File photo of the Alberta Legislature. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Province announces new immigration pathway to help growing tech sector

Jan 13, 2022 | 11:35 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The province has announced a new initiative that will help attract “tech-savvy newcomers” to Alberta in order to support the economy and tech industry.

The Accelerated Tech Pathway will help provide a fast track to permanent residence for tech professionals that want to live and work in Alberta. Minister of Labour and Immigration Tyler Shandro said, “the faster we can fill these jobs with skilled and qualified workers, the stronger our overall recovery will be – and that helps all Albertans, no matter where they live or what they do.”

“With our low taxes, amazing quality of life and reasonable cost of living, Alberta is already becoming a magnet for people seeking opportunity. We’re taking action to make Alberta even more attractive for tech workers.”

The Accelerated Tech Pathway is part of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. That’s a federal-provincial program that nominates individuals for permanent residence in Alberta, if they have skills to fill job shortages or are planning to buy or start a business in the province.

The Government of Alberta noted that tech professionals from across Canada and overseas with a job offer in an in-demand tech industry occupation will be fast-tracked, getting them to permanent residence sooner.

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Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer said, “Alberta’s technology sector continues to see record growth and a corresponding demand for highly skilled professionals.”

“This accelerated immigration pathway will help attract the best and the brightest talent from across the glove to Alberta to meet this growing demand. It will also ensure Alberta continue to be a top destination for tech investment, which helps diversify our economy.”

Meanwhile, Associate Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism Muhammad Yaseen stated, “this new immigration pathway will help Alberta’s tech industry attract world-class professionals to grow their business and develop the skills of Albertans currently employed in the industry.”

According to the Alberta Enterprise Corporation, the province is home to over 3,000 technology companies, a 223 per cent increase since 2012 (2021 Alberta Technology Deal Flow Study).

More information is available here.