The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence in Alberta. Nominees must have skills to fill job shortages or be planning to buy or start a business in Alberta. They must also be able to provide for their families. The program is run by the governments of Alberta and Canada, and the Town of Whitecourt has been recognized as a Designated Community under the Rural Renewal and the Entrepreneur Streams. The Town of Whitecourt will work with employers by providing an Endorsement of Candidate letter to support the attraction and recruitment of newcomers that address identified labour needs for full-time permanent positions that have been vacant due to local talent shortages.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada manages applications for permanent residence. The federal government also makes final decisions on these applications.
Employer fees are illegal
Employers and employment agencies cannot charge employees fees for a job or employment offer. If an employer is charging a fee of any kind you are encouraged to call the Alberta government information line at 310-0000 and ask for Employment Standards or the Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office.
Rural Renewal Stream
Employers looking to fill full-time permanent positions that have been vacant due to local talent shortages may qualify to participate in the program and work with our economic development team to attract and recruit newcomers that address identified labour needs to live, work and settle in our community.
Please note:
- Meetings will be conducted exclusively with employers only at this time. The request for an Endorsement of Candidate letter will only be considered from employers that have been approved into the program. Employers that have been unsuccessful sourcing local talent and that are actively recruiting through the Rural Renewal Program will be posted under Employment Opportunities. Candidates who have the skills to fill the job shortages posted are asked to connect with the employers directly.
- Alberta job offers or employment contracts and the Alberta employer offering the job must meet all the requirements outline on Alberta Job Offer and Employment Requirements.
Entrepreneur Stream
The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is an opportunity for Whitecourt to work with immigrant entrepreneurs from outside of Canada who are interested in starting a new business or investing in an existing business within the Town of Whitecourt. The program will provide an opportunity to help expand the local economy and support succession planning for our local business community.