Alberta has temporarily waived work experience requirements for some applicants to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

The purpose of temporarily waiving the specific work experience requirement in the Alberta Opportunities and Tourism & Hospitality streams of the AAIP is to allow workers whose current employment has been affected by the wildfires to find new work as quickly as possible.

According to the Alberta government, AAIP will accept open work permits issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for workers working and seeking employment in these streams affected by the wildfires.

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The eligibility changes are projected to be in effect from July 19, 2024, until November 30, 2024. This is a temporary measure intended to provide assistance to those who are at risk of losing employment due to the fires, which occurred in locations where many of Alberta’s hotels and resorts are located.

Work Experience Requirements

In addition to this measure, candidates in the tourism and hospitality sector were required to have six months (780 hours) of continuous work experience with their current employer.

Alberta Opportunity Stream candidates are required to:

• A minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the past 18 months, or
• At least 24 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Canada or abroad, or both, within the last 30 months – this work experience can be a combination of experience gained in Alberta, Canada (outside Alberta), or abroad.
• Post-graduation work permit holders are required to have a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.

Applicants wishing to use the Rural Renewal and Express Entry routes will not be affected, as these schemes do not have specific work experience requirements.

Further aid for those affected by wildfires

These changes are among a series of special measures implemented by IRCC to assist people directly affected by the wildfires. On July 26, the Alberta government announced that those affected could:

• Apply to replace lost, damaged or destroyed citizenship, immigration or travel documents (including passports) free of charge.
• Extend or reinstate your temporary resident status if you are unable to work for your current employer; change from an employer-specific work permit to an open work permit.

Applicants will have one year to prove they meet the criteria set forth by the AAIP, including finding a new, eligible position if they become unemployed due to the fire.

The Alberta government says all other criteria for each stream still apply, and it will continue to monitor the situation for further information.

Impact of wildfires on Alberta’s economy

This summer, more than 100 wildfires have raged across Alberta in the past month. So far, the fires have engulfed 358 of the 1,113 buildings in Jasper, and evacuation notices will only be lifted on August 17, 2024.

The fires have already disrupted the local economy, particularly the hospitality industry in Jasper, which attracts thousands of tourists and temporary workers each year. With plans to more than double the size of the tourism economy by 2025, the Alberta government’s response to the wildfires aims to support both businesses and workers at the heart of the hospitality sector.

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