N.B. launches new immigration pilot project to attract skilled workers
New Brunswick has launched a new immigration stream aimed at attracting skilled workers into occupations that are hard to fill.
The provincial and federal governments announced the five-year New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot program Monday. New Brunswick says the new stream is more flexible, as it allows participating employees to provide skills and language training, along with support for newcomers they bring into the province.
“Immigration is not only good for our communities, it is essential. Newcomers play a key role in Atlantic Canadian communities, and in helping businesses succeed,” said federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser, in a news release. “New Brunswick’s Critical Worker Pilot is an innovative approach that will help employers across New Brunswick meet their specific labour market needs.”
Six employers have been chosen to participate in the pilot program: Cooke Aquaculture, Groupe Savoie Inc., Groupe Westco, Imperial Manufacturing, J.D. Irving Ltd., and McCain Foods.
The province says those businesses were selected because they have demonstrated consistent immigrant recruitment practices, have newcomer settlement programs in place, and are willing to provide on-the job training and language support.
“New Brunswick has a successful track record with immigration-related pilot programs, which is why we are grateful that the federal government has chosen our province for this one,” said Arlene Dunn, the minister responsible for Immigration and Opportunities NB. “Participating employers will greatly benefit from filling critical vacancies and applicants will find meaningful work in a welcoming community.”
Participating employers must fulfil the following requirements:
- have robust settlement plans for housing and transportation and strong commitments to long-term retention
- have comprehensive human resources planning in place for recruiting and hiring skilled international talent
- provide up to 200 hours of language training, as required, to recruited candidates
- offer guidance and support to candidates who may wish to pursue their Canadian secondary education equivalency
The province says the program will be monitored and evaluated regularly so it remains responsive to immigration needs and delivers positive outcomes for New Brunswick.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian among three climbers missing on New Zealand's highest peak
A Canadian is among three climbers missing after they'd planned to climb New Zealand's highest peak.
Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice
A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches.
This salad brand is being recalled again. Here's why
A Taylor Farms salad kit is being recalled over concerns of a salmonella contamination, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Ontario dad removes hockey rink at heart of neighbour dispute
A Markham dad who drew the ire of neighbours and the city after installing a hockey rink in his backyard says the rink has now been taken down.
Alberta RCMP officer charged with 2 counts of sexual assault
Const. Bridget Morla, a Leduc RCMP officer, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with an incident that happened two years ago.
Hannah Kobayashi declared a voluntary missing person after video shows her crossing into Mexico, police say
Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman who's been missing for more than three weeks after arriving in Los Angeles on a flight from Maui, has been declared a voluntary missing person, Los Angeles police said Monday.
Ontario woman 'shocked' after unused $250 gift card only contained $1.50
An Ontario woman was 'shocked' to find out her unused $250 gift card was almost completely drained. 'My aunt gave me this gift card as a present and I was shocked to find out it was almost empty,' Catherine Uchida, of Mississauga, told CTV News Toronto.
Belly fat linked to signs of Alzheimer's 20 years before symptoms begin, study says
As the size of a person’s belly grows, the memory centre of their brain shrinks and beta amyloid and tau may appear — all of this occurring as early as a person’s 40s and 50s, well before any cognitive decline is apparent, according to new research.
Chef, whose van was stolen with 2,500 pies inside, urges thieves to donate the loot
A British chef has urged thieves who stole a van with 2,500 savory pies inside to “do the right thing” and donate the edible loot to the needy.
Toronto
-
Ontario woman 'shocked' after unused $250 gift card only contained $1.50
An Ontario woman was 'shocked' to find out her unused $250 gift card was almost completely drained. 'My aunt gave me this gift card as a present and I was shocked to find out it was almost empty,' Catherine Uchida, of Mississauga, told CTV News Toronto.
-
Ontario auditor general to release reports on Ontario Place, opioids
Ontario's auditor general is set to release her annual report today, with sections on the redevelopment of Ontario Place and on the province's opioid strategy likely to garner a lot of attention.
-
More than 1 million Canadian mortgages are up for renewal in 2025. Is your Ontario home one of them?
The New Year is just around the corner and for 1.2 million mortgage holders in Canada that means it’s almost time to renew their home loans.
