Canada-Nova Scotia Memorandum of Understanding on Post-Graduation Employment for Foreign Students

Electronic Version

Original signed April 29, 2004

Between

The Government of Canada
as represented by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, herein after referred to as Citizenship and Immigration Canada

and

The Government of Nova Scotia
as represented by the Minister of Education, herein after referred to as Nova Scotia Department of Education

1.0 Preamble

1.1 Whereas both parties recognize the economic, social, and cultural contribution of foreign students in Nova Scotia;

1.2 Whereas both parties recognize the value of enhancing employment opportunities for recently graduated foreign students as it will serve them well when they return to their country or enter Canadian society;

1.3 Whereas both parties recognize that recently graduated foreign students who choose to remain in Canada can be an attractive source of skills for Canadian employers;

1.4 Whereas Citizenship and Immigration Canada has indicated its intention to encourage the entry of foreign students in a diversity of regions in Canada, and to develop projects to this end;

1.5 Whereas Citizenship and Immigration Canada has indicated its intention to encourage immigration in a diversity of regions in Canada, and to develop projects to this end;

1.6 Whereas Nova Scotia Department of Education has indicated its intention to encourage the entry of foreign students in the province;

1.7 Whereas Nova Scotia Department of Education has indicated its intention to encourage immigration in the province;

Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Education agree as follows:

2.0 Purpose and objective

2.1 The objective of this MOU is to allow recently graduated foreign students from Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions to apply for an extended work experience related to their field of study, through enhanced employment opportunities in Nova Scotia.

3.0 Renewal of the post-graduation work permit

3.1 Citizenship and Immigration Canada intends to renew for an additional year the authorization to graduated foreign students who are working as temporary foreign workers pursuant to s. 205(c) (ii) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and under Confirmation Exemption Code C-43, as described in the Temporary Foreign Workers Guidelines.

3.2 The renewal shall only be valid for work in Nova Scotia for Temporary Foreign Workers who studied for at least two years at and graduated from a publicly-funded post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, and whose first year of post-graduation employment is located in Nova Scotia.

3.3 The renewal shall not be valid for foreign students on a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program or a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade or who are funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.

4.0 Project evaluation and information exchange

4.1 Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Nova Scotia Department of Education recognize the importance of evaluating the project envisaged by this MOU in order to determine its impacts and outcomes in the province. Nova Scotia Department of Education and Citizenship and Immigration Canada agree to establish outcome measures to monitor and evaluate the success of the project based on respective established standards of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Nova Scotia Department of Education.

4.2 Subject to applicable legislation and policies governing the disclosure of personal information, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Nova Scotia Department of Education agree to share information on the status of Temporary Foreign Workers engaged in post-graduation employment under this MOU.

4.3 Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Nova Scotia Department of Education shall ensure that any exchange of information shall be conducted in accordance with applicable federal and provincial legislation and in accordance with their policies relating to the protection of privacy, access to information and security of records.

4.4 All collection, use, disclosure, retention and destruction of personal information under this MOU will be in conformity with Nova Scotia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and with Canada’s Access to information Act and Privacy Act.

5.0 Contact information

5.1 The designated contact offices for the purpose of communication and notification pursuant to this MOU are:
for Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Director, Economic Policy and Programs, Selection Branch, Citizenship and Immigration Canada
for Nova Scotia Department of Education: Director, Immigration & Settlement Division, Skills & Learning Branch, Nova Scotia Department of Education

6.0 Expiry, amendment, extension, renewal and termination

6.1 This MOU, effective May 3, 2004, shall expire three years from that date.

6.2 This MOU may be amended by the mutual written consent of the parties.

6.3 The contact information in 5.1 is subject to change by notice in writing to the other party without requiring amendment of this MOU.

6.4 If the number of participants is insufficient to complete a proper evaluation of the project pursuant to Section 4.1. both parties agree to discuss the possibility of extending this MOU beyond the initial three-year period.

6.5 At the end of the initial three-year period, the parties can either choose to renew the current MOU or amend and renew the MOU.

6.6 This MOU may be terminated by either party at any time by providing 90 days notice in writing to the other.

6.7 Citizenship and Immigration Canada will be open and transparent concerning its intention to enter into similar MOUs with other provinces.

7.0 Other

7.1 The English and French versions of this MOU are equally authoritative.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF this MOU has been signed by the parties on the dates written below.

FOR CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA

The Honourable Judy Sgro
Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Canada or Designate

Witness

Date

FOR NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The Honourable Jamie Muir
Minister of Education, Province of Nova Scotia or Designate

Witness

Date