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TL;DR

Employers in Brooks say newcomers help fill jobs that are hard to staff locally, according to a CP24 report as Alberta nears the October 19 immigration referendum.

Mitchell Iwaasa, Brooks Economic Development Officer, said the city has endorsed over 300 candidates for permanent residence through Alberta's Rural Renewal Stream. It is still unclear how the referendum will affect this pathway.

"Anything that might restrict immigration to our community wouldn't be of benefit," Iwaasa said.

Nancy Lassiter, CEO of iThrive Bookkeeping, said it has been hard to fill an accounting job locally. Her employee Jasmeet Singh, a 25-year-old accounting technician from Delhi who arrived in 2023, has a work permit and a Brooks endorsement for his permanent residence application.

Albertans will answer 10 referendum questions, with five about immigration. The immigration results are non-binding, so a yes vote would not automatically make changes or introduce fees.

The proposals cover giving the province more control over immigration and deciding who can access provincial programs based on citizenship or immigration status. They also ask about a 12-month residency rule for social supports, possible health-care and education fees for non-permanent residents, and requiring proof of citizenship to vote.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province faces pressure on schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. She has suggested a health-care fee of about $1,900 for some temporary residents, but has not confirmed the exact amount.

Brooks was designated on May 13, 2022, and the area includes Bassano, Duchess, Newell County, and Rosemary.

This stream is part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Candidates who are endorsed must meet provincial requirements, and the process includes submitting a Worker Expression of Interest and getting an invitation to apply.

The federal government makes the final decision on permanent residence applications. Getting a community endorsement or a provincial nomination does not guarantee approval.

As of September 23, Alberta had given out 740 of its 1,057 Rural Renewal nomination spots, leaving 317 for 2026. At the same time, there were 1,736 expressions of interest in the provincewide selection pool.

On January 1, Alberta set yearly limits on community endorsements and made endorsement letters valid for only one year. The province explained that more endorsements than available nomination spots existed, and a smaller federal allocation meant stricter management was needed.

Brooks pharmacy owner Ebenezer Asare hired nine pharmacists from overseas through the stream over several years, according to CBC in August. CBC also reported that there have been 4,300 nominations across Alberta since 2022, and some communities have limited or paused participation because of high applicant interest.

EverythingGP reported in 2023 that JBS was looking for 300 more foreign workers in Brooks. The report also mentioned a housing shortage, with some new workers staying in hotels while officials tried to encourage more housing development.

Alberta has also brought in workers from other provinces through its "Alberta is Calling" campaign, which started in 2022.

Applicants in Canada must hold valid work permits when they apply and when Alberta assesses their application. If you are pursuing the Brooks pathway, track your permit expiry alongside the one-year validity of your endorsement letter.

If you are a temporary resident planning for health care or education costs, pay attention to any new fees that might be announced. Before you change your work, study, or application plans, check for official rules about who will be affected and when changes will start.