Nova Scotia has recently announced a temporary hold on applications from workers in the food and accommodation sector who are seeking immigration through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, due to overwhelming demand. The program allows the province to nominate skilled workers to settle as permanent residents in Nova Scotia. The program received 460 applications in March of 2023, compared to 830 applications in March of the current year. Despite the federal government accepting 3,57 applications for the program each year, the demand from the food service and accommodation sector has escalated significantly, prompting the temporary pause.
Approximately half of all applications received as of the first quarter of 2024 have been related to the food service and accommodation sector. The Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia has highlighted this surge in demand from the industry. However, the Centre for Migrant Workers Rights Nova Scotia has expressed concerns that the temporary halt in applications will make it more challenging for migrants to obtain permanent residence. Stacey Gomez, an advocate with the group, described the move as “closing the door” and emphasized that decreasing opportunities for migrant workers to access permanent residence is a significant issue that needs to be addressed.
While the province is pleased to see the nominee program flourishing, they recognize the need to create space for applications from other sectors. Jenn L’Esperance, senior executive director with the immigration and population growth branch of the Labour Skills and Immigration Department, explained that the provincial immigration programs are designed for situations where employers have explored the local labor market or are unable to find the necessary labor. The province aims to reserve spaces for health-care workers and construction workers who are also applying through the program. A timeline for lifting the pause on food and accommodation sector applications has not been established.
Overall, the move to temporarily halt applications from the food and accommodation sector in the Nova Scotia Nominee Program is a response to the overwhelming demand experienced by the province. The government is taking steps to assess the applications already in their office and create space for applications from other key sectors such as health care and construction. While this decision has sparked concerns from advocacy groups about the impact on migrant workers’ ability to obtain permanent residence, the province aims to strike a balance between meeting the needs of various industries and ensuring opportunities are available for a diverse range of skilled workers seeking to settle in Nova Scotia.
