(Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

Taber ending its role in Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Feb 13, 2025 | 9:52 AM

The Town of Taber is ending its participation in the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program’s (AAIP) Rural Renewal Stream.

The initiative was first brought to the Town by local businesses struggling to fill vacancies, and from there it expanded after Taber’s Economic Development Department brought it forward to address local staffing shortages.

During the program’s life in Taber, the town says 235 full-time jobs in the region have been filled through endorsed candidates, which helped 88 local businesses.

They also say they were able to help the Municipal District of Taber, Vauxhall, Coaldale, Lethbridge County, Picture Butte, Milk River, Raymond, Cardston, and Nobleford with their own AAIP programs.

The Town says the decision to end its participation follows recent Federal and Provincial immigration policy changes that have lowered immigration allocation spaces throughout the province. In addition, the Settlement, Integration, and Language Projects (SILP) Grant funding is set to expire on March 31.

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Amy Allred, Economic Development Manager for the Town said, “With provincial immigration allocations cut in half to 4,875 across all six AAIP streams and over 49,000 individuals already in the queue, this was a natural transition point for our participation. The reduction in allocations presented increasing challenges for continuing the program, but we are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and grateful for the businesses and communities that helped make it a success.”

With the program winding down, the Town says that every qualified candidate who applied during the program’s pause will receive their Endorsement Letter before March 31.

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