County of Barrhead is proud to have partnered with the Town of Barrhead to become a designated community under the Rural Renewal stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). This program aims to support our local businesses that struggle with attracting & retaining employees.
AAIP is a provincial economic immigration program that nominates individuals for permanent residency in Alberta. The Rural Renewal program will support economic development by attracting qualified newcomers to fill full-time, permanent positions in the County & Town of Barrhead. Participants in the program can receive nomination for permanent residency, which will allow them to stay working, living, and contributing to our community.
Program Process:
Employer Eligibility
- Must be incorporated / registered & operate within the County or Town of Barrhead
- Job must have been available to Canadians first, at the same pay and working conditions
- Demonstrated efforts to recruit locally, provincially, and nationally
- Provide a welcoming work environment
- Select occupations are not eligible for this program, please see eligibility criteria linked above.
- Vacant position must be:
- Full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
- Continuing (12 months or more)
- Non-seasonal (year-round)
- Wages & benefits meet or exceed lowest starting wage for occupation across all industries in Alberta, as set out in the ALIS website.
Employers that would like to participate in this program are required to submit the following:
- Employer Application Form
- Copy of current job posting
Candidate Eligibility
Applicants to the program must meet all candidate eligibility criteria before applying for job posting.
Candidates must:
- Have minimum 12 months full-time work experience in the last 18 months (in Canada or abroad)
- Speak english profieniently and pass a fluency test
- Have completed minimum of high school education (equivalent to Canadian standard)
- Demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and their family
Applicants that meet the criteria must apply for a job directly to the employer. Eligible employers with vacant positions are posted here.
Job Offers & Endorsement
Once a candidate receives a job offer, the employer will give a copy of the job offer to the County of Barrhead to issue a letter of endorsement.
- Continuous, paid work in the County or Town of Barrhead
- Full-time work for 12 months or more
- Wages & benefits that meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation
AAIP Nomination
Once a candidate receives a job offer and is endorsed by the municipality, they can submit an application & all required documentation through the AAIP Online Portal. There is a non-refundable application fee for this stream. Click here to see what to do after you are nominated.
Rural Renewal FAQ
I'm an employer in the Town of Barrhead. Do I still apply to the County to enroll my business?
Yes. The County & Town of Barrhead administer this program in a partnership, with the County as lead on all administrative tasks. This includes employer enrollment & candidate endorsement letters.
I want to immigrate to Barrhead. How can I get an endorsement letter?
The County & Town of Barrhead cannot issue endorsement letters directly to candidates without an eligible job offer in the community. A candidate's first step is to apply for a job directly to an eligible employer.
Prospective candidates should follow application details listed in each job posting. Once a job is offered, the employer will send a copy of the offer letter to the County of Barrhead. At that point, the County will review eligibility and write the endorsement letter.
Do employers need to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)?
No. The Rural Renewal Stream gives employers the opportunity to wave LMIA requirements for job vacancies by requiring an endorsement letter from the municipality. An LMIA is not required for employers who recruit vacant positions through this program.
Is the program open to candidates already in Canada?
Yes. The Rural Renewal Stream is open to prospective candidates who are still abroad, as well as those already in Canada. Candidates in Canada must be here with valid temporary status.
What happens if the job doesn't work out?
Both employer and employee still have rights under the Employment Standards Code. Should employer or employee choose to end the employment agreement, the employer must follow employment standards and regulations to terminate their employment. If employment is terminated, it is the responsibility of the employer to notify the County of Barrhead, who will then notify AAIP of the employee's change in employment status.
