Recruitment

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Workers at all skill levels are needed to provide a stable workforce. The Workforce Development Strategy will focus efforts for worker recruitment within Canada, as well as internationally. Foreign recruitment can be complicated and costly and companies need to be prepared for the added costs of recruiting abroad and the settlement of foreign workers into the workplace and the community.

Actions to assist industry:

Job Fairs – Support companies to participate in job fairs within Canada or international recruiting missions to interview and select qualified workers.

Career Promotion and Image Enhancement – Support career promotional campaigns, trade designations and other initiatives to enhance the image of the industry to encourage employment and career choice.

Recruiting – Coach companies in best practices for recruitment of domestic and overseas workers, selection of the best candidate(s) and settlement of temporary foreign workers. Coach companies on proper completion of federal and provincial applications (i.e. Labour Market Opinions). Organize international recruitment missions and assist in the selection process of international workers. Provide clients with the criteria for access to permanent residence under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.

Staffing Agencies – Support smaller companies or groups of processors to share the costs of a consultant to represent them in international recruitment.

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Resources and Information

Webinar: Recruitment tips to reduce workforce turnover
Strategic recruitment and selection can help reduce your workforce turnover costs, improve workplace morale and increase productivity. This webinar delivered by Scott Dundas for Alberta producers and agri-processors will outline ways to improve hiring practices in order to recruit and select employees that are the best fit for your business.

Webinar Information for employers: Internationally qualified
Irene Darius, Manager, International and Provincial Assessment Services, Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education presents Information for employers: Internationally qualified tradespeople.
· Is there an Irish or American equivalent to an Alberta journeyman’s certificate?
· What is the International Qualifications Assessment process?
View this webinar to learn about the International Qualifications Assessment process and requirements to help you assess the skills of internationally trained trade candidates for maintenance positions in your farm operation or agri-processing facility. Trades discussed include millwrights, electricians, and welders.

Domestic
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development's Workforce Strategy
Provides services and resources to address specific workforce issues in primary production and agri-processing sectors.

Alberta Works Employer Connections
Employer Connections are held regularly at Alberta Works offices in the province. Job seekers and career changers meet employers face-to-face to find out about current job vacancies. Click on your region to find an Alberta Works office near you to call and arrange an Employer Connections opportunity or to post career ads.

Alberta Job & Career Fairs
Click on the region you are in to find job fairs you can attend and post career ads.

Human Services – Business & Industry supports
Information such as the latest labour force statistics, wage surveys, and employer toolkit.

Service Canada Job Bank
Post a job, human resource information and links related to government forms, services and program.

International
Workforce Strategy
Strategy for industry that identifies priority action areas to address specific workforce issues in primary production and agri-processing sectors.

Finding a licensed recruiter
This search tool will allow you to confirm a third party agent is licensed as a recruitment agency in Alberta.

Employment Agencies Tip Sheet
Information about engaging employment agencies under the Fair Trading Act in Alberta.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD) partners closely with the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) to help Alberta employers who operate industrial food processing plants retain their temporary foreign workers on a permanent basis to fill a permanent labour shortage.

The AINP’s Employer-Driven Stream, Semi-Skilled Worker Category, accepts applications from Alberta employers and their employees in the Food and Beverage Processing Industry in 5 specific semi-skilled occupations.

In order to be considered by the AINP Employer-Driven Stream, Semi-Skilled Worker Category, both the Alberta employer and the employee must meet a number of criteria. Those criteria can be found on the AINP website

If the Alberta employer and employee receive a positive decision from the AINP, the employee becomes a provincial nominee and is then eligible to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada through Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The Alberta employer can then work to retain their employee on a long-term basis.

Industry-specific criteria – food and beverage processing
As an Alberta Employer in the food and beverage processing industry, you must meet these criteria.

Employer Webinars

Employer-Driven Stream

Application Forms

Processing Times

Frequently Asked Questions
Some frequently asked questions about the Employer-Driven Stream.

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Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Application Forms and Contracts

Steps to Hire Temporary Foreign Workers
Employing foreign workers can be an essential part of a company's business strategy. Foreign workers can fill labour shortages in Canada and bring new skills and knowledge to help the country's economy grow.

Employer Compliance Requirements

National Occupational Classification (NOC) Codes
Are used to determine the job duties and wages required under the TFWP

Instruction Sheet to Accompany Employment Contract
Sample Contract for Occupations that usually require a High-school Diploma or job-specific training (NOC C and D).

Medical examination requirements for temporary residents
Depending on the occupation while in Canada, certain temporary foreign workers are required to undergo a medical examination.

Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program matches workers from Mexico and the Caribbean countries with Canadian farmers who need temporary support during planting and harvesting seasons, when qualified Canadians or permanent residents are not available.

Step by step process for Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
Program description, requirements, wages, advertisements, how to apply and next steps are described.

Service Canada Job Bank
Post a job, human resource information, and links related to government forms, services and program.

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Citizenship and Immigration Canada

How to Hire a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW)
Guidebook for Employers from Citizenship and Immigration Canada outlining contacts, things to know before starting the process, and four steps to hire temporary foreign workers.

Hire temporary foreign workers
This page includes many employer resources and information on determining your eligibility, applying, after you apply and extending a worker’s permit.

Labour Market Opinion Basics
As an employer, you must apply for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) before you can hire a foreign worker or get pre-approval to hire a large number of workers.

Work Permits

Processing Times

Operation manuals – Temporary Foreign Workers Guidelines
Guidelines that explain the regulation and CIC policy with respect to temporary foreign workers. It also provides guidelines that will assist officers in interpreting the regulations and explain the programs that fit under these regulations.

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Information for Workers

Immigrating to Alberta
Thinking about making Alberta your new home? Find important information and resources about living and working in Alberta, including everything you need to know about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program.

Using recruitment or employment agencies
If you plan to use a recruitment or employment agency to help you find a job in Alberta, there is important information you need to know.

Medical examination requirements for temporary residents
Determine if you need a medical examination for your job in Canada.

Candidates in the food and beverage processing industry
Specific criteria for workers in the food and beverage processing industry

After you are Nominated - Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
Information for workers after they are nominated for permanent residency.

Temporary Foreign Workers
The Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office and Temporary Foreign Worker Helpline will help you learn about your rights and find solutions for situations involving unfair, unsafe or unhealthy working conditions.

Grant

ARD provides cost-shared funding to Alberta based primary agriculture and food processing companies to address productivity improvement, retention strategies and recruitment. Click on the following link for the application Terms and Conditions.
Grant Application Form

Contacts:
Alan Dooley, Agriculture Labour Recruitment 780-422-0907 alan.dooley@gov.ab.ca
Gerard Bos, Agriculture Labour Retention 780-980-4222 gerard.bos@gov.ab.ca
Scott Dundas, Processing Labour Recruitment 403-556-4245 scott.dundas@gov.ab.ca

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