New Brunswick’s New Immigration Pilot for International Graduates

New Brunswick has launched a new immigration pilot project for international students. It collaborates with Opportunities NB (ONB) and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is a stream especially designed for those who have graduated from four private career colleges in the province. From April 1, 2022, international students with a graduate degree in one of 19 targeted occupations can easily apply for Canada PNP. These colleges are -

• the Atlantic Business College
• Eastern College,
• McKenzie College,
• Oulton College

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed to help the provinces identify immigration candidates who can meet the local economic needs. Some requirements are tailor-made. The details of the new pilot project will be available in the fall. However, the government has indicated that the pilot project is intended for recent graduates of designated learning institutions who are not eligible for the federal Post-Graduation Work Permit program. Also, international students from designated New Brunswick educational institutions only can apply. The applicants need to have eligible programs of study in the following areas:

• social and community service workers;
• early childhood educators and assistants;
• educational assistants;
• health-care aides;
• home support workers;
• licensed practical nurses;
• paramedics and related occupations;
• medical laboratory technologists;
• medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants;
• medical administrative assistants;
• computer programmers and interactive media developers;
• web designers and developers;
• computer network technicians;
• user support technicians;
• accounting technicians and bookkeepers;
• payroll clerks;
• shippers and receivers;
• supply chain and logistics supervisors; and
• production logistics co-ordinators

This new stream keeps in account the priorities set by business groups and organizations. One of the important requirements is to target 10,000 immigrants by 2024; out of these, 30 percent should be French-speaking, increasing investment in settlement services.

Before the pandemic, immigration was an integral part of population and labor force growth in New Brunswick. The New Brunswick province provided 6,000 nominations in 2019, which was dropped to 2,740 in 2020. Now, till June 2021, there were 1,470 new permanent resident arrivals. This has been due to travel restrictions imposed to curtail the COVID 19 pandemic.