Maple News reports that New Brunswick’s Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP), launched in November 2022, is providing a distinct immigration pathway for skilled foreign workers aiming to settle in the province. Unlike traditional programs, the NBCWP is designed to directly link select employers with international talent to address pressing labor shortages in key industries.
The initiative, set to run for five years, partners with six prominent employers in New Brunswick who have proven experience hiring and retaining international workers. These employers offer comprehensive settlement support to newcomer employees, including housing and transportation plans, HR strategies tailored for new arrivals, job-specific training, and up to 200 hours of language instruction. Additionally, employers assist candidates in gaining Canadian secondary education equivalency, further supporting long-term integration and success.
The six participating employers are industry leaders: Cooke Aquaculture Inc., Groupe Savoie Inc., Groupe Westco, Imperial Manufacturing, J.D. Irving Ltd., and McCain Foods. These companies span sectors such as food production, manufacturing, and aquaculture—areas experiencing high demand for skilled labor.
Unlike other immigration pathways under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), the Critical Worker Pilot is entirely employer-driven. This means that while the NBPNP does not restrict eligible occupations, the success of an application depends on receiving a full-time (indeterminate) job offer from one of the participating employers. Once that condition is met, candidates must also satisfy baseline NBPNP requirements, which typically include education, work experience, and language proficiency standards.
What sets the NBCWP apart is its strong emphasis on worker retention. Through employer-led orientation and integration initiatives, the program aims to ensure that newcomers not only arrive but thrive in their new communities. By investing in both economic and personal settlement support, New Brunswick seeks to build a stable workforce and promote regional economic growth.
Maple News notes that this pilot could serve as a model for other provinces looking to proactively manage immigration and labor shortages. As of now, immigration hopefuls interested in the NBCWP are advised to directly connect with participating employers to explore open positions and begin the application process.