Since its launch in November 2022, the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot program (NBCWP) has garnered significant interest among skilled individuals looking to immigrate to Canada.
This program is a collaborative effort between the provincial and federal governments of New Brunswick, aimed at attracting newcomers who can address labour shortages within the province.
As part of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NB PNP), the NBCWP operates under an employer-driven stream, with six participating employers spanning various industries and sectors throughout the province. These employers are:
- Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
- Groupe Savoie Inc.
- Groupe Westco
- Imperial Manufacturing
- J.D. Irving Ltd.
- McCain Foods
The selection of these employers was based on their exemplary track record of recruiting immigrants and their existing settlement programs.
The pilot program will run for five years and undergo regular evaluations.
What sets this program apart from others is the additional settlement support offered to eligible candidates.
Participating employers must demonstrate their ability to provide robust settlement plans for housing and transportation, ensuring the successful integration of candidates into their new jobs and communities. They must also have comprehensive human resources planning in place for recruiting skilled international talent and facilitating on-the-job skills enhancement.
Moreover, candidates may receive up to 200 hours of language training if required and can receive guidance and support if they wish to pursue Canadian secondary education equivalency.
To be eligible for the program, candidates must have a valid job offer from an eligible employer and demonstrate their intention to reside in New Brunswick. The job offer must offer a competitive wage aligned with New Brunswick wage rates for the occupation, considering both experience and training levels.
Unlike other programs, participants apply directly to one of the program’s employers rather than through the provincial government.
The pilot program is allocated up to a maximum of 10% of New Brunswick’s overall Provincial Nominee Program. Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) predicts that the program’s early success could potentially result in nearly 300 nominees and their families being supported through this pilot in 2023.
ONB remains optimistic about the program’s ability to attract skilled immigrants to settle in New Brunswick, building on the province’s past successes with immigration initiatives such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) and the NB Strategic Initiative stream.
Recent data shows that immigration has contributed significantly to New Brunswick’s population growth, and the province has received a 67% increase in immigration allocation from the federal government. As a result, New Brunswick has 5,500 spots allocated for provincial economic immigration programs in 2023 under the NB PNP and the Atlantic Immigration Program.
