Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #08-118
May 21, 2008
Canada and Yukon Announce New Agreement on Immigration; Launches New Web Portal Aimed at Attracting Newcomers
WHITEHORSE, May 21, 2008 – The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Patrick Rouble, Minister of Education for Yukon, announced today the new Agreement for Canada Yukon Cooperation on Immigration and launched a new immigration Web portal for the territory.
The new agreement helps strengthen the partnership between the two governments to encourage immigration to Yukon.
“The Yukon is an exciting territory with vast potential for growth and our government wants to help,” said Minister Finley. “With this renewed partnership, the Government of Canada is committed to helping ensure that the territory benefits, as other provinces and territories do, from the significant level of immigration to Canada.”
“With Yukon’s low unemployment rate and growing economy, our governments are working together to help businesses and the economy continue to grow. This Agreement will help Yukon businesses find the employees they need,” said Minister Rouble. “By putting some of the decision making in the hands of Yukon government through the Yukon Nominee Program, this Agreement also ensures we can be more responsive to changing labour market needs and keep the economy strong.”
The immigration agreement, which sets out the roles and responsibilities in immigration matters and replaces a previous agreement signed in 2001, includes several new provisions aimed at keeping pace with Yukon’s growing economic, social and demographic needs. Specifically, the new agreement:
• enhances cooperation between Canada and Yukon in overseas promotion and recruitment activities to help attract skilled immigrants, temporary workers and students;
• allows Yukon to nominate more immigrants, like with many provinces, with specific skills to respond to the territory’s labour market needs, for quicker processing by the federal government;
• commits the two governments to working together to secure better recognition of foreign qualifications and faster integration of immigrants into the labour market; and
• ensures that Canada provides fair and ongoing funding for immigrant settlement services delivered in Yukon.
In December 2007, the Government of Canada announced $219,000 in basic settlement funding for the territory for 2008–2009, bringing the total since 2006–2007 to more than $702,000. This funding is going toward the delivery of programs and services for newcomers such as information and orientation sessions, language training, and support in establishing networks and contacts.
The new territorial Web portal (www.immigration.gov.yk.ca) complements the agreement by enhancing online content, tools and services for newcomers. The portal will serve to promote the territory as a destination of choice, and help immigrants settle and prosper in the region. In May 2007, the Government of Canada announced its agreement with the Yukon to provide it with more than $800,000 over a four-year period for the development and ongoing enhancement of this portal.
“With the global competition for talent, we need to increase our efforts to attract immigrants to Canada,” said Minister Finley. “As the Internet often serves as a primary source of information, the Yukon portal will help promote the unique characteristics and opportunities of the territory to potential immigrants around the world.”
In 2006, Yukon welcomed 193 newcomers: 65 permanent residents and 128 temporary residents.
For an electronic copy of the Agreement for Canada Yukon Cooperation on Immigration, please visit www.cic.gc.ca.
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| For further information (media only), please contact: | |
| Government of Canada Tim Vail Press Secretary Office of the Minister Citizenship and Immigration Canada 613-954-1064 |
Shakila Manzoor Spokesperson, B.C. and Yukon Region Citizenship and Immigration Canada 604-666-8408 |
| Government of Yukon Roxanne Vallevand Cabinet Communications 867-3937949 roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca |
Government of Yukon Michele Royle Communications Coordinator Department of Education 867-393-7102 michele.royle@gov.yk.ca |
Backgrounder
Overview
The Agreement for Canada Yukon Cooperation on Immigration is a comprehensive document that establishes the collaborative approach to addressing immigration priorities in Yukon.
Under the Constitution, immigration is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial/territorial governments. Through this agreement, the roles and responsibilities of both levels of government are clearly defined. The agreement includes an annex on provincial nominees and allows for annexes on other specific issues, as required.
The agreement and its annex have an indefinite duration, reflecting the long standing commitment to cooperation and collaboration between the two levels of government with respect to immigration.
Responding to Yukon’s Demographic and Labour Market Needs
The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) allows the Government of Yukon to nominate immigrants who have specific skills that will contribute to the local economy. Under its YNP agreement, Yukon nominates candidates who want to work and live in the territory. Nominees must meet federal admissibility requirements, such as those related to health, criminality and security.
Under the new agreement, which has no expiry date, there is no longer a limit on the number of immigrants the territory can nominate for permanent residence in Yukon each year. The new YNP is a one-year pilot, with the territory providing targets for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to incorporate in its annual immigration levels planning.
In addition to the YNP, the agreement includes a provision for cooperation between the two governments on the promotion and recruitment of immigrants and temporary residents. This way, Yukon can provide Canada with information on the territory’s specific needs and Canada can, in turn, provide information to Yukon about recruitment opportunities abroad to meet those needs.
Finally, the agreement recognizes the territory’s interest in enhancing the vitality of French linguistic minority communities in its jurisdiction.
Responding to the Settlement and Integration Needs of Immigrants and Refugees
Yukon and Canada have a long history of collaborating to provide settlement and integration services to immigrants in Yukon. The new agreement confirms the Government of Canada's commitment to fair and ongoing funding for settlement services in Yukon. Canada has also committed to working with Yukon to help internationally trained individuals integrate into the labour market.
Immigration Web Portal
With assistance from the Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon has launched an immigration Web portal for the territory. CIC is contributing more than $800,000 over four years. This funding is being used to develop and maintain the Yukon government immigration website, but it may also be used to support eligible municipal-level online projects relevant to newcomers.
This website streamlines immigration information for potential immigrants and employers, by outlining the immigration process and requirements for immigrants and employers. Information about Yukon such as its culture, language, employment, history, climate, health care and transportation is also included. Other relevant links to sites that provide more information about immigration or Yukon can also be found.
The website is intended to help answer questions which potential immigrants and employers may have. As such, it can help streamline the application process for temporary foreign workers or employers using the nominee program.
The site is published in English and French, and links to the Government of Canada’s Going to Canada Immigration Portal (www.goingtocanada.gc.ca).
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