Retention and Attraction Workshop
The WCI hosted a one-day workshop to explore potential strategies that cities might utilize in order to improve their attraction and retention of newcomers. Support for the workshop came from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Citizenship and Immigration Canada Ontario Region and NHQ, and the Welcoming Communities Initiative. The workshop brought together municipal and LIP representatives from four cities (Ottawa, London, Hamilton and North Bay), federal and provincial officials, WCI researchers, university administrators, and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
The workshop explored the idea that Ontario cities and LIPs could emulate important features of Manitoba’s highly successful Provincial Nominee Program, which has settled newcomers not only in Winnipeg but in smaller towns throughout the province. To help set the stage for the discussion, a key architect of the Manitoba experiment, Gerry Clement, ‘deconstructed’ Manitoba’s program, identifying critical program features; other presenters addressed a range of related policy and program topics, including the potential associated with ramping up the flow of international students.