Calgary
-
Calgary's police chief blasts province's photo radar decision
Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld is in disbelief following the province's decision to ban photo radar on numbered provincial highways and will only be allowed in school, playground and construction zones.
-
Apartment in downtown Calgary highrise significantly damaged in fire
Calgary fire crews are investigating a blaze that significantly damaged an apartment in a downtown highrise on Monday morning.
-
City begins ticketing, towing motorhomes parked along N.E. Calgary road
Bylaw officers are ticketing and towing several motorhomes parked along a northeast Calgary street after officials said it received 70 complaints about access and security issues along the stretch.
Edmonton
-
Police search for man wanted in Edmonton arson, extortion cases
Edmonton police are looking for a man who they say is connected to three southside arsons this fall.
-
Alberta RCMP officer charged with 2 counts of sexual assault
Const. Bridget Morla, a Leduc RCMP officer, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with an incident that happened two years ago.
-
Hefty 2025 property tax hike looms as budget talks start
Edmonton city council discussed money in all its forms Monday at city hall – be it taxes, deficits or reserves – as it begins two weeks of budget talks.
Montreal
-
Porch pirate arrested: Montreal man gets stolen deliveries returned
A Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) man says his community helped save his holidays after he was victim of so-called 'porch pirates.'
-
New poll suggests Legault even less popular than Justin Trudeau
A prominent polling analyst says Quebec's governing party would be reduced to fewer than 10 seats in the provincial legislature if an election were held today, based on current poll numbers.
-
5 vehicles torched in suspected arson in Saint-Leonard
Five vehicles were set aflame in a suspected criminal fire in Montreal's Saint-Leonard borough.
Ottawa
-
Kingston, Ont. doctor in 'disbelief' after being ordered to repay $600K for pandemic vaccination payments
An Ontario health tribunal has ordered a Kingston, Ont. doctor to repay over $600,000 to the Ontario government for improperly billing thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations at the height of the pandemic.
-
Prosecutors seek to tie Ottawa man to filming of neo-Nazi propaganda videos
Closing arguments began Monday in the terrorism trial of an Ottawa man, who Crown prosecutors allege contributed to the creation of neo-Nazi propaganda and recruitment videos.
-
City of Ottawa's auditor general finds kickback scheme involving city employee and local landlords
The City of Ottawa's auditor general has found that a city employee was engaged in a kickback scheme with a group of four local landlords, collecting thousands of dollars in payments in exchange for more favourable rental rates under specific housing benefit programs administered by the city.
London
-
School closures and bus cancellations, more squalls expected Tuesday morning
It remains a winter wonderland across the London region, with snow blanketing midwestern Ontario.
-
Another delay extends repairs to city hall’s entrance into the new year
The completion date for repairing the front canopy of London City Hall has once again been moved back.
-
Several London Knights chosen for World Junior selection camp
London Knight Easton Cowan is one of four Knights invited to Canada’s World Junior selection camp.
Barrie
-
School bus and van cancellations in areas hit by storm
School bus cancellations continue in some areas after massive weekend snowfall.
-
Snowbelt's Highway 11 reopens
Highway 11 between Orillia and Huntsville opened at 10 p.m. Monday.
-
New bridge over Highway 400 in Barrie opens to traffic
The Sunnidale Road bridge replacement is complete, with the road opening to traffic Monday.
Northern Ontario
-
Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice
A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches.
-
Transport trucks collide head-on near Hearst, Ont.
One transport truck driver was seriously injured Saturday when two commercial motor vehicles collided head-on on Highway 11
-
Northwestern Ontario community fined for refusing to celebrate Pride Month
An Ontario town and its mayor have been fined a total of $15,000 for refusing to celebrate Pride Month.
Kitchener
-
Criticism over OPP’s lack of communication during nine-hour closure of Hwy 401
Many people are wondering why Ontario Provincial Police failed to properly notify drivers of an investigation that shut down a stretch of Highway 401 for almost nine hours on Friday night.
-
Food Bank of Waterloo Region says demand for assistance jumped 25 per cent in 2024
A sharp and steady increase in the number of people accessing food assistance in Waterloo Region means what they receive may not be as much – or as diverse – as in the past.
