Maple News reports that the Alberta government has temporarily relaxed work experience requirements under certain streams of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) to support workers impacted by recent wildfires. Effective from July 19 to November 30, 2024, the measure targets individuals who have lost employment or whose work has been disrupted due to the fires, particularly in areas with a high concentration of tourism and hospitality businesses.
Under this temporary change, applicants for the Alberta Opportunity Stream and the Tourism and Hospitality Stream of the AAIP will not be required to meet standard work experience thresholds. The move aims to enable displaced workers to find new employment quickly and continue towards their permanent residency goals without interruption.
Ordinarily, the Tourism and Hospitality Stream requires candidates to hold six consecutive months (a minimum of 780 hours) of work experience with the same employer. Likewise, Opportunity Stream applicants typically must have either 12 months of full-time work experience in Alberta within the past 18 months or 24 months of related work experience gained in Canada or abroad in the past 30 months. Post-Graduation Work Permit holders also usually need six months of Alberta-based experience in their field.
However, during the waiver period, AAIP will accept open work permits issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for affected workers. This provides more flexibility for those needing to change jobs due to the natural disaster. Applicants will still need to secure eligible employment within one year to qualify for permanent residency under AAIP guidelines.
Notably, applicants applying through the Rural Renewal or Alberta Express Entry streams are not affected, as those pathways do not have specific work experience conditions.
In addition to the AAIP changes, the IRCC has introduced further measures to assist wildfire victims. Individuals may apply for free replacement of lost or damaged citizenship, immigration, or travel documents, including passports. Temporary residents who lost their jobs due to the fires may also apply to extend or restore their status or move from an employer-specific to an open work permit.
These actions demonstrate the province’s and federal government’s commitment to ensuring that immigration pathways remain accessible during times of crisis. They also reflect an understanding of the vital role that immigrant workers play in Alberta’s economy, particularly in sectors like tourism and hospitality, which have been heavily affected by the ongoing wildfires.