Over the past 20 years, the number of immigrants to Nova Scotia has increased, but the share of immigrants coming to the province has not, and retention rates remain among the worst in the country. This is the context for the challenges that are tackled in a new report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Nova Scotia today.<\/p>\n
The authors of Expanding the Vision: Why Nova Scotia Should Look Beyond Econocentric Immigration Policy<\/b><\/i> demonstrate the limitations of a narrow, short-term approach to immigration that seeks only to maximize economic returns. The report also lay out the elements of an alternative approach.<\/p>\n
Co-author and Political Science Professor at Saint Mary\u2019s University, Alexandra Dobrowolsky, says of the recommended approach: \u201cThinking creatively means redressing the gender imbalance in the existing immigration system, ensuring that more women are principal applicants. Creative policies are ones that invest in people and programs, for immigrants and current Nova Scotians.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCreative policies recognize the sacrifices immigrants are making to come here, and help facilitate more permanent residency, or make it easier for their families to join them and ensure that immigrants are able to use their skills and experience to contribute in the labour market and beyond in meaningful ways, benefitting them and our community as a whole,\u201d points out co-author and Dalhousie Sociology Professor Howard Ramos.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs this report makes clear, it isn\u2019t fair to look to immigrants to provide economic and demographic fixes to the province\u2019s woes and to generate all of the benefits of vibrant diverse culture all on their own.\u00a0 Agencies like ours are a critical part of ensuring that Nova Scotia is a place that makes it easy to come here and make it a place to stay and bring other family and friends,\u201d according to Nabiha Atallah, <\/b>Manager, Communications & Outreach, Immigrant Settlement & Integration Services.<\/p>\n
Atallah goes on to say: \u201cThat requires investing in language services, and establishing fair processes for recognizing foreign credentials, among other necessary programs and services. The long term benefits of these kind of investments are felt by everyone in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis report makes a strong case for taking a longer-term, more socially and economically-just, fair and balanced approach to immigration,\u2019 says the Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Nova Scotia, Christine Saulnier.<\/p>\n
According to Saulnier, \u201cThis approach must also frame how our government plans to tackle the full range of challenges facing the province. Nova Scotia\u2019s immigration policy must be linked to a jobs strategy and a broader economic development strategy. This approach must balance the economic and employer interests with the social and cultural needs of workers, their families and our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n","remove_heading_underline":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"media_feature","type":"pdf","pdf":{"en_file":4946,"en_label":"Expanding the Vision: Why Nova Scotia Should Look Beyond Econocentric Immigration Policy ","fr_file":null,"fr_label":""},"video":{"title":"","video":null}}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/p2pcanada.truemarket.io\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/toolkits-reports\/4945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/p2pcanada.truemarket.io\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/toolkits-reports"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/p2pcanada.truemarket.io\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/toolkits-reports"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/p2pcanada.truemarket.io\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"toolkits-reports-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p2pcanada.truemarket.io\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/toolkits-reports-category?post=4945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}