Critics of Yukon's pause to nominee program 'incorrect,' says premier

Yukon's premier is defending his government's decision to stop accepting any new applications to the territory's nominee program this year, saying there's been a lot of "misinformation" about that decision.

Premier Ranj Pillai was responding to recent comments from a Whitehorse business owner, who called the pause to the Yukon Nominee Program short-sighted and heavy-handed.

"Bluntly speaking, they're incorrect," Pillai said in an interview on Monday morning.

The territory announced last month that it was putting a "temporary pause" on accepting any new, Whitehorse-based applications for the Yukon Nominee Program this year. Pillai says that's because the federal government has only allocated 430 spots for nominees this year in Yukon, and the territory has received 590 applications — more than enough to fill those spots.

"We are processing all of those applications so that we can fill those 430 spots. And I think as of last week we still have 300 more application or spots to fill. So we haven't stopped our program," Pillai said.

"But what we're saying to folks right now is, we have met, you know, the targets that the federal government gives us, the allocations they give us."

Nominee programs are intended to help fill local labour market gaps and are designed and managed by provinces or territories. The federal government determines how many applications can be approved each year in each jurisdiction.

In 2023, Yukon's base annual allocation was raised from 300 spots to 430. The territory then asked for more allocations last year — "due to unprecedented demand from Yukon's business community," according to a 2023 news release — and received 580.

"We did a really good job last year of pushing for more," Pillai said on Monday.

Now it's down to 430.

Pillai says those allocations have been a "very hot topic across Canada."

"I think that you've seen the numbers across the country become restricted. So there's a real rush I think, in every province and territory by folks that have come to Canada, that are trying to figure out the pathways."

The premier also responded to criticism that there was no consultation with local businesses about pausing the acceptance of new applications under the nominee program this year.

"There's nothing to consult on. We have 430 spots and 590 applications and we want to focus on those applications. And our team that processes those applications have other work that they do," he said.

A Tim Hortons franchise in Whitehorse. It's one of many businesses in the territory that rely on the nominee program to fill staffing needs. (George Maratos/CBC)

He also said that he understands the concerns of international students in the Yukon, who rely on the nominee program as a pathway to citizenship but maybe didn't get an application in yet for this year, even as their student work visa expires.

"So now we're trying to figure out how can we work with Canada. It's Canada's decision," Pillai said.

Pillai said he's hoping to raise the issue with the federal immigration minister, to determine whether there's a way to "bridge these folks until next year."

"We don't want them to leave. They already have a home. They're contributing to our economy, they're supporting ... the development economy, and they want to become Yukoners. And they're making our society richer by being here, from a cultural perspective," Pillai said.

"So we've got lots of work to do this summer."