EDMONTON — A revamped program by the Government of Alberta wants to recruit workers from Ontario and Atlantic Canada, including New Brunswick.
In an effort to address labour shortages, the province’s “Alberta is Calling” campaign, which launched last summer, aims to attract out-of-province workers by highlighting “economic advantages” like low taxes and high wages, and booming industrial sectors.
It also promotes tourist attractions like the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
“We are once again putting out a call for skilled workers to join our great province and appreciate the quality of life that Alberta has to offer,” said Brian Jean, Alberta’s minister of jobs, economy and northern development, in a statement.
Officials say the first campaign targeted those living in Toronto and Vancouver, but this second iteration turns its attention to Canadians living in Atlantic Canada and parts of Ontario.
According to Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, nearly 70,000 people moved to their province since last summer, which he says is the largest inflow of people we have seen in two decades.
The Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast indicates there are vacancies in high and moderately high-demand jobs like restaurant and food service managers, software engineers and designers, and web designers and developers.
There are also opportunities available for transport truck drivers, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, accounting technicians and bookkeepers, and shippers and receivers.
“Between opportunity and quality of life, Alberta has a fantastic value proposition and the Alberta is Calling campaign has helped to share this message,” he said.
“We look forward to welcoming even more Canadians to Alberta soon.”
This year’s campaign targets workers currently living in the following areas:
- St. John’s, Nfld.
- Charlottetown, P.E.I.
- Moncton, N.B.
- Saint John, N.B.
- Halifax, N.S.
- Hamilton, Ont.
- London, Ont.
- Windsor, Ont.
- Sudbury, Ont.
- Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
- North Bay, Ont.
- Chatham, Ont.
- Timmins, Ont.
- Cornwall, Ont.
You can learn more about the program here.