New Brunswick will be able to welcome more newcomers to the province this year, officials announced Monday.

The province has received a 67 per cent increase in immigration allocations from the federal government.

It has been allocated 5,500 certificates for this year, up from 3,300 during the previous year.

That includes an additional 1,084 spaces for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program and 1,116 allocations for the Atlantic Immigration Program.

“Immigrants help build stronger, diverse and vibrant communities which is why we are thrilled with this increase,” Arlene Dunn, minister responsible for Immigration, said in a news release.

“With immigration being a shared jurisdiction, a strong partnership with the federal government is critical to our continued success on this file.”

Meanwhile, the province also announced a renewed Canada-New Brunswick Immigration Agreement with Ottawa.

Dunn said it is a comprehensive framework which describes the aspects of immigration to the country that are led by the province.

Under the agreement, New Brunswick can nominate qualified immigrants for permanent resident status and target highly skilled workers for accelerated processing through the Provincial Nominee Program.

According to Dunn, the province has set a target of 32 per cent of provincial nominations in 2023 being awarded to French-speaking immigration candidates.

“This renewed agreement highlights the importance of our contribution to the country’s overall immigration system,” she said.