Province Consulting on New Immigration Stream

The province is consulting with immigrant and business organizations to help attract more entrepreneurs to Nova Scotia.

The Office of Immigration will use the input to implement a new entrepreneur stream under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. It will also use information gathered about similar streams in other jurisdictions.

The stream is for people who want to settle and establish their own business in the province. It is expected to be launched in the spring.

"Attracting immigrants who want to settle in Nova Scotia and invest in their own businesses here increases the likelihood that they can and will stay in the province," said Elizabeth Mills, executive director of the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.

Implementation of the new stream will honour the government's commitment to introduce an entrepreneurial category as outlined in the province's immigration strategy.

A discussion paper is available on the Office of Immigration website at www.novascotiaimmigration.com. Individuals can make written submissions by March 31.

The entrepreneur stream will replace the economic stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. The province stopped accepting applications through the economic stream in July 2006.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program enables the province to recruit and nominate immigrants who can help meet Nova Scotia's labour market and economic needs.

An individual nominated by the province, together with his or her spouse and dependent children, is eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the federal department responsible for immigration.

Potential immigrants can apply for permanent residency through four other active streams within the nominee program: skilled worker, community identified, family business worker and international graduate.

FOR BROADCAST:

The province is consulting with immigrant and business

organizations to help attract more immigrant entrepreneurs to

Nova Scotia.

The Office of Immigration will use the input to implement a

new option under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program for people who

want to settle and establish their own business in the province.

The entrepreneur stream is expected to be launched in the

spring and will replace the economic category of the nominee

program.

A discussion paper is available on the Office of

Immigration website at w-w-w dot nova-scotia-immigration dot

com .

Written submissions will be accepted until March 31st.