File Photo/CHAT News

By Christian Oldale

IMMIGRATION

Taber opting out of Alberta’s rural immigrant jobs program

Feb 13, 2025 | 10:29 AM

The Town of Taber is cancelling its participation in a key provincial immigration program that helped fill hundreds of jobs after a drop in Alberta-wide allocations.

The Rural Renewal Stream, run by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, was first brought to the town by local businesses struggling to fill vacancies.

It was later expanded by the town’s economic development division to address staffing shortages.

The town said Thursday that 235 full-time jobs in the region were filled through endorsed candidates, helping 88 local businesses.

The jobs were located across the Municipal District of Taber, Vauxhall, Coaldale, Lethbridge County, Picture Butte, Milk River, Raymond, Cardston, and Nobleford with their own AAIP programs.

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Recent immigration policy changes by the Alberta and federal governments have led to a decrease in the program’s allocation.

Also, key grant funding that helped with settlement and language projects is set to expire March 31.

Taber’s economic development manager Amy Allred said Thursday that it made sense for the the town to back out.

“With provincial immigration allocations cut in half to 4,875 across all six AAIP streams and over 49,000 individuals already in the queue, this was a natural transition point for our participation,” Allred said in a news release.

“The reduction in allocations presented increasing challenges for continuing the program, but we are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and grateful for the businesses and communities that helped make it a success.”

The town said that every qualified candidate who applied during the program’s pause will receive their endorsement letter before March 31.

In Medicine Hat, the rural renewal initiative operates at a regional level in collaboration with Cypress County, Redcliff and Bow Island. The city in June 2024 hired a new rural renewal program coordinator.