-
Experts surprised by rising number of walking pneumonia cases
Experts say a rise in respiratory illness is expected as the temperature drops, but this year, they’re seeing a surprising number of walking pneumonia cases in younger people.
Windsor
-
Spellacy chosen for U.S. World Junior selection camp
AJ Spellacy of the Windsor Spitfires has been named to the United States National Junior Team selection camp for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
-
Plans to sell portion of park to create housing receives mixed reviews
Plans to sever and sell a portion of an east Windsor park in order to fund the remaining greenspace’s redevelopment received a mixed reaction Monday night.
-
Erie Shores Healthcare restores urology services after seven-year hiatus
Despite living in Harrow, a half-hour drive from Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington, Larry Pollard has had to make about 75 trips to London over the past nine years for treatment of a rare form of prostate cancer.
Winnipeg
-
Investigation launched into Manitoban’s death after medical emergency at dental appointment
The Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) said it is investigating a critical incident where a young woman from the Morden-Winkler area died following a dental appointment.
-
Winnipeg man arrested in 1997 New Jersey murder
A Winnipeg man has been arrested in connection with a cold case investigation of a 1997 murder in New Jersey.
-
'It's a little scary': Manitoba colleges and universities beefing up security measures
As of Monday, students and staff at Red River College are being greeted by security officers at the entrances, letting them know they will require ID as of Jan. 1.
Regina
-
Government of Saskatchewan introduces affordability act with personal income tax measures
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced promised legislation to lower personal income tax in the province.
-
Manz found guilty of one charge of sexual assault, acquitted on five others after 57 hours of deliberations
After being sequestered for more than 57 hours, a 12-person jury has found Regina chiropractor Ruben Manz guilty of one count of sexual assault.
-
Blockbuster WHL trade sees Warriors move captain Brayden Yager to Hurricanes
The Western Hockey League's (WHL) Moose Jaw Warriors traded captain Brayden Yager to the Lethbridge Hurricanes Monday.
Saskatoon
-
Over 7,000 Sask. patients have intimate medical info breached in lab hack
Over 7,000 patients in Saskatchewan had their intimate medical information breached by hackers, according to the province’s privacy watchdog.
-
Family of Sask. man who died following a violent arrest still pushing for answers
Friends and family of Boden Umpherville may be closer to finding answers on the circumstances surrounding his death.
-
Saskatchewan farmers voice concerns as U.S. tariff talks heat up
The looming threat of a 25 per cent tariff on goods imported to the U.S. is causing turmoil for Saskatchewan farmers, according to the Agricultural Producers’ Association of Saskatchewan (APAS).
Vancouver
-
'Near-zero visibility' from fog prompts weather advisory for Metro Vancouver
A fog advisory has been issued for Metro Vancouver Monday, with Environment Canada warning of the potential for "near-zero visibility."
-
North Shore Rescue reminds hikers to research trails after saving 2 unprepared tourists
Search and rescue volunteers are reminding hikers to do their research and bring the right equipment after saving two tourists who found themselves in dangerous situations on North Shore mountains.
-
Vancouver police say 'investments in public safety' are driving down crime rates
With Vancouver poised to set its 2025 budget, top police brass are touting a year-over-year decrease in crime as evidence that increased funding for the department under Mayor Ken Sim and his council is paying off.
Vancouver Island
-
Canada Post strike drying up donations for B.C. non-profit that feeds children over the weekend
For kids who rely on school meal programs for their daily nourishment, the weekend often means those children go without. Backpack Buddies helps bridge that weekend gap.
-
Driver 'doing donuts' crashes into house in Nanaimo, B.C.: RCMP
A driver who was “doing donuts” in a roundabout on a residential street in Nanaimo, B.C., lost control of his car and crashed into a home, according to police.
-
'A piece of our hearts missing:' B.C. family announces tragic end to search for missing man with dementia
A 64-year-old man who went missing from his Saanich long-term care home last month has been found deceased on the Westshore – with his wallet and Cleveland Browns trading cards, according to family.
Kelowna
-
Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas
A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas.
-
Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026
The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday.
-
545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down
Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day.
