NDP legislation would create immigration pilot project for Cape Breton

HALIFAX – The NDP Caucus will introduce legislation today that would require the government to create a specific immigration pilot program for Cape Breton. The legislation requires that the program would last for 10 years and aim to recruit 500 applicants each year.

“Nova Scotia and especially Cape Breton has a population problem. A dedicated immigration program for Cape Breton would focus efforts on getting people settled in communities where they’re needed,” said Lisa Roberts, NDP spokesperson for Immigration. “Right now, over 80 per cent of newcomers through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program are settling in Halifax.”

New Dawn Enterprises has called for a focus on immigration to help stabilize the population in Cape Breton.

“We need to do something, Cape Breton can’t keep going in this direction,” said Tammy Martin, NDP MLA for Cape Breton Centre. “The government in Halifax should make sure that Cape Breton has a future and an immigration program for the island could help.”

The population of Cape Breton Island decreased by three per cent between 2011 and 2016 while the overall population of Nova Scotia increased slightly over the same time period.

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