Latest news with #JeanClaudeDAmours
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
New Brunswick government to spend $7.35 million on next phase of CCNB renewal project
The Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) is receiving $7.35 million to support the next phase of its Bathurst campus renewal project. 'The contributions CCNB makes to advance New Brunswick are immeasurable, and we are proud to support their efforts to innovate, develop a skilled and agile workforce and build communities,' Jean-Claude D'Amours, acting minister of post-secondary education, training and labour said in a news release. 'This project is consequential for the community, the province and our post-secondary education sector, and we are thrilled to support it.' The money will be provided by the department as part of the 2025-26 budget. The government first announced funding for the initial phase of the project in December 2023. 'This marks another key milestone made possible by the dedication of our teams and valued partners,' said Pierre Zundel, president and CEO of CCNB. 'As we move toward the official opening, our commitment remains stronger than ever; we're focused on delivering training and applied research that shape bright futures and strengthen New Brunswick's francophone communities for generations to come.' A new building on du Collège Street will replace a current building on Youghall Drive as part of the college's plan, as well as modernizing an existing building on du Collège Street, which opened in 1916. CCNB has five campuses and offers nearly 80 programs grouped in seven schools that aim to help meet the needs of the province's labour market. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
08-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.B. to seek exemption on federal immigration targets, minister says
Social Sharing New Brunswick will look to negotiate an exemption to federal immigration targets, according to its intergovernmental affairs minister, as it looks to attract more newcomers from Africa. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean-Claude D'Amours, who is also the minister responsible for immigration, unveiled a plan Thursday to increase the number of francophone immigrants from six African countries over the next five years. That plan specifically calls for more students and workers from Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Cameroon, Senegal and Tunisia. That's despite the federal Liberals aiming to reduce the number of temporary workers and international students, and slow admissions for permanent residents. Ottawa said in January it would cut allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program in half. On Thursday D'Amours said he will seek an exemption to Ottawa's plan as soon as the new federal cabinet is sworn in. WATCH | 'Africa and N.B. have more in common than we can imagine,' minister says Province aims to boost trade, immigration with francophone Africa 2 hours ago Duration 0:54 D'Amours said the "one-size-fits-all" approach to immigration from Ottawa won't work in New Brunswick. "I do understand in some provinces the reality is different, but in New Brunswick, we will be in need of more than 133,000 people within the next 10 years," he said. "So our reality is maybe different." Economist warns about effect of immigration cut on N.B. But the minister also noted New Brunswick could benefit from Prime Minister Mark Carney's campaign promise to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec by 12 per cent. "I think we will be able to convince the federal government, hopefully, to make sure that we will be receiving an exception," D'Amours said. "Today we talk about the francophone countries. So as the only bilingual province in the country, we have a beautiful opportunity to convince the federal government." Need to diversify trade The francophone Africa strategy issued Thursday extends beyond immigration into trade. D'Amours said ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. under President Donald Trump makes the strategy all the more important. "We have to modify our way of doing business," the minister said. "We have focused too much on the American, and I'm not saying we will stop, but the reality is we need to look elsewhere in the world." The plan says the six African countries were selected because of existing relationships with New Brunswick — several already have bilateral agreements with the province.
