$125M from immigrant program went to P.E.I. government
Last Updated: Monday, October 20, 2008 | 7:10 AM AT
CBC News
A program meant to promote immigration and raise funds for private business on P.E.I. has also provided $125 million directly to the provincial government.
'We use the funds to run the program.'— Innovation Minister Richard Brown
The Provincial Nominee Program ran from 2001 to Sept. 2 of this year. Under the plan, immigrants put up $200,000 and could move to Canada pending health and security checks. Not all of the money goes to business investment. Some of it goes to agent and lawyer fees, and some to deposits.
The immigrants pay a good faith deposit of $25,000 to stay on P.E.I., and a $20,000 deposit to learn English. Both deposits can be returned after a year.
The province benefits in two ways from that cash: since 2006, it's been keeping the interest, about $3.4 million this year; and it pockets the money of those who don't meet the conditions for return of the deposit.
"We use the funds to run the program," said Innovation Minister Richard Brown.
"We transfer money to the Department of Education, we transfer money to the Newcomers Association, and I've transferred and given grants to a number of other organizations that promote immigration and promote cultural diversity on Prince Edward Island."
While Brown said millions go specifically toward helping immigrants adjust to their new lives on P.E.I., last year $2.1 million went directly to the province's general revenues. Brown said that money was spent on things like the health-care system.
Brown emphasized money owed to immigrants isn't touched.
"I can assure Islanders and I can assure immigrants that have money in these funds, their money is available to them if they honour the agreements that they sign," he said.
Brown says he's not certain how many people forfeit their good faith or language deposits.
