Flanked by numerous provincial cabinet ministers who are in the midst of a cabinet retreat, Federal Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino today announced the extension of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement.

The pilot program extension will run through to July 31 of next year and will help local employers hire qualified candidates for jobs they have not been able to fill locally.

According to government, as of May of this year, local employers have made over 9,200 job offers in a variety of sectors from manufacturing to health care with over 8,000 newcomers and their families moving into the region.

A recent survey found that over 90 per cent of the pilot program newcomers were still living in Atlantic Canada after one year.

275 new employees and 300 of their family members were helped toward permanent residency in Newfoundland and Labrador so far this year.

It’s hoped the pilot program will become permanent next year.

Mendicino made the announcement in King’s Point this morning.