Looking For Employment Opportunities? Move to Canada
Canada is facing a long term skilled labour shortage. To offset this the government is launching the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program. There was a similar program launched in March 2017.
The new program is designed to bring skilled labour to fill employment gaps in 11 communities. In B.C. the West Kootenay, North Okanagan, and Vernon. Ontario locations include North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sautés Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. In Manitoba, there’s Brandon and Altona/Rhineland. In Western Canada there’s also Moose Jaw, Sask, and Claresholm, Alta.
“Work BC has estimated that the Thompson Okanagan Region will require 71,700 workers due to retirement and an additional 19,500 workers due to new economic growth from 2018 – 2028. This equates to over 90,000 workers in the region required to ensure businesses can continue to thrive. This challenge is even greater at a provincial level with an estimated 903,000 job openings anticipated during this time.” (infotel.ca)
The program allows communities to work directly with employers with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The goal is to create a permanent residency opportunity which will attract skilled workers to the region.
There are still stringent rules. Applicants must meet community-specific eligibility, federal selection criteria and have a full-time permanent job with a local employer.
The last criteria is not difficult to find in Canada’s current economic environment. Quebec has it’s own criteria, including applicants to have a descent command of the French Language, or be willing to learn.
The IRCC has introduced a number of strategic reforms to the AIP which may impact foodservice businesses:
- Beginning May 1, 2019, IRCC will require that applicants meet the language, education and work experience requirements of the AIP prior to being approved for a work permit.
- International graduates will now have 24 months post-graduation to apply for the AIP. This change is intended to increase the number of eligible international graduates that can participate in the AIP and give them the time they need to complete the application process for permanent residency.
- The Atlantic provinces will have new authorities to focus their AIP spaces on in-demand labour market needs. This change is intended to improve oversight of the pilot and give provinces greater ability to manage designated employers.
According to IRCC:
1,896 designated employers in the Atlantic Canada region have made 3,729 job offers through the AIP since its launch, resulting in 2,535 approved permanent residents destined for or already in Atlantic Canada.
A total of 4,769 candidates and their families have applied for permanent residence status through the AIP.
Demand for the AIP in 2018 led IRCC to increase its annual allotment of new admissions to Canada through the pilot by 500 spaces.