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Alberta opens its doors

Changes made to Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP) in May could offer thousands more people the chance to make their dream move to Canada a reality, writes David Fuller

In last month's Emigrate Canada we reported on how the federal and Alberta governments had signed a new agreement which would allow the province to significantly increase the number of migrants it nominates each year. For the 2007–08 migration year the Alberta government will look to nominate 2,500 applicants – two and a half times the number it nominated in 2006–07, when 981 people were nominated through the scheme. What's more, the target will be raised to 5,000 for 2008–09, and to a mammoth 8,000 nominees a year by 2009–10. However, an even more key change made to the scheme is the fact that semi-skilled workers will now also stand a chance of being nominated by the programme. "Formerly, Alberta's PNP was limited to occupations which required post secondary education, a university diploma/degree or a trade certificate," explains Sara Green of Albertaimmigration.com "The new programme is now expanded to allow employers to nominate workers from occupations that fall into the 'low-skilled' categories C and D on the National Occupations Classifications (NOC) list," she adds. Previously, long-haul truck driver had been the only occupation not included under NOC skill level 0, A or B to have been permitted entry to the Alberta PNP. "A special programme was put in place for long-haul truck drivers a couple of years ago because the province was in such desperate need of them and they were unable to apply for permanent residence because of their classification," continues Green.

However, the changes mean that along with the in-demand 'skilled' occupations, such as physicians, nurses, educators, and trades people, the expanded Alberta programme will now also look for immigrants with experience in occupations such as:
A wide range of manufacturing sectors;
Food and beverage servers;
Hotel and motel room attendants; and
Food and beverage processing workers such as bakery workers, industrial butchers and meat cutters, and meat and poultry production workers.

"The goal is to try to ease the labour shortage in Alberta," says Green. "This change is very good news for low skilled workers such as those listed above, who are not eligible to emigrate under the federal programme, [through which only applicants with experience in an occupation listed under Skill Level 0, A or B will qualify to emigrate. "However, it is also good news for Alberta employers with labour issues who want to bring employees in NOC level C and D to the province on a permanent basis," she adds. Employers in Alberta had previously been allowed to bring in lower skilled workers on a temporary basis for 12 months, and Green says even this has recently been revised to the benefit of both Alberta employers and temporary workers. "In the past, National Occupations Classification C and D level workers were only allowed permits with a validity of up to 12 months, before they would have to return home for a period of time. Employers would then have to go through the Labour Market Opinion process – whereby they have to prove they are in desperate need of workers and there are no suitably qualified Canadians to take the
position – again. "The duration of work permits has now been increased to a maximum of 24 months. As a transitional measure, employers with employees currently on or recently approved for 12-month permits may apply for an extension without going through the LMO process again."

Aside from the changes made to the province's Provincial Nominee Programme, Alberta's new immigration agreement has also seen alterations made to the entry route for international graduates who are offered a job in Alberta. "This highlights an alternative route into Canada," explains immigration lawyer Ian Goldman of Goldman Associates. "Instead of a residence application only being fast tracked due to having a job offer in Canada, you will also be able to get fast tracked by studying in the country. For people who want to change or upgrade their skills, they can study in Canada and then get a job and get fast tracked. With the federal queue at around a minimum of four years, this is a serious option to consider," he adds. The international graduate must have obtained a diploma, degree or graduate level credential from a public post-secondary institution in Alberta or Canada or from a private institution authorised to grant degrees in Alberta.

Iris Evans, Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry for Alberta is hopeful that these changes will help to significantly reduce the province's severe labour shortages: "The increased number and type of immigrant coming through this programme is just one of the many outcomes made possible by the recently signed Canada-Alberta Cooperation on Immigration Agreement," she said. "Alberta currently receives about 20,000 immigrants annually and I expect the expanded Provincial Nominee Programme will help increase and speed up the flow of immigrants and help address our labour shortage."

So does Green envisage that these changes really will significantly increase the number of migrants moving to Alberta each year? "At the end of the day the speed at which the programme works will be limited by the ability of Human Resources Social Development Canada and the Alberta PNP department to process applications," she answers. "A positive LMO is required for Alberta Employers as part of the PNP process. The employer then must apply for and be approved for the programme and the PNP department must approve potential employees as well." However, even taking this into account, these changes will come as great news for many would-be immigrants who had previously not been able to qualify due to their occupation not being deemed 'skilled enough'.

For further information:
Alberta Immigration
Immigration to Canada

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03 July 2007

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