The Rural Renewal Stream initiative aims to provide eligible workers the opportunity to immigrate to Alberta with the support of the local community and municipal government. Through this program, the City of Lloydminster assists in filling labour gaps by endorsing employers and recruitment professionals to fast-track immigration for eligible candidates.
The first step of the Rural Renewal Stream program is for employers to identify the labour shortage, and complete a program eligibility requirement check. If the program is appropriate for the vacancy the Employer Application Form must be completed. To learn more about this process from the perspective of an employer, candidate or subcommittee please review the Rural Renewal Stream Program Flow Chart.
The City of Lloydminster will only be issuing letters of endorsement to candidates already residing within Canada. The City of Lloydminster does not provide endorsement letters directly to candidates, endorsement is only considered when the employer has been approved through the City of Lloydminster as part of the local Rural Renewal Stream program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Employer Perspective |
Does the Employer's place of business have to be on the Alberta side in the City of Lloydminster?
|
| No, employers must have a business registered within the City of Lloydminster, but physically be located in Alberta or Saskatchewan. |
| I have vacant labour positions. Am I eligible for the Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) program? |
|
The RRS program is designed to support employers with difficulties recruiting qualified, skilled employees where federal temporary worker programs are not suitable for the business' needs. To check your eligibility, please review the program eligibility requirements.
|
| Do I have to complete the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)? |
| Through the steps of this program, the Labour Market Impact Assessment requirements are exempt. Once an employer has received approval for their application, and successfully received a job acceptance from a suitable candidate, the City of Lloydminster will issue an endorsement letter on behalf of the candidate. |
| Where are the job vacancies posted? |
| After receiving approval from the RRS program, employers may post their vacancies on the Chamber of Commerce website. |
| What happens if the employee doesn't work out? |
| Under the Employment Standards Code, both the employer and employee will still have their rights. If an employer or employee chooses to terminate the employment contract, the employer must report the cancellation to the Lloydminster Economic Development department and subcommittee, who will notify the Alberta Advantage Immigration Partnership (AAIP) office. |
| Do I need to have a City of Lloydminster business licence? |
| Yes, a local general business license is required for a minimum of 90 days. All businesses must be established within the community. |
| I am a consultant, can I represent a business? |
If an approved employer hires a consultant for recruitment purposes, that organization or individual can represent the business throughout the program. The hiring employer must sign off on all applications and must be included in the qualifications request to the candidate. At any time, consultants and hiring employers are encouraged to contact economy@lloydminster.ca with any questions or concerns.
|
|
| Candidate Perspective |
| Who is eligible for the Rural Renewal Stream program? |
|
The Rural Renewal Program is open to prospective candidates who reside within Canada. Candidates already in Canada must be here with valid temporary status.
Candidates can enter the program by applying for job vacancies on the Chamber of Commerce website.
|
| How do I know if I am qualified for a position? |
|
Position qualifications will be listed within the job vacancies, which are found on the Chamber of Commerce website.
For full candidate eligibility, please visit the eligibility list on the AAIP website.
|
|
How do I get an endorsement letter?
|
|
It is the responsibility of the employer to apply to the program, select the best candidate, offer full-time employment in accordance with the AAIP guidelines and then request a letter of endorsement from the City of Lloydminster Economic Development Officer. The request will be reviewed and if approved, a letter of endorsement will be sent directly to the candidate.
|
| What happens after I have received an endorsement letter? |
|
Once the letter of endorsement is issued, the candidate is expected to enter their information into the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) Portal as soon as possible. This is part of their commitment to the employer and the community. Once the information is entered into the portal, the nomination for permanent residency begins immediately.
|
| Who can I contact for information on immigration? |
|
Individuals are encouraged to visit the Government of Alberta's Rural Renewal Stream program website or the Immigration Canada website directly for more information.
|
| Once the endorsement letter is issued, do I have to reside on the Alberta side of Lloydminster? |
| Yes. As a Government of Alberta program and the candidate must reside on within Lloydminster, Alberta. |
|
Employers are encouraged to make an appointment to discuss application and program questions, please email economy@lloydminster.ca to arrange.
