ATLANTIC PROVINCES LOOKING TO PAIR INTERNATIONAL WORKERS WITH LOCAL JOBS
It has been almost two years since the launch of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP), an immigration program aimed at matching international workers with Canadian jobs. The programs covers the four Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Prince Edward Island (PEI). Following two years of success, the AIP offers Canada an effective way of matching international workers with job openings Canadian employers need filled.
TWO YEARS IN: THE SUCCESSES OF AIP
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP) has proven to be a successful way of recruiting foreign workers to fill Canadian job openings. Immigrants who are successful through AIP are paired with a Canadian employer to take on a full-time job in Atlantic Canada. These immigrants are given support through the immigration process and their employers assist with their settlement in Canada.
Earlier this summer, the success of the AIP became clear when the Canadian government increased the program’s quota, creating space for an additional 500 workers and their families to take on jobs in the Atlantic region. Even this week, the province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) announcedthat they are still seeking foreign workers to fill a set of specialized jobs before the end of the year.
The AIP has proven to be a successful model for bringing new immigrants to Canada with 100% certainty of employment. As finding employment in Canada can be a challenge for newly arrived immigrants, the AIP model could be adapted to a national level, helping more and more immigrants arrive in Canada with a job already lined up.
WHAT IS THE AIP
Notably, employers hiring immigrants through the AIP do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire foreign workers. The LMIA process can be lengthy and costly, so the AIP makes it much easier for Canadian jobs to be filled internationally.
OTHER IMMIGRATION OPTIONS FOR SKILLED WORKERS
Canada offers many pathways to permanent residence for skilled workers hoping to start a new life working in Canada. Covered by the Express Entry system, the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is the largest immigration program for international skilled workers.
Each Canadian province also operates a set of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) designed to meet their own unique needs. Many PNPs are occupation-specific, meaning they recruit skilled workers with experience in provincial in-demand occupations. The most popular occupation specific PNPs include the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) and the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry program.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
The application process for AIP has recently become much easier. Three out of four Atlantic provinces have publicly released a list of their designated employers, making it faster and easier for applicants to get in direct contact with potential employers in the province as soon as possible. These employer lists are now available for the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador. With a successful offer of employment, the process for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program may begin.
To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada, simply click on our contact us to contact our Team Canadim Team will review your eligibility and contact you to discuss your immigration options.