Atlantic Immigration Program
Highlights
This program is a fantastic opportunity for your business to grow and thrive in Atlantic Canada. By becoming a designated employer, you can hire skilled foreign workers and recent graduates who are eager to contribute to your success. This program helps you fill positions that have been challenging to staff locally, ensuring you have the talent needed to drive your business forward.
Key Benefits:
- Access to a broader talent pool: Hire qualified international candidates who bring diverse skills and perspectives.
- No cost to become designated: The application process to become a designated employer is free.
- Support from provincial governments: Each Atlantic province offers resources to help you through the designation and hiring process.
Why Apply?
- Fill critical roles: Quickly address staffing shortages with skilled workers ready to contribute.
- Boost your business: Enhance productivity and innovation with new talent.
- Easy qualification: The program is designed to be accessible, with straightforward steps to become a designated employer.
By participating in this program, you can ensure your business has the skilled workforce it needs to succeed in a competitive market.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Wage Subsidy
Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:
- There are no repayment terms or interest rates associated with this wage subsidy. The funds provided do not need to be repaid.
Eligible Expenses:
- Salaries and wages for new hires.
- Training costs for new employees.
- Onboarding and integration expenses.
Use of Funds:
- The funds can only be used to cover costs directly related to hiring and training new employees. This includes:
- Employee salaries and wages.
- Training programs and materials.
- Onboarding activities.
Restrictions on Use of Funds:
- The funds cannot be used for:
- Existing employee salaries.
- Operational costs unrelated to new hires.
- Capital expenditures or equipment purchases.
Fees:
- There are no fees associated with applying for or receiving this wage subsidy.
Qualifications
- Must be an employer in one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Must become designated by the provincial government of the Atlantic province where the candidate will be working.
- Must hire qualified international candidates for jobs that have not been filled locally.
- Candidates must be either:
- A recent graduate of a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada, or
- A skilled worker.
- Candidates can be living abroad or in Canada as temporary residents.
- To be eligible to work in Canada while waiting, candidates must have:
- A job offer from a designated employer that meets the requirements of the program.
- A referral letter from the Atlantic province where they will be working.
Description
This program offers your business a chance to borrow up to $1,000,000. You can use up to $500,000 of this amount to buy equipment or improve your rented space.
Eligible purchases include:
- Commercial kitchen appliances
- Manufacturing machinery
- Computers and IT infrastructure
- Renovating a retail space
For other costs like software or working capital, the program can provide up to $150,000.
The federal government guarantees 85% of the loan, giving you a significant safety net.
This loan program is flexible. If you've made qualifying purchases in the last 365 days, you can include them in this loan.
You have various options to repay the loan. You can choose a variable interest rate, a fixed one, or a combination of both.
You have up to 15 years to pay back the loan, regardless of what you spend it on.
Program Steps
Become a Designated Employer:
- Apply to become a designated organization with the provincial government of the Atlantic province where your candidate will work.
- Each province has its own application process. Find the application on the province’s website:
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
Prepare Documentation:
- Gather the necessary documents to support your application. These may include:
- Proof of business registration
- Financial statements
- Job descriptions for the positions you are hiring for
- Evidence of recruitment efforts within Canada
- Any additional documents required by the specific province
- Gather the necessary documents to support your application. These may include:
Submit Designation Application:
- Complete and submit the designation application to the appropriate provincial government office.
- Ensure all required documents are included and properly filled out.
Receive Designation Approval:
- Wait for the provincial government to review and approve your application. This may take several weeks.
- Once approved, you will receive a designation certificate.
Hire a Qualified International Candidate:
- With your designation, begin the process of hiring qualified international candidates.
- Ensure the job offer meets the program’s requirements.
Provide Job Offer and Referral Letter:
- Issue a job offer to your chosen candidate.
- Obtain a referral letter from the Atlantic province where the candidate will work.
Assist Candidate with Application:
- Help your candidate apply for a temporary work permit if they need to start working before their permanent residence application is processed.
- Provide any necessary support and documentation to facilitate their application process.