Eligibility for Participating in the Rural Renewal Stream

• Employer Criteria

  1. The company must be incorporated, or registered by or under, an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operate as a business that has an established production capability, plant, or place of business in Alberta.
  2. Have full-time employment (continuous, 12 months or more) that meets the criteria of the Rural Renewal Stream as defined by the Government of Alberta and the Community Partnership, including wages and benefits that meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for this occupation across all industries and Alberta as set out on the ALIS website.
  3. Have been operating within the community and hold a valid City of Grande Prairie Commercial Business License for a minimum of 6 months.
  4. Not be in violation of any federal or provincial regulations.
  5. Not have any Occupational Health and Safety complaints within the 24 months prior to applying and be in good standing.
  6. Not have any health violations through Alberta Health Services within the 24 months prior to applying and be in good standing.
  7. Be in good standing with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
  8. Demonstrate that you or your business have knowledge of the employer's responsibilities with respect to federal and provincial immigration laws and regulations.
  9. Demonstrate that you have satisfied program requirements to fill the position within Canada and the outcomes of your efforts. A Labour Market Impact Assessment is not required but demonstrated efforts to recruit locally, provincially and nationally is required. For the purpose of the Grande Prairie Rural Renewal Program, the employer must demonstrate the position has been posted for a minimum of two weeks.
  10. Demonstrate that you have a welcoming workplace and are aware of the risks of recruiting newcomers to the workplace and community.
  11. Agree to work with the Community Partnership to advance newcomer success in our community.
  12. 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
  13. The program will allow eligible employers to recruit a maximum of 25% of their workforce through the Rural Renewal Stream.
• Ineligible Occupations and Job Offers

  Some occupations and job offers are not eligible for the Rural Renewal Stream. These occupations and offers are defined by the Government of Alberta.

• Support Resources

  Employers are required to demonstrate knowledge of the responsibilities of welcoming newcomers and providing a warm and welcoming environment. The following are resources that prospective employers are encouraged to review prior to submitting an application.

  • The Employer’s Roadmap; Hiring & Retaining Internationally Trained Workers by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • Attracting & Retaining Immigrants: Employers Guide by Alberta Employment & Immigration and Central Alberta Economic Partnership

  In addition to the resources listed above, the City of Grande Prairie is pleased to offer two optional courses to support local employers. Both of these courses are offered through in-person or virtual formats and are scheduled based on demand. If you are interested in participating in this additional training please contact immigration@cityofgp.com.

  • Unconscious Bias (3 hours): Unconscious Biases are social stereotypes that we are unaware of which affect our relationships at work, at home, and in our community.  Explore and discuss bias, prejudice, assumptions, and stereotypes and how they affect our relationships with others.  Learn how to move past these barriers to support your organization in becoming more welcoming, diverse, and inclusive.
  • Addressing Racism and Discrimination (2.5 hours): Examine your own identity in relation to power and privilege, and roles and responsibilities in responding to incidents of racism and discrimination at work, at home, in public, in your social circle, or in your neighbourhood.  What do you say or do when you experience or witness racism or discrimination?
• A Safe and Welcoming Workplace

  A safe and welcoming workplace creates an environment where all employees are valued, included, treated with respect, and reasonably free from physical and psychological danger.

  A safe and welcoming workplace can be created by:

  • Including appropriate onboarding and training, establishing policies and procedures that clearly outline the company’s culture and values, defining performance expectations, and providing equitable opportunities for professional growth and/or advancement.
  • Maintaining a work environment that prohibits all forms of harassment, discrimination, and racism by ensuring that effective policies are in place both for reporting and responding to any incidents that may occur.
  • Recognizing that newcomers may require additional levels of support upon arrival, such as language or skill building, a community orientation, and/or a mentorship program, that help to set newcomers up for successful integration into the workplace and community.

  For more information on safe and welcoming workplaces, visit alis.ca.