Lethbridge County is ending an immigration program after the Government of Alberta paused funding for it. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Immigration program ending at Lethbridge County, hundreds of jobs supported

Feb 14, 2025 | 9:34 AM

Lethbridge County is being forced to end a program that it says has proven to be successful for local communities and businesses.

The County joined the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) Rural Renewal Stream in 2023.

The program allowed them to recruit and retain skilled immigrants to live, work and settle in their communities. The workers were offered a streamlined path to permanent residency in exchange for their labour and skills.

Over the past two years, Lethbridge County says the AAIP has helped to fill 235 full-time jobs at 88 businesses in Taber, the Municipal District of Taber, Vauxhall, Coaldale, Picture Butte, Milk River, Raymond, Cardston and Nobleford.

The Town of Taber facilitated the program on behalf of these communities.

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The Government of Alberta has paused the program for evaluation and reduced its annual immigration allocations by half, to 4,875.

Reeve Tory Campbell says grant funding from the province is set to expire in March.

“Many of our businesses have shared how valuable this program has been for them. When Council decided to participate in 2023, we saw it as a great opportunity for our business community—benefiting both employees and employers,” says Campbell. “While we are disappointed that the Rural Renewal program is ending, we remain open to future opportunities that support our businesses in filling employment gaps.”

There are approximately 49,000 applications in the queue, which could take several years to process.

The Town of Taber says it will provide endorsement letters to qualified candidates who submitted their applications prior to the program’s pause.

READ MORE: Taber ending its role in Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

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