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Rural Renewal Stream

Alberta Advantage Immigration program (AAIP)

The Town of Cardston received a designation from the Government of Alberta to participate in the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Under this program, the Town of Cardston will support economic development by attracting newcomers who are qualified to fill vacant, full-time, permanent jobs in our Town.

Newcomers who participate in this program will receive nominations for permanent residency from the Town of Cardston, allowing them to stay, work, and live in our community permanently.

The Town of Cardston has an inclusion partnership program with the Town of Taber. On this page, learn more about Employer eligibility and Applicant eligibility criteria, how to apply, and what information is required.

Employer Eligibility

Employers that wish to fill job vacancies using the Rural Renewal Stream must meet a series of criteria and provide a genuine offer of employment.

  • Employers must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operate within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Cardston.
  • The workplace offers or contracts must be signed by the employee and employer and must provide: 
    1. Continuous, paid work in the Town of Cardston
    2. 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. Under the AAIP, there are some ineligible occupations.
  • Employers must meet all eligibility criteria under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program's Rural Renewal Stream prior to issuing an offer of employment. Please review the available information carefully.
  • A labour Market Impact Assessment is not required, but demonstrated efforts to recruit locally, provincially, and nationally are required.
  • Employers are required to demonstrate knowledge of the responsibilities of welcoming newcomers and providing a warm and welcoming environment. A business looking to participate in the program must demonstrate that they have knowledge of the employer's responsibilities with respect to federal and provincial immigration laws and regulations. The following are resources that prospective employers are encouraged to review prior to recruiting:
    1. The Employer’s Roadmap: Hiring and Retaining Internationally Trained Workers
    2. Employers Guide: Attracting and Retaining Immigrants
  • A safe, welcoming workplace creates an environment where all employees are valued and respected. Employers must provide a safe, welcoming workplace. For more information on safe and welcoming workplaces, visit alis.ca

Employers that meet these criteria and would like to participate in the Rural Renewal Stream should submit a completed Employer Application Form to immigration@taber.ca   Information requests can also be sent to this email address. 

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants who wish to live and work in the Town of Cardston must meet a series of criteria, receive a bona fide job offer from an eligible employer, get endorsed by the Town of Cardston, and apply using the 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 job experience, education, language, financial security, etc., and those that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not progress through the program. Candidates who are currently living in Canada are only eligible if they have legal status to work in Canada.

Once a candidate is confident that they meet the eligibility requirements, they may apply for employment. Employment opportunities are listed on the Canada Job Bank, and applications must be made directly to the employer, not the Town.

Once you receive a bona fide job offer from an employer, your employer will present the job offer to the Review Committee to receive the endorsement. The committee will review the job offer and prioritize candidates for endorsement who are most likely to successfully settle and remain in Town.

Upon receiving an endorsement letter from the Town of Cardston, the candidate can then submit their application through the AAIP Portal. There is a non-refundable application fee for this stream. 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 Cardston.

After the nomination is accepted, you must immediately apply for permanent residency (PR). 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. While the permanent residency application is being processed, the candidate can request to apply for a temporary work permit to start working in the designated community.