The Town of Whitecourt is applying for a provincial program designed to bring more immigrants to the community.
At the Whitecourt town council meeting on April 11, council endorsed the Economic Development Committee’s application to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Rural Renewal Stream.
Under the program, the Town would work with local businesses to identify job openings, endorse foreign nationals to come to Whitecourt and fill those openings, and provide resources to the foreign nationals to help them get settled.
Whitecourt Mayor Tom Pickard says this will help local businesses solve their labour shortages.
“I think local businesses here have experienced that before, and I think they will welcome another tool in their tool kit to get people to move here and work here,” explained Pickard.
Pickard also shares that the economic development department has already had some talks with Whitecourt’s business community, and they seem open to the program.
“I think our economic development officer, her and her team, have worked with local business and with many people through Alberta Employment and the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Committee to see if this is viable,” shared Pickard. “So, yeah. There seems to be interest.”
With the Town offering its endorsement, the Economic Development Committee can now officially apply for the program.
