Stronger Employer and Newcomer Support in Rural and Francophone Minority Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fredericton, March 11th – The New Brunswick Multicultural Council (NBMC) joins the Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick (AFMNB) in applauding the creation of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot recently announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
NBMC recognizes the challenges that our rural communities face and believes that the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot will be key programs that will positively impact retention in New Brunswick.
This announcement builds on the continued success of the Rural Settlement Network (RSN), an initiative launched by NBMC in the spring of 2020. This five-year pilot project helps to bridge gaps in settlement services across seven rural and Francophone centres in New Brunswick. Working in collaboration with its Members and key community stakeholders in the Restigouche Region, the Acadian Peninsula, Saint-Quentin, Kent County, Sussex, Miramichi and Grand Lake (Chipman & Minto), the RSN addresses current service gaps in rural and Francophone minority communities. These newly announced programs will have a significant impact in rural geographical areas experiencing increased immigration due to labour shortages and various immigration programs.
NBMC looks forward to learning more details related to these programs and working with Member Agencies and key partners to increase collaboration, capacity, and resource-sharing among settlement agencies to enhance the quality and consistency of support for Francophone minority communities and rural communities and the newcomers choosing to settle in these communities.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Moncef Lakouas, Past President, NBMC Board, moncef.lakouas@gmail.com, 506-961-4471