Nominee Program Legal Dispute Settled

The province and Cornwallis Financial Corporation have resolved their legal dispute over the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

The out-of-court resolution will have the province retain more than $7.5 million in interest. Ownership of the interest was a significant component of the dispute.

The funds are fees paid by applicants to the nominee program's economic stream and do not include any taxpayer dollars.

"This outcome is very positive for the province, as we can now concentrate fully on attracting and supporting immigrants in Nova Scotia," said Immigration Minister Len Goucher.

Cornwallis will receive the $1 million to which they are entitled under the terms of the contract, which the province ended on June 30, 2006. No damages will be paid.

Between December 2002 and June 2006, Cornwallis was responsible for marketing the nominee program to potential immigrants, helping to prepare applicant files, recruiting Nova Scotia companies to provide mentorship services and matching them with economic stream applicants.

On July 1, 2006, the province assumed full operational responsibility for the nominee program and stopped accepting applications for the program's economic stream.

Cornwallis filed four lawsuits against the province in November 2006, for defamation, breach of contract and two for financial compensation. In April 2008, Cornwallis consolidated the claims into one.

Cornwallis and the province have both withdrawn their lawsuits.