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By Angela Kazmierczak

Province amends immigration program to attract more workers

Apr 3, 2023 | 5:55 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The province announced that it is now looking outside to fill a growing worker shortage.

In a press conference on April 3, Premier Danielle Smith and the Minister of Trade and Immigration, Rajan Sawhney, announced they would make it easier for qualified workers to become permanent residents.

The provincial government plans to achieve this through changes to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The government states it will make Alberta more competitive in attracting skilled newcomers and allow more in-demand workers to become permanent residents more easily.

Sawhney says these changes are aimed at filling specific needs within the province.

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“Immigration and Alberta’s economic growth are closely tied. Alberta’s government is committed to making it as easy as possible for the province to attract the qualified people it needs, while also maintaining program integrity,” said Sawhney.

The labour shortage within Alberta is forecasted to amass 33,100 workers by 2025.

Medicine Hat (including: County of Forty Mile, Cypress County, Town of Bow Island, Town of Redcliff) and Brooks (including: Town of Bassano, Village of Duchess, County of Newell, Village of Rosemary) participate in the AAIP under the Rural Renewal and Entrepreneur Streams.

Other southern Alberta communities in the AAIP include Claresholm, Taber and Coaldale.