I rise in this house today to inform honourable members of the recent publication of second edition of Diversity ~ Opportunity and Growth, Profiles of Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador. This magazine highlights the significant contribution being made by 20 immigrant entrepreneurs who have established businesses in the province.

I am quite confident that there are many more successes stories like these to come now that government�s $6 million immigration strategy is in place. Diversity ~ Opportunity and Growth will help significantly increase the attraction and retention of immigrants to the province.

Implementation of the strategy begins with the establishment of the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. This office will lead efforts to promote the province to prospective immigrants and implement measures to retain them so that more business-minded individuals and skilled workers come and settle here.

The new immigration strategy includes targets to triple the number of immigrants from the current number of 450 per year and double the retention rate from 36 to 70 per cent within five years.

The strategy is clearly needed given changes in the make-up of our population. We need people if we are to grow our province, attract investment and address rapidly emerging skill shortages in our economy. Increased immigration is one vital part of the solution.

Immigrants bring new thinking, innovation and creativity to directly benefit local economies. The 20 creative individuals featured in this magazine account for over 350 jobs in our province. That�s a ratio of nearly 20 jobs for each immigrant entrepreneur. It is in this province�s interest to attract more immigrant entrepreneurs and employ more residents.

Immigrants offer a wealth of connections to the global marketplace and can open doors for Newfoundland and Labrador business. Immigrants also bring their culture, food, music and art, all of which enriches a shared experience for residents of our province.

I encourage all honourable members to read the stories of these individuals who live and run businesses in St. John�s, as well as many rural communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. They are helping make our province a more prosperous place.

I am pleased to stand here today and acknowledge in this house their effort, commitment and drive. I would encourage all honourable members to join me.

2007 05 15                                             2:00 p.m.