NovaKnowledge, an organization of business, government and education interests, is urging its members to take individual responsibility for increasing the number of immigrants to the province.

In its annual report card on Nova Scotia's economy, the group warned the province is headed for economic trouble if it doesn't take immediate action to boost immigrant numbers.

Provincial population growth is expected to grind to a halt by 2011 because of falling birth rates, an aging population and outmigration of younger workers, said the report, released Monday at the organization's Knowledge Economy Summit in Halifax.

The "population time bomb" will result in labour shortages, a drop in federal transfer payments and less investment in the region, said economist John Odenthal, who also chaired NovaKnowledge's report card on immigration.

That scenario should serve as a "wake-up call" for Nova Scotians, said Gillian Wood, Dalhousie University's government relations director and NovaKnowledge editorial committee chairwoman.

"It's not my children's generation. It's my generation," she said.

An August survey commissioned by NovaKnowledge indicated only 12 per cent of Nova Scotians realized immigration to the province is decreasing and 38 per cent believed immigration is increasing.

In fact, "it is the lowest it's been in about 30 years," Mr. Odenthal said, adding Nova Scotia is the destination of less than one per cent of all newcomers to Canada.

"We need to hustle up in Nova Scotia. We've done the analysis . . . now it's time to kick some butt. We all have to start taking action in our own lives. The government can't be expected to do everything," Ms. Wood said.

NovaKnowledge wants immigration to the province to rise to 5,000 people annually by 2010, up from 1,476 in in 2003. It has joined a coalition of groups, including the Metropolitan Immigration Settlement Association and Halifax Regional Municipality, to help make that happen

Mr. Odenthal pointed to Manitoba, with roughly the same population and prosperity as Nova Scotia, as an example of a province with successful immigration.

For example, Manitoba's immigration and multicultural division has the equivalent of 43 full-time employees while Nova Scotia has three full-time employees working on immigration.

It has also aggressively pursued the provincial nominee program adopted in 2001, which gives provinces a greater say in selecting immigrants and dramatically increased settlement supports.

In 1991, Manitoba had 3,605 immigrants. That grew to 4,601 in 2001 and 6,492 in 2003, with a 78 per cent retention rate.

In contrast, Nova Scotia had 3,589 immigrants in 1995, 1,705 in 2001 and 1,476 in 2003, with a 40 per cent retention rate.

"Small provinces can do it. The point is we can do it too," Mr. Odenthal said.

NovaKnowledges's immigration survey, conducted by Thinkwell Research, also found younger, better educated Nova Scotians tend to be the most accepting of immigrants.

Copyright © 2004 The Halifax Herald Limited