*Note* The Rural Renewal Stream in Taber and it's designated communities is temporarily paused, inquiries will be responded to when the program reopens. Thank you for your understanding. 

The Rural Renewal Stream offers eligible workers an opportunity to relocate and work in The Town of Taber, The MD of Taber, Lethbridge County, Vauxhall, Picture Butte, Coaldale, Raymond, Milk River, Nobleford, and Cardston, as a Provincial Nominee, with support from the community to receive permanent residency. Provincial Nominees will fill labour shortages that local business owners are experiencing. The Rural Renewal Stream will expand our workforce and promote economic stability and growth in our rural communities.

Please use the form located on our pages for specific information on how to apply for Rural Renewal, to make an appointment or to apply.

The Town of Taber is no longer providing endorsement letters to candidates who do not hold valid work permits, with the exception of skilled tradespeople and healthcare workers. The Rural Renewal Stream in our designation remains available to candidates who are currently working and living in Canada.  

Applicants must ensure they have enough time on their work permits to move through the program while maintain legal status in Canada. The incredible demand for AAIP has caused processing times to increase. Applicants are recommended to apply with at least 12 months remaining on their work permit. Applicants with less than 8 months will not be considered  

 The Town of Taber must be satisfied that the job represents a genuine labor shortage that could not be filled locally.

 *Note* The Town of Taber will consider foreign applications on a case-by-case basis. if you are interested in hiring overseas, but are unsure if you qualify, email rylan.howard@taber.ca or call 403-223-5500 ext. 6866

 AAIP Update 

AAIP has launched a new expression of interest system on September 30, 2024. After a candidate submits an expression of interest, they will be placed in a selection pool. AAIP will invite selected candidates from that pool to apply based on candidate ranking and provincial labour needs and priorities. The new system will allow for ongoing intake of expression of interests.

Details regarding which scores are being drawn are very limited, although more information will likely become available to the public in the near future. 

Employer Eligibility

Employers that wish to fill workforce gaps using the Rural Renewal Stream must meet a series of criteria, as well as demonstrate that the job offer is a genuine offer of employment in an eligible occupation. Below are just some of the important points regarding employer eligibility, although you may find a complete list of requirements here Job offer and employer requirements | Alberta.ca. 

Employers must be incorporated, or registered by or under, an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business within The Town of Taber, MD of Taber, Lethbridge County, Coaldale, Milk River, Raymond, Cardston, Nobleford, and Picture Butte.

 The Alberta employer must have been in continuous and active operation in Alberta for a minimum of 2 complete fiscal years (the year used for tax or accounting purposes) prior to application submission, have a minimum total gross annual revenue of $400,000 for the most recent fiscal year, and employ a minimum of 3 full-time employees in Alberta. 

note: if an employer cannot demonstrate a gross annual revenue of $400,000 for the most recent tax year and a minimum of 3 full-time employees, the employer can qualify for the program but will be restricted in the number of nominee applicants they can support, based on the number of years the employer has been operating in Alberta: 

2 years of operation in Alberta: a total of 1 nominee. 

3 years of operation in Alberta: a total of 2 nominees 

For each additional year of operation, 1 nominee can be supported

Job offers or contracts must be signed by the employee and employer, and must offer:
- continuous, paid work in the designated area (not in a ‘virtual’ location by telecommuting from a location outside the designation), 
- full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week, 
- employment for 12 months or more, and
- wages and benefits that meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta.

Job Opportunities must be available to Canadians first, at the same pay and working conditions. Although most occupations under National Occupational Classification (TEER) skill levels 1,2,3,4 or 5 are eligible under the AAIP, there are some ineligible occupations which can be found on the RRS eligibility page.

*Employers may NOT request payment from a candidate to participate in this program or reimbursement for recruitment-related fees. Employers may NOT request more time than the one year commitment or the time it takes for the employee to receive their permanent residency.

MAKING A JOB OFFER TO A CANDIDATE 

Once the employer has selected a suitable candidate who meets the worker requirements set out by the province (https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-renewal-stream-eligibility.aspx), the employer can submit the attached form with the signed job offer, and the employer application (see below) to immigration@taber.ca.  When these documents are submitted together with the applicable applicant documents, the application will be reviewed by the Town of Taber Rural Renewal Office. The Town of Taber will endorse a candidate when the candidate is found to be in alignment with the program.  At this point, the Town of Taber will be able to complete the Community Support Letter for the Candidate.

Employer Application for Candidate - AAIP

Rural Renewal Stream - Document Checklist

Housing and Necessities  We all understand that housing needs will be specific to each individual or family arriving. The town is actively working on rental properties and have subdivisions ready to build or move pre-built homes on to.  However, it is up to the candidate and partly the employer's responsibility to ensure that the candidate and their families have somewhere to live, even temporarily, in the first few months, and are able to secure something long term.  There are other considerations as well (such as initial groceries, transport to Taber, furniture, winter coats, etc.). We will be partnering with the employers to ensure the candidates and their families are warmly welcomed into the community.

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants that wish to live and work in the Town of Taber and our designated areas, must meet a series of criteria, receive a bona fide offer from an eligible employer, get endorsed by the The Town of Taber, and apply using the online, Alberta Advantage Immigration Program portal.

Prior to applying for an employment opportunity, candidates are encouraged to review, understand and ensure they meet all eligibility requirements under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. There are requirements for Work Experience, Education, Language, Financial Security, etc. and those that do not meet the eligibility will not progress through the program. Candidates that are currently living in Canada are only eligible if they have legal status in Canada. 

Applicants who have less than 8 months remaining on their work permit will not be considered for The Town of Taber - Rural Renewal Stream. All applications MUST be submitted in one email with all documents in PDF format. Incomplete applications will take much longer for the Town of Taber to process.  

Once a candidate is confident they meet the eligibility requirements, they may apply for employment. 

Once you receive a bona fide job offer from an employer, your employer, yourself or an immigration consultant may present the the application to the Town of Taber Rural Renewal Office. We will review the job offer and prioritize candidates for endorsement who are most likely to successfully settle and remain residing in the designated community. It is the discretion of the Town of Taber as to which applicants are endorsed by the community. The Town of Taber may limit the number of applications by NOC(2021) group or occupation, or by employer. If it is determined that you will be successful in all aspects of the program, you will receive a letter of support. 

Upon receiving an Endorsement of Candidate letter from The Town of Taber & designated areas, the candidate can then submit their application through the AAIP Portal. There is a non-refundable, $840 application fee for this stream. Please ensure that you qualify. A Community Endorsement of Candidate Letter, does not guarantee that you will get a Provincial Nomination. The application will be reviewed and the candidate will be notified by the Government of Alberta if they are eligible for nomination. At the time your application is submitted and at the time the AAIP assesses your application, you must intend to and be able to work, reside, and settle in The Town of Taber or designated areas.

AFTER THE NOMINATION IS ACCEPTED

After you are nominated Your nomination is only valid for 6 months; you must apply to IRCC for permanent residency before it expires or you must apply to get your AAIP nomination extended. The sooner you apply for permanent residency the sooner you can get an Acknowledgement of Receipt of your application from IRCC, and your IRCC file number. Your Acknowledgement of Receipt and IRCC file number are very important if you need to apply for a work permit or extend your work permit.