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Town of Riverview / News / New Immigration Strategy to be unveiled for the Greater Moncton Area

New Immigration Strategy to be unveiled for the Greater Moncton Area

MONCTON (NB) -  Over the next five years, Greater Moncton will need to significantly increase immigration numbers if it hopes to remain one of the faster growing mid-sized urban centres in Eastern Canada. This is just one of the key findings outlined in the Greater Moncton Immigration Strategy 2020-2024 unveiled today.

“Without a doubt, immigrant attraction and retention is critical to our long-term economic prosperity,” said David Campbell, President of Jupia Consultants Inc., the firm tasked with developing the new Strategy. “Through our research, we’ve found a direct correlation between immigration numbers, and the growth in our labour market, which in turn, impacts the region’s overall economic progress. We simply can’t have future prosperity without it.”

In 2018, Greater Moncton welcomed 1,450 immigrants and newcomers, a significant increase from previous years. To continue to achieve the growth that is in keeping with the region’s current economic development strategy, 2,700 newcomers a year will need to move to Greater Moncton by 2024.

New Strategic Plan

With a vision of making Greater Moncton one of the most attractive and inclusive places for newcomers to settle, the Greater Moncton Immigration Strategy 2020-2024, outlines a proactive plan built around three key pillars:

  • Attracting talent to the community
  • Ensuring newcomers put down roots
  • Broadening community collaboration and mobilization.

During today’s presentation, Campbell detailed a series of key objectives needed to meet the targets for progress.

“As a region, we are competing with other mid-size communities across the country and around the world,” said Dawn Arnold, Mayor of Moncton. “We have so much to offer newcomers, and we need to do everything we can to tell that story. This new strategy addresses exactly what we need to focus on, and with our continued collaboration with the City of Dieppe, the Town of Riverview, and with the many groups and organizations dedicated to attracting and supporting newcomers, I’m certain we can achieve our targets.”

The plan’s recommendations stem from engagement with 60 organizations and more than 600 individuals across the region and beyond. This included consultations with immigrant settlement service providers, government departments and agencies, business groups, education and training providers.

“I’m excited to see the role that French-speaking immigrants can play in the region’s economic prosperity,” said Yvon, Lapierre, Mayor of Dieppe. “The new strategy calls for a third of the immigration target to come from Francophone immigration. We’ve already seen success with French-speaking, international students at l’Université de Moncton. Many are now putting down roots in the region. They are a young workforce with skills to offer, and the diversity they provide will only benefit us in the long run.”

The new strategy also addresses the role that immigration plays in affecting the region’s aging demographic. Within the next 10 to 15 years, more than 17 thousand workers will be retiring. Beyond the replacement of these retirees, there are a number of industries that continue to grow, and need new workers to support them. Attracting and retaining immigrants, especially those with young families, will significantly impact the workforce of the future.

“The more young families we can encourage to stay, the better it will be for the entire region,” said Ann Seamans, Mayor of Riverview. “By stepping up our efforts to welcome newcomers, and help them to put down roots, it becomes a win for all of us. This new strategy provides the framework by which we can make this happen. I look forward to working with the other communities to find new and creative ways to, not only attract newcomers, but enable them to stay.”

The Greater Moncton Immigration Strategy 2020-2024, builds on the success of the previous Immigration Strategy (2014-2018), the region’s first formal plan to attract and retain newcomers. Like its predecessor, the Greater Moncton Local Immigration Partnership (GMLIP) will be responsible for its implementation.

 

 

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