REGIONAL IMMIGRATION INITIATIVE

1. REGIONAL IMMIGRATION INITIATIVE Presented by: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services (MCAWS) UBCM September 21, 2004

2. Outline of Presentation • Immigration: a federal context, federal / provincial roles • Defining the Regional Immigration Initiative • Guidelines and objectives • Progress to date • Tools available and potential elements of a strategy • Community capacity: attraction and retention • Discussion

3. Immigration to Canada: A Federal Context • Canada is one of the few countries in the world that has a planned immigration program • Categories of immigrants: • Family Class, Economic Immigrants and Refugees • Visitors, Students and Temporary Workers • History of Immigration to Canada

4. History of Immigration to Canada Immigration to Canada’sWestern Provinces Immigration rates stayelevated in 1990’s Hungarian Refugees 400,000 Immigration rates rise and fall with economy 300,000 The Depression 200,000 100,000 2005 1990 2000 1985 1995 1905 1920 1930 1935 1945 1950 1900 1910 1940 1955 1965 1915 1960 1970 1975 1980 1925

5. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Immigration as % of Total Population Growth 1901- 11 1911- 21 1921- 31 1931- 41 1941- 51 1951- 61 1961- 71 1971- 81 1981- 91 1991- 96 44.1% 19.7% 14.5% 8.1% 7.9% 25.5% 21.7% 28.6% 27.7% 50.9%

6. The Dynamics of Immigration • The Global Movement of People: Risk and Opportunity • Impacts of Immigration • Bringing Partnerships to a new level: Shared Interests • Immigration is shared jurisdiction between federal and provincial governments • Working together on Regional Immigration Initiative

7. What is the Regional Immigration Initiative? • An Initiative to: • create awareness of immigration as a tool to support socio-economic development outside of the Greater Vancouver Area • increase the capacity of these communities and regions to attract and retain immigrants • Led by the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services (MCAWS) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) through the Agreement for Canada - British Columbia Cooperation on Immigration

8. Why introduce a Regional Immigration Initiative? • In BC, 90% of immigrants settle in the Greater Vancouver Region (31,653 immigrants in 2003) • Estimated average annual immigration to selected communities or regions since 1996 – Victoria (814), Okanagan (511), Nanaimo (145), Prince George (126) • Many rural communities are experiencing economic challenges and declining populations • Share the benefits with the Greater Vancouver Region

9. Guidelines for a BC Approach • Regional immigration is one part of a comprehensive approach to community economic development • Must be community driven • Uses range of levers under Fed. and/or Prov. authority to attract and retain immigrants • Requires multiple partners – ministries and departments, municipalities, employers, business organizations, economic development associations, educational institutions, settlement agencies, etc.

10. Regional Immigration Initiative Objectives • Facilitate the attraction and retention of immigrants to communities outside the Greater Vancouver Region • Support the economic development of rural communities within British Columbia • Develop strategies to improve the ability and capacity of smaller cities and communities outside of the Greater Vancouver Area to attract and retain immigrants

11. Progress to date • Roundtable discussion with federal and provincial ministers and municipal leaders • Steering committee established to provide input and advice on the direction, development and implementation of the initiative: British Columbia Rural Team, Western Economic Diversification Canada Community Futures Development Association Citizenship and Immigration Canada Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services • Regional Immigration web site established

12. Continued progress and next steps • Exploratory Projects on Labour Market Attachment • Mission, Nanaimo, Lake Country and Victoria www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/amip/iqp/resources/index.htm • Request for Proposals to develop related resources to support regional immigration • RFP posted from August 16 - September 10, 2004 • Contracts will be awarded from September 30 - June 30, 2005 • Individual Community Planning and Consultation

13. Tools Available / Potential Elements of a Strategy • Community Profiles and Mapping (http://www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/amip) • Workshops to increase awareness of immigration • Joint marketing and promotion • Expedited entry for skilled and business immigrants through BC PNP and Foreign Temporary Worker Program • Facilitated entry of International Students • More private sponsorship of refugees • Government sponsored refugees to small communities • Enhancements to services

14. Community Capacity: Attraction and Retention

15. Discussion • Moving forward…your thoughts • Interest, ideas and action?

16. Contact Information Thank you for participating For further information contact: Kerry Pridmore, Senior Policy Advisor Tel: 250-387-7960; Fax: 250-356-5316 Kerry.Pridmore@gems5.gov.bc.ca Website: http://www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/amip/prgs/id_regional.htm