Bonnyville Council has approved the submission of an application to the Government of Alberta’s Rural Renewal Immigration Stream (RRS).
The program supports the attraction and retention of newcomers to rural Alberta through a community-driven approach that supports local economic development needs and contributes to the growth of the community.
The RRS looks to address current labor needs and skills shortages in rural Alberta communities and helps newcomers settle into the community. The stream requires a community to apply to the provincial government for a community designation.
Once designated, the community then works with employers to attract, recruit, and retain newcomers by sharing information on settlement supports.
Last year in May of 2022 the Town of Bonnyville was approved for the Rural Entrepreneurial program, another program introduced by the provincial government to bring more entrepreneurs into Alberta. The Town of Bonnyville Administration says they are confident they can make the program work.
Council noted the M.D. will not be participating in the program but was reassured the town would be able to follow through with recruitment if the individual would benefit the town’s economic goals. Councilor Langridge says businesses will need to be notified of this opportunity.
“Through my travels in the last month business to business there is one massive hurdle that I can say 90 percent of the businesses have and that is bodies.”
During the council meeting, jobs such as tradesmen, teachers, and welders were used as examples of employees that could be brought in. The council voted in unison to approve a submission.