A Survey of Selected Presentations of the Conference on Immigration and Outmigration: Atlantic Canada at a Crossroads/ Apercu de Certains Exposes Livres a la Conference Immigration Et Emigration : Le Canada Atlantique a la Croisee des Chemins‪.‬

Atlantic Metropolis Atlantique (AMA) was established in January 2004 to promote research on issues of immigrant integration, population migration, and multicultural diversity within small cities and rural areas. Attraction and retention of immigrants and refugees in rural areas and smaller urban centers, areas that characterize Atlantic Canada, is also a focus of research at AMA. This research aims to generate greater awareness of immigration issues in policy circles and among the general public by providing a platform to its stakeholders for discussion. AMA has a "bipolar" structure with centres in both Halifax and Moncton. It is designed to reflect the bilingual reality of Atlantic Canada. Atlantic Canada has struggled to attract and retain immigrants in a country where overwhelming numbers choose to settle in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The Atlantic challenge has gained significance in light of declining regional populations. (1) Against this overall background, the economics domain of AMA organized a two-day conference on immigration and out-migration in Halifax in mid-November, 2004. Not only was this the first major event of its kind put together by AMA, but it was the first pan-Canadian conference centred on immigration issues held in Atlantic Canada. It drew presenters and participants from across Canada and the United States; about 250 delegates from academia, the public service, NGOs, communities, and industry were registered. This article summarizes some of the major themes discussed at the conference, particularly those with a distinctly Atlantic flavour.