Rodney MacDonald To Be Immigration Minister

Rodney MacDonald will be sworn in as Nova Scotia's first minister of Immigration at a Pier 21 ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 26, Premier John Hamm announced today, Jan. 21.

"Mr. MacDonald has a strong relationship with the cultural communities in Nova Scotia, making him the ideal choice for this responsibility," the premier said.

"The immigration portfolio will have a substantial positive impact on Nova Scotia, in terms of growth and prosperity," said the premier. "Immigrants bring new opportunities, new ideas and new life to this province."

Through its immigration strategy, Nova Scotia wants to retain at least 70 per cent of the 3,600 immigrants it plans to attract to the province every year, starting in 2006.

Immigration is a Nova Scotia tradition that goes back generations but the province is looking toward a different outcome in the future.

"Pier 21 is a national symbol of immigration and, as the railway car outside implies, the starting point for many journeys to other parts of Canada," said the premier today. "We need to do a better job of encouraging newcomers to make Nova Scotia their first choice when they are deciding where they will live."

The new immigration portfolio translates into additional responsibilities for Mr. MacDonald, who will continue to be the minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage as well as Health Promotion.

Mr. MacDonald is not the only person with a bigger workload. Bob Fowler, deputy minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, will be the deputy minister of Immigration, in addition to his ongoing Intergovernmental Affairs responsibilities.