PEI Designated Employers Require Certificate of Legal Advice for AIPP Endorsements

By letter dated March 2, 2020, the Prince Edward Island Office of Immigration advised P.E.I. designated employers that, effective April 1, 2020, a Certificate of Legal is required in order to submit an endorsement application under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP).

AIPP. Introduced in 2017, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) is an Atlantic-wide immigration initiative designed to both boost and retain foreign nationals in the Atlantic Region. To participate in the AIPP, an employer must meet certain eligibility criteria and be “designated”. A designated employer must have the Office of Immigration “endorse” any job offer it makes to a candidate.

P.E.I. Prince Edward Island is the only province (at least, to date) to require a Certificate of Legal Advice from designated employers. The Immigration Office states the Certificate of Legal Advice is designed to protect the integrity of the AIPP and ensure designated employers are aware of their legal obligations.

Certificate of Legal Advice. To obtain a Certificate of Legal Advice, P.E.I. designated employers must meet with a practicing lawyer and receive legal advice about their obligations under immigration and labour law and regulations. The lawyer must execute the Certificate and the designated employer must acknowledge it. The Certificate will be valid for one year from the acknowledgement date.

Please contact your McInnes Cooper lawyer or any member of our Business Immigration Law Team @ McInnes Cooper to discuss this topic or any other legal issue.

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