The provincial government of New Brunswick announced a brand new immigration pilot project on November 7, 2022: the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP).
It is a joint initiative between the federal government and the provincial government to fill critical worker shortages in New Brunswick. This pilot offers more than economic immigration to the province; it also offers settlement services (including skills and language training) to newcomers who arrive through the project
In her remarks, Arlene Dunn, the Minister responsible for Immigration and Opportunities New Brunswick, said that participating employers will benefit from filling critical vacancies and that applicants will discover meaningful work in an environment that is welcoming for them.
New Brunswick is concerned with addressing critical labour shortages, as well as retaining newcomers, and recognizing that meaningful work is a key factor; this pilot is a first step towards addressing both. Six employers in New Brunswick will be involved with the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP).
Employers in these categories were chosen because of their impeccable track record with the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), their good immigrant recruitment practices, and their existing settlement programs. In order to participate, these employers must:
To ensure that the five-year pilot program meets immigration needs and achieves the outcomes the province desires, it will be monitored and evaluated regularly.
“ Our collective goal is to make the Saint-Quentin region more livable, and we are committed to supporting the integration of newcomers in rural New Brunswick,” said Alain Bossé, President and Chief Operating Officer of Groupe Savoie Inc.