Provincial and Federal Immigration Offices Share Space

People dealing with immigration matters will have one-stop access to two levels of government now that provincial and federal immigration offices are located in the same building.

Immigration Minister Rodney MacDonald said today, Nov. 16, that immigrants in Nova Scotia are the only ones in the country who can attend to provincial and federal immigration matters in one building. The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration officially opened its doors today at its new facilities at 1741 Brunswick St., in Halifax.

"People do not always distinguish between levels of government when they need help or information," he said. "Now we can work together to provide better service for our immigration clients, whatever their question or concern."

But people dealing with immigration matters will not be the only ones to benefit. Staff at the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration will have access to Citizenship and Immigration Canada's video and teleconferencing capabilities, interview and conference rooms, and the ceremony room, at no extra cost.

"Aside from the savings to taxpayers concerning these shared spaces, the most significant benefit is the ability for provincial and federal immigration staff to work closely together on a daily basis," Mr. MacDonald said. "Our success depends on a strong partnership with the federal government. From informal discussions in the lunch room to scheduled meetings in the conference room -- staff can readily exchange ideas and advice that will benefit immigrants and help us progress toward our shared immigration goals."

The Office of Immigration was established earlier this year to lead efforts on the province's new immigration strategy.