New Brunswick announces new immigration pilot for critical workers

In collaboration with the federal government, New Brunswick will launch a pilot project to address labour shortages. (File Photo: Michael & Diane Weidner/Unsplash)

The provincial government of New Brunswick announced a brand new immigration pilot project yesterday: the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP).

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The pilot (a joint project between federal and provincial governments) aims to address critical worker shortages in New Brunswick. The pilot is special in that it will not just provide economic immigration to the province, but will also guarantee settlement services (including skills and language training) for newcomers who arrive through the project.

According to Arlene Dunn—the minister responsible for Immigration and Opportunities New Brunswick—”participating employers will greatly benefit from filling critical vacancies and applicants will find meaningful work in a welcoming community”.

Along with addressing critical labour shortages, New Brunswick is concerned with retaining newcomers, and recognizes that meaningful work is a key factor in doing so; this pilot is a first step towards addressing both issues. The NBCWP will work with six selected employers in New Brunswick:

• Cooke Aquaculture Inc.;
• Groupe Savoie Inc.;
• Groupe Westco;
• Imperial Manufacturing;
• J.D. Irving Ltd.; and
• McCain Foods.

These employers were selected for their impeccable track record in the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), good immigrant recruitment practices, and because they already have the necessary settlement programs in place. As part of their participation, these employers must:

• Have robust settlement plans for housing and transportation to best support the successful establishment of candidates in their new jobs and communities, with strong commitments to long-term retention;
• Have comprehensive human resources planning for recruiting and hiring skilled international talent, and for on-the-job skills enhancement;
• Provide up to 200 hours of language training, as required, to candidates; and
• Offer guidance and support to candidates who may wish to pursue their Canadian secondary education equivalency.

The five-year pilot program will be monitored and evaluated regularly so that it remains responsive to immigration needs and delivers the desired outcomes for the province.

“We have a collective goal in mind”, said Alain Bossé—President and COO of Groupe Savoie Inc.—”The Saint-Quentin region [is] thriving thanks to our newcomers, and we continue to support welcoming them in rural New Brunswick”

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