New Brunswick created a new immigration pilot to support international graduates to get permanent resident status. The project targets students from four private career colleges: Atlantic Business College, Eastern College, McKenzie College, or Oulton College.
To qualify, candidates must have studied one of the 19 selected occupations. The new program is starting in April 2022. However, all the specific details will be officially available in Fall.
The New Brunswick pilot is aligned to their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Which allows provinces and territories to identify international candidates who meet their local market needs. As well, many PNP streams target international students. Therefore, some are tailored to them.
This pilot is specifically for New Brunswick educational institutions with the designation for at least five years. Wich offer programs in the following areas:
- social and community service workers
- early childhood educators and assistants
- educational assistants
- health-care aides
- home support workers
- licensed practical nurses
- paramedics and related occupations
- medical laboratory technologists, technicians and pathologists’ assistants
- medical administrative assistants
- computer programmers and interactive media developers
- web designers and developers
- computer network technicians
- user support technicians
- accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- payroll clerks
- shippers and receivers
- supply chain and logistics supervisors
- production logistics coordinator
This new pilot program is a partnership between Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Opportunities NB (ONB). Which is New Brunswick’s business development corporation.
One of the main goals of the pilot is to help potential skilled labor workers transition from international students to permanent residents.
In fact, before the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration was one of the most critical drivers of labor force growth in New Brunswick. Unfortunately, with the travel restrictions, the province has seen a decrease in those immigration numbers.
