The Northwest Territories’ federally imposed cap of 150 immigrants through its nominee program this year could yet increase again.
That’s according to minister responsible Caitlin Cleveland, who said on Tuesday she had been told by federal counterpart Marc Miller that there is “an opportunity to potentially increase our allotment.”
The GNWT’s nominee program was thrown into chaos in January when Ottawa cut its cap from 300 to 150 just hours before the program was due to reopen.
Applicants were eventually allowed to submit their applications in late February, with just 90 spaces for people who had not already applied in 2024. Those applicants are anxiously waiting this week to discover whether or not their submission was accepted.
The number of applicants is not yet known. Officials had expected that number to far exceed the number of spaces.
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The nominee program offers applicants a route to permanent residency while giving businesses a means of filling vacancies for which qualified local candidates couldn’t be found.
The GNWT had hoped to increase its annual cap to 500 before news came through of the decrease to 150 – in line with similar decreases made by Ottawa to other jurisdictions’ caps.
On Tuesday, Cleveland told the legislature Miller’s offer of an increase to the new 150-person cap came with conditions attached.
“The conversation there revolves around the Northwest Territories welcoming asylum seekers to the territory,” she said, responding to questions from Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart.
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NWT Liberal MP Michael McLeod had previously observed that Ottawa appeared to be tying immigration allotments to jurisdictions’ willingness to accept a larger number of asylum seekers. This is the first time Cleveland has reported being told as much directly by Miller, whom she had previously struggled to reach.
“I believe the Northwest Territories has already welcomed around 80 asylum seekers and refugees to the Northwest Territories,” said Testart. “This seems like something we can do. Is the minister going to be taking the federal minister up on his offer and get our quota back?”
“I have asked for further details from the federal minister to better understand exactly who he would be speaking about, and then also the potential demands on our systems – for example, our healthcare system,” said Cleveland.
“In addition, we have wanted to better understand what support services the federal government would be open to offering the Northwest Territories.”
Various jurisdictions have said they would be open to accommodating more asylum seekers if doing so comes with extra supports like funding for the housing and healthcare needs new arrivals would have.
It’s not clear if asylum seekers would be the only people able to apply on the new spaces if the NWT’s cap was increased this year.
“The clock is ticking on the federal government. I don’t think we have much longer left with them and certainly, many people who are asylum seekers are able to work in the Northwest Territories as well,” said Testart.
“This seems like it could be two birds with one stone. The North is welcoming to people and this would help solve a lot of problems. We have precious little time to get it done. When will the minister have an answer for the House on this issue?”
Cleveland said she asked Miller’s office for “further clarifying details” and sat down with NWT Liberal MP Michael McLeod to “indicate the additional information that I’m looking for.”
“He agreed to take that back to the federal minister as well,” she added, “so we’re both working together to try and flush out this information.”
