Alberta halts two immigration programs

Canada, 25th August: Alberta has put on hold two immigration programs for recruitment of foreign workers.

As per Thomas Lukaszuk, the immigration minister for Alberta Province has clarified that Alberta Immigration Nominee Program will not be accepting any Canada visa application for two of its categories.

Hence, the two affected Canada visa categories include US visa holder category and Family Stream category. Immigration minister said that no more Canada visas will be granted to those having temporary US work permits and wishing to immigrate to Canada and work here. Also, those wanting to immigrate to Alberta under the category of Family Stream(family members of residents of Alberta) will not be granted Canada visas.

Out of the total 4,200 Canada visas granted to migrants wanting to move to Canada, around 1,400 Canada visas were granted for the above stated two categories of provincial nominee programs.

The move by Canada immigration department is aimed to ensure providing of jobs in Canada to the local people and if any jobs in Alberta remain unfulfilled, then these will be filled by allowing Canada work permit holders to come and seek employment here.

Immigration needs to be conducive to the needs of Albertans and Canadians.

Although, these changes have already become effective, however, applications for these two categories of Canada visas postmarked by 23rd August will be reviewed by Canada immigration department.

Apart from the Family Stream and US visa holder categories, all other categories of Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program including the temporary foreign worker program allow immigrants into Canada only if it has been proved by employers in Canada that no suitable candidate was available to be employed for the vacant jobs in Canada. Also, all immigrants wishing to move to Alberta need to have offers of permanent jobs in Alberta before their arrival here.

A total of 66,000 temporary foreign workers were living in Alberta in 2009. The official figures reveal that out of total immigrants in Canada, Alberta attracted largest number of immigrants in the period of last five years. 

Meanwhile, applications from immigrants wanting to move to Alberta will still be accepted for international students, engineering occupations, skilled and semi-skilled workers, self-employed farmers and compulsory trades.