The federal government has agreed to increase Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic immigration spaces by 1,000 in exchange for NL taking on an extra 100 humanitarian migrants.

That means this province’s total immigration allotment is now 2,525 for this year, while the total number of humanitarian migrants NL will accept is now at 290 over the course of two years.

The minister responsible for immigration, Sarah Stoodley, is pleased Ottawa is increasing their spaces, but she notes it’s still a reduction from previous years, bringing the province to 83 per cent of what it had previously.

Stoodley says while that still isn’t where they want to be, “83 per cent is certainly better than 50 per cent.”

On the humanitarian migrants, Stoodley says they will include people already in Quebec and Ontario who have open work permits.

She says officials are in the process of securing a contract for a company to help set those people up with a place to live and wraparound supports.

Stoodley says there is an opportunity for rural and local businesses, particularly in rural areas, to benefit from more humanitarian migrants.

A new email — humanitarianpath@gov.nl.ca — has been established for businesses to reach out and match candidates with jobs.

Stoodley adds applications and paperwork won’t be required since everyone is already approved to work in Canada.