UPDATE - RENEWAL RENEWAL PROGRAM PAUSE
The Town of Westlock has paused its participation in Alberta's Rural Renewal Stream and will not be issuing new Endorsement Letters until further notice. As of Friday, October 18, 2024, no new Endorsement Letter requests will be accepted.
Reasons for Pause
1. Increased Processing Times
Backlog of applications waiting for Government of Alberta approval (currently approx. 7 month backlog).
AAIP has moved to "expression of interest (EOI)” format as of September 30, 2024.
Candidates submit an EOI and are placed in a selection pool. AAIP then ranks candidate EOIs on a number of categories and invites select candidates to apply.
This new process may further delay the existing +7 month wait time for employers to get new workers, or in some cases completely eliminate the possibility of candidates being selected to apply.
2. Affordability & Housing Availability
Many positions requested under Westlock’s Rural Renewal Stream tend to be for low-wage & entry-level positions.
If candidates cannot afford to live or unable to find a place to live in Westlock (a requirement of the program) under the wage they are paid, they are likely to only stay for a short time before moving on to other opportunities. This does not support our goal of attracting long-term residents.
Additionally, the Federal Government’s recent announcement to limit low-wage temporary foreign worker streams will further reduce the ability for our local employers to get a TFW that can start work while their Rural Renewal application is processing.
Going Forward:
Endorsement Letters requested prior to the pause will remain in our queue.
However, employers should be aware that under AAIP’s new EOI format, it may be months before their candidate is selected to apply for nomination, if at all.
No new employer or candidate applications will be considered until further notice.
We will continue to monitor the provincial Rural Renewal program and local workforce needs. If feasible, Westlock may consider accepting more endorsement letter requests in the future.
Town of Westlock is proud to have been included as a designated community under the Rural Renewal stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). This program aims to support our local businesses that struggle with attracting and retaining employees.
AAIP is a provincial economic immigration program that nominates individuals for permanent residency in Alberta. The Rural Renewal program will support economic development by attracting qualified newcomers to fill full-time, permanent positions in the Town of Westlock. Participants in the program can receive nominations for permanent residency, which will allow them to stay working, living, and contributing to our community.
Rural Renewal FAQ
I want to immigrate to Town of Westlock. How can I get an endorsement letter?
The Town of Westlock cannot issue endorsement letters directly to candidates without an eligible job offer in the community. A candidate's first step is to apply for a job directly to an eligible employer.
Prospective candidates should follow application details listed in each job posting. Once a job is offered, the employer will send a copy of the offer letter to the Town of Westlock. At that point, the Town will review eligibility and write the endorsement letter.
Do employers need to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)?
No. The Rural Renewal Stream gives employers the opportunity to wave LMIA requirements for job vacancies by requiring an endorsement letter from the municipality. An LMIA is not required for employers who recruit vacant positions through this program.
Is the program open to candidates already in Canada?
Yes. The Rural Renewal Stream is open to prospective candidates already in Canada. Candidates in Canada must provide a work permit.
What happens if the job doesn’t work out?
Both employer and employee still have rights under the Employment Standards Code.
Should the employer or employee choose to end the employment agreement, the employer must follow employment standards and regulations to terminate their employment. If employment is terminated, it is the responsibility of the employer to notify the Town of Westlock, who will then notify AAIP of the employee's change in employment status