Rural Renewal Stream Frequently Asked Questions

• I want to immigrate to Grande Prairie. How do I get an Endorsement Letter?

  The City of Grande Prairie cannot offer letters of endorsement directly to prospective candidates. Candidates must receive a job offer from an employer who is based within the City of Grande Prairie and has been approved by the City under the Rural Renewal Stream. It is the responsibility of the employer to apply to the program, vet and select the best candidate and request the endorsement letter on their behalf. Once an employer has been approved under the Rural Renewal Program, their eligible job vacancies will be posted to cityofgp.com/immigration. Prospective employees must follow the application details within each job posting.

• Is the program open to candidates who are already in Canada?

  The Rural Renewal Program is open to prospective employees who are still overseas, as well as those who are already in Canada. Candidates already in Canada must be here with valid temporary status.

• How can Ukrainian Nationals Access the Rural Renewal Program?

  The Rural Renewal Program is open to any eligible candidate who has a formal job offer from an approved employer, who is in Canada with valid temporary status and who meets the requirements of the Rural Renewal Stream under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Eligible job openings will be posted to cityofgp.com/immigration.

• Once I receive my endorsement letter, how soon do I need to apply to AAIP?

  Once the letter of Endorsement is issued, the employee is expected to enter their information into the 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.

• I’m a local employer with labour needs. How do I know if the Rural Renewal Stream is the best option for me?

  a.  The RRS is a good option for employers who are having difficulties finding candidates who are qualified to fill a given position or are willing to perform the work required and where existing federal temporary worker programs are not a good fit for their business needs.

  b.  The RRS is an opportunity to hire a candidate with temporary status in the community that the business wouldn’t otherwise be able to hire under current federal or provincial temporary worker programs. The RRS is also an opportunity to bring new individuals into the community who will be the right fit for the needed position. The RRS also presents the employer with the possibility of a candidate staying on with the business on a permanent basis once they’ve acquired Permanent Resident status.

• Do Employers Need to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)?

  The Rural Renewal Program offers employers the opportunity to wave the LMIA for the job vacancies by requesting a letter of endorsement from the City of Grande Prairie. An LMIA is not required for employers who recruit for vacant positions through this program.  Ukrainian Refugees who are looking to access resettlement services in Grande Prairie should contact the Grande Prairie Centre for Newcomers at gpcn.ca.

• What happens if the job doesn’t work out?

  Both the employer and the employee still have their rights under the Employment Standards Code. Should the employer or employee choose to end the employment agreement, the employer must follow employment standards and regulations to terminate their employment. Once employment has been terminated, it is the responsibility of the employer to notify the Grande Prairie Community Partnership who will then notify AAIP of the change in status of the employee.  

• I am a consultant or Immigration Consultant; can I represent a business?

  If a Grande Prairie business has hired a representative, that representative is welcome to contact us and send in the application, so long as the employer or registered signor for the business signs the application and is cc’d via email when requesting the qualification. We work with employers and if a consultant is not representing an employer, they should direct their questions about the program to the province. Email: ruralrenewal@gov.ab.ca

• Can the City of Grande Prairie or the Community Partnership answer specific immigration questions regarding applications or candidates?

  No.  The best place to look for information on the Rural Renewal Stream Immigration program and updates is the provincial page: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-renewal-stream.aspx Up-to-date information on candidate eligibility and documents required can be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-renewal-stream-eligibility.aspx

• I want to apply for a position, where can I confirm I my experience, education, language and settlement funds make me eligible under the Rural Renewal Stream for permanent residency?

  The province site lists eligibility requirements here: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-renewal-stream-eligibility.aspx