Rural Renewal Stream

Employers that wish to fill workforce gaps using the Rural Renewal program, must meet eligibility requirements as per the Government of Alberta. To review those requirements, please click here.

In addition, our designated community, the Brooks Newell Region has established a series of criteria for employers to participate in the Rural Renewal Stream.

Employers must be incorporated, or registered by or under, an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada. Employers must operate as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business within the municipal boundaries of the Brooks Newell Region (County of Newell).

Once eligible employers have met the requirements, they will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Brooks Newell Region and they may then begin recruiting talent through the Rural Renewal program.

Although most occupations under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are eligible under the AAIP, the Brooks Newell Region does not issue endorsement letters for TEER 5 or TEER 4 jobs unless the candidate is already living and working in the Region. To find the TEER of your job, visit the Government of Canada website.

Job Opportunities must be available to Canadians first, at the same pay and working conditions. Job opportunities will be posted on the Brooks Newell Region's website and will link directly to the employer's job posting.

Job vacancies being filled through the Rural Renewal Stream must pay at least the Living Wage established for the City of Brooks currently set at $19.05. More information is available through the Alberta Living Wage Network.

To ensure a fair and transparent process and to maximize the opportunities for local talent, employers are required to engage with employment services before considering foreign candidates for any job openings. As part of our commitment to fostering local employment and community engagement, the Brooks Newell Region will be consulting with local employment agencies to verify whether your organization has actively reached out and attempted to fill job vacancies with local candidates. This step of the Rural Renewal Stream program is crucial as it will impact your participation in our program. 

Once a candidate has been selected, employers will provide a job offer that is a legal offer of employment in an eligible occupation. Furthermore, employers who wish to hire candidates CANNOT request payment from a candidate to participate in this program or any reimbursement for recruitment-related fees.

Whether or not a business is permitted to participate in the Rural Renewal Stream is at the sole discretion of the Brooks Newell Region. Participation in the program is a privilege, not a right.

Job offers or contracts must be signed by the employee and employer, and the employer must offer:

• a continuous paid work in the Brooks Newell Region location (not in a ‘virtual’ location by telecommuting from a location outside the Region), 
• 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 Alberta and also exceed the Living Wage for the City of Brooks.

Business owners and/or managers that meet these criteria that would like to participate in the Rural Renewal Stream program should contact the Economic Development team at ecdev@brooks.ca to discuss next steps.

Applicants wanting to live and work in the Brooks Newell Region, must meet a series of criteria, receive a bona fide offer from an eligible employer, get endorsed by the Brooks Newell Region, and apply using the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program portal.

To review the eligibility requirements as per the Government of Alberta, please click here.

Eligibility requirements for Job Experience, Education, Language, Financial Security, etc. must be met and those that do not meet these requirements will not progress through the program. Candidates that are currently living in Canada are only eligible if they have legal status in Canada.

Should a candidate feel that they are confident and meet all eligibility requirements, they may apply for employment. Employment opportunities are listed here and applications must be made directly to the employer.

Once a candidate receives a bona fide job offer from an employer, the employer will present the job offer to the Brooks Newell Region Workforce Development Committee to receive an endorsement. The Committee then will review and prioritize candidates for endorsement by reviewing the job offer and assess those who are most likely to settle and remain in the Region. Nonetheless, the Committee may or may not limit the number of recommendations issued by NOC (2016) group or occupation, or by employer. 

Whether or not a candidate receives an endorsement letter is at the sole discretion of the Brooks Newell Region. Participation in the program is a privilege, not a right.

Upon receiving an Endorsement of Candidate letter from the Brooks Newell Region, 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 Brooks Newell Region.

AFTER THE NOMINATION IS ACCEPTED

While the permanent residency application is being processed, the candidate can request a 204(c) Letter of Support to apply for a temporary work permit to start working in the designated community.