Education, Culture and Employment Minister Caitlin Cleveland is heading to Ottawa in an attempt to restore the territory's immigration allotment program.
At the start of 2025, the territorial government had announced that the NWT Nominee Program was going to reopen on Jan. 30, only to reverse course less than 12 hours before it was scheduled to kick off.
The GNWT says it was told that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - a federal department - would be slashing the territory's nominee allotment to 150, a 50 per cent cut from the 2024 figure of 300.
Hundreds of applications have been submitted, but only 90 spots have been made available for this year. That's because the GWNT received 60 more applications than its 2024 limit, according to the GNWT.
Speaking at the legislative assembly on Monday, Cleveland said she wants that allotment of 300 be restored with greater flexibility.
SA国际影视传媒淭his has been communicated in a letter. And I intend to travel to Ottawa as soon as we're done session so that I can continue that conversation in person,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
The last day of session was yesterday.
The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce has warned residents of a severe labour crisis due to immigration challenges across the city and the NWT.
Yellowknife businesses that have employees with permits expiring either this year or next are projected to impact 717 workers, making up about five per cent of the city's workforce, according to the chamber.
In 2024, the program had hit its maximum of 300. In 2023, there were only 139 applicants in total. In 2022, that number was 100.
Cleveland also said the GNWT is redesigning its nominee program for 2026 and needs the federal government's permission to extend work permits.
