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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

innisfail and more

Province says rural immigration streams adding more communities

Oct 5, 2022 | 4:40 PM

The province’s Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) is picking up steam, recently welcoming in a set of new communities.

Municipalities under 100,000 people may apply to be part of the Rural Renewal Stream, which attracts skilled newcomers to rural communities to support local labour needs.

Meantime, the Rural Entrepreneur Stream (RES) focuses on attracting newcomer entrepreneurs to create jobs and support local economies.

To date, the RRS has signed up 22 communities, while 37 are part of the RES. The RRS recently added Innisfail.

The RES includes Lacombe, Lacombe County, Red Deer County, Blackfalds, Didsbury, Innisfail, Olds, Stettler, Sylvan Lake, Three Hills and Clive.

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“Alberta’s rural communities should be a destination of choice for skilled newcomers and entrepreneurs. This announcement is an important step to ensuring that communities across Alberta benefit from the talents of newcomers while increasing our competitiveness and strengthening our economy,” says Kaycee Madu, Minister of Labour and Immigration. “Congratulations to all of the rural communities that are taking these additional steps to demonstrate their commitment to newcomer success.”

Adds Paul MacLauchlin, president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta: “Rural Alberta provides a unique opportunity to leverage needed skills and talent newcomers and entrepreneurs hold, benefiting local economies and supporting community diversity. As communities experience ongoing challenges in accessing a talented and innovative workforce, designated rural immigration streams are a great step in promoting the vast opportunities that exist by living and working in Alberta’s rural areas.”

The rural immigration streams are part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, a federal-provincial program which nominates individuals for permanent residence.

Nearly 5,000 nomination certificates have been issued to individuals so far in 2022.