The federal government has responded to NWT pleas for more space in a key immigration program by adding 47 new slots.
The increase, announced by the territorial government on Tuesday, means the NWT Nominee Program – or NTNP – can accept 197 people this calendar year, up from 150.
Last year, the NWT had a federally imposed cap of 300 people. The territory wanted to increase that to 500 but instead Ottawa halved it at the start of the year, a move that threw the territory’s planned immigration process for the year into chaos.
Business leaders have said the NWT needs more immigration to fill jobs for which local recruits cannot be found. The GNWT has characterized immigration as more than an economic issue, calling it “a population issue, a sovereignty issue, and a key driver of social and economic resilience.”
The territory has spent months lobbying Ottawa in the hope federal ministers would reverse the change, which was part of a broader cut in immigration numbers across the country.
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On Tuesday, NWT immigration minister Caitlin Cleveland said she was “pleased” by the 47-person increase, even if it did not come close to the figure the territory had requested.
“While this increase does not fully restore the territory’s allocation to 2024 levels – which had been cut in half by the previous federal government – the Government of the Northwest Territories welcomes these additional spaces and will continue to advocate for an increased allocation that corresponds to NWT needs,” the territorial government stated in a news release.
“The GNWT met its full NTNP allocation for the first time in 2024, demonstrating strong demand,” the news release added.
“Additional 2025 spaces will be allocated to eligible applicants from the second 2025 intake who were not initially selected for assessment. Eligible applicants will be notified by email, moved into the NTNP assessment queue, and assessed in the order of work permit expiry date.”
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That means the nominee program will not reopen for fresh applications this year. The 47 spaces will be filled by people who had already applied at the start of the year.
“These additional 47 spaces will help fill critical labour shortages in key sectors, but we are not stopping here,” Cleveland was quoted as saying.
“We will continue advocating for a nominee program that reflects northern realities, grows our population, and strengthens our sovereignty. A strong, inclusive North is built by the people who choose to call it home and we must ensure they have the opportunity to stay in the NWT.”
