Ignite Fredericton secures $60,000 from federal Citizenship & Immigration to create a Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) initiative in Fredericton.
Currently there are 40 LIP initiatives across Canada with 36 in Ontario. The program was established in 2008 as a means to systematize local engagement in immigration settlement. The projects provide resources to: coordinate LIP activities; build on existing local initiatives; contribute to the enhanced planning with a modernized settlement approach; and augment engagement of host populations in a truly integrated model.
“A Local Immigration Partnership will provide us with the resources to identify the challenges and develop solutions to fully integrate newcomers within the community,” said Deputy Mayor Eric Megarity, City Council Champion for Immigration. “I think we are doing a terrific job in attracting people here, and we now need to shift our focus to retention so that our newcomers can build meaningful lives and careers here.”
Ignite Fredericton is the community’s economic development organization responsible for immigration attraction. Ignite hosted 570 exploratory immigration visitors (translating to 1,718 potential immigrants) through the Provincial Nominee Program in 2014. According to 2013 federal data, the Fredericton area landed 617 new residents through immigration. Fredericton led the province capturing 30% of the total 2,029 landed immigrants to New Brunswick in 2013.
“The community benefits in so many ways from immigration through knowledge transfer, new talent, investment, and by enhancing our cultural diversity” said Julia Ramirez, Ignite Fredericton Population Growth Specialist.
About Ignite Fredericton
Mission: Fuelling Entrepreneurs for Economic Growth!
Vision: Startup Capital of Canada
As the community economic development organization, Ignite Fredericton provides free and confidential business counselling and tools to help entrepreneurs start, grow or locate a business. Core functions include:
- Supporting Entrepreneurs
- Attracting & Retaining Talent through Immigration, Student Retention & Repatriation.
- Strengthening the Economic Development Ecosystem through Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships.
