Release
Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Immigration
June 13, 2025
FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government has negotiated an increased immigration allocation with the federal government.
New Brunswick will now receive 4,250 permanent resident nominations this year, an increase of 1,500 from the figure announced in February. The additional nominations have all been allocated to the Provincial Nominee Program.
“Newcomers are critically important to addressing New Brunswick’s workforce demands, and we have continued to make that clear with our federal counterparts,” said Jean-Claude D’Amours, acting minister of post-secondary education, training and labour, and minister responsible for immigration. “We appreciate the federal government’s willingness to listen to our needs and their flexibility on this issue.”
Due to continued demand for workers in priority sectors, the government will continue to focus its nominations on health, education and construction trades, while supporting other sectors when possible. Workers in some occupations will be restricted from participating. Applicants are encouraged to monitor program notices for the latest information.
As part of negotiations, the government has agreed to relocate 400 asylum claimants to New Brunswick within two years, contingent on their consent.
“The Government of Canada is proud to support New Brunswick in welcoming newcomers to help meet labour market needs and strengthen communities across the province,” said federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab. “With new federal funding through the Interim Housing Assistance Program, we’re also taking a more co-ordinated and sustainable approach to provide temporary housing and help asylum claimants settle and start building their lives in communities across Canada.”
Over that two-year period, the federal government will provide the provincial government with more than $14.1 million through the Interim Housing Assistance Program. This will help with temporary housing needs for asylum claimants as they transition into the workforce.
“We are pleased to collaborate with the province in their efforts to bring in workers to support our labour force needs,” said Jonathan Duffaud, CEO of the Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick. “We will encourage our francophone members to work with the province and settlement agencies to integrate these individuals into the workforce and into our communities as quickly as possible.”
“We recognize the minister’s efforts to engage the federal government about the province’s workforce needs,” said Monica Gaudet-Justason, president and CEO of the New Brunswick Business Council. “Now more than ever, we need skilled labour, whether they are an asylum claimant or a newcomer to New Brunswick.”
“With 51 per cent of small business owners in New Brunswick reporting shortages in qualified labour as their most important issue across the first quarter of the year, every opportunity needs to be seized to match skilled workers to jobs,” said Louis-Philippe Gauthier, vice-president, Atlantic Canada, of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. “We look forward to supporting the process of this initiative.”
The increased immigration allocation and relocation of asylum claimants was also welcomed by the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Multicultural Council and employers facing challenges filling certain labour market needs, such as J.D. Irving, Ltd.
Over the coming weeks, provincial government representatives will meet with asylum claimants who are already in Canada and have expressed an interest in moving to New Brunswick. Those who move will be connected with local settlement agencies to assist with housing, transitioning to independent living and entering the workforce.
D’Amours said many asylum claimants are already able to contribute to New Brunswick’s economy, and the government will work with employers, such as J.D. Irving, Ltd., to identify potential employees who can address their labour force challenges.
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Media Contact(s)
Rebecca Howland, communications, Immigration, [email protected].