Atlantic Immigration Pilot - Grant Analysis ### 📋 Eligible Entities - Private sector employers across Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island) - Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with demonstrated labor market needs - Large employers in designated sectors - Organizations in industries experiencing labor shortages - Employers must be registered Canadian businesses operating in the Atlantic region - Not eligible: Non-profit organizations, government agencies, or businesses primarily engaged in immigration consulting ### 💰 Funding Details - No direct grant funding provided — this is an immigration facilitation program, not a financial grant - No matching ratio required - Not repayable — employer supports are non-repayable - Costs covered by the program: - Provincial immigration processing and assessment - Work permit facilitation services - Employer designation and compliance support - Employer responsibility: Standard recruitment and onboarding costs (salaries, training, relocation assistance if offered) - Program removes barriers to hiring but does not provide financial compensation to employers ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses This program does not fund specific business expenses. Instead, it facilitates hiring by: - International recruitment processes — streamlined candidate assessment - Work permit applications — expedited processing for designated employers - Labor market impact assessment (LMIA) exemptions — faster hiring timelines - Temporary foreign worker pathways — simplified procedures for designated roles - Canadian experience class support — pathway to permanent residence for temporary workers - Provincial nominee program (PNP) processing — accelerated permanent residence sponsorship Employers must independently fund all hiring, onboarding, and salary costs. ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones Key Requirements: - Employer Designation — must obtain provincial designation before making job offers to international candidates - Labor Market Test — must demonstrate genuine efforts to recruit Canadian citizens/permanent residents first - Job Offer Requirements — offer must meet prevailing wage rates and working conditions - Compliance Obligations — employers must comply with employment standards, wage laws, and program