cultural, ethnic and religious groups, labour, business and professional organizations, community organizations, regional development authorities and all three levels of government.

The job of the Office of Immigration is to co-ordinate the efforts of these groups. This will enable the province to reach its objective of more than doubling the number of immigrants who move to Nova Scotia by 2010, increasing from 1,500 to 3,600 a year. The other main goal will be to see 70 per cent of the immigrants who arrive during the 2006-11 census period make Nova Scotia their permanent home.