West Kootenay employers can now take part in a new program which cuts red tap when hiring foreign workers.
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is designed to address workforce shortages and support economic growth of rural communities.
Rebecca Major, Operations Manager with Moving2Canada and immigration consultant, says the program brings diversity and opportunity to the region.
“Canadian immigration can be quite restrictive, but it puts more power in the hands of local communities and local employers within those communities to be able to identify needs and areas of where they need that worker.” said Major.
“It’s much more responsive to the small needs that they have rather than on a federal level.”
The West Kootenays is one of three BC communities selected to pilot the initiative.
The program also offers a pathway to permanent residence for people already living and working in the region and who don’t have other options to become permanent residents in Canada.
“It gives those foreign nationals a direct pathway to Canadian permanent residency, which in the last year or two years, has become really hard to achieve and it allows the individual communities more autonomy in satisfying their needs with foreign workers.”
Employers looking to fill labour shortages are encouraged to check out the program here.
“Its a great program recognizing smaller communities’ needs that aren’t met any other way.” said Major.
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