Critical Worker Pilot: Apply Now!

The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot is a unique, first-of-its-kind immigration project that aims to address labour shortages in the province by bringing skilled foreign workers to New Brunswick. The program is a collaboration between the New Brunswick provincial government, the federal government, and six selected employers. It is a five-year pilot program that does not accept direct applications from candidates. Instead, interested candidates must apply through one of the participating employers. To be eligible, candidates must have a valid job offer from an eligible employer, intend to settle in New Brunswick, and meet other criteria such as age and language proficiency. The pilot program offers a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for successful newcomers and focuses on providing settlement support and long-term retention.

Candidates must apply through employers, not directly

The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot is an employer-driven stream, based on targeted recruitment for skilled workers. Candidates cannot apply directly to the program; instead, they must apply through one of the participating employers.

The pilot program was created to address critical labour shortages in various sectors and regions in the province. It is a collaboration between the New Brunswick provincial government and the federal government. The program aims to bring skilled foreign workers to the province and help them settle, addressing key labour shortages.

There are six employers participating in the pilot program, selected based on their demonstrated experience and consistent use of both provincial and federal economic immigration programs. These employers are:

• Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
• Imperial Manufacturing Group
• J.D. Irving Ltd.
• McCain Foods
• Groupe Savoie Inc.
• Groupe Westco

These employers have been chosen for their exemplary record under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and their history of good immigrant hiring practices.

Candidates must have a valid job offer from one of these approved employers. The job offer must include a competitive wage that aligns with the prevailing wage rates for the same occupation in the province.

To apply, candidates must first accept the employment offer from a participating employer. They must then create an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the online portal of Immigration New Brunswick (INB). After creating a profile, it is important to keep it updated with all past and current information. The Government of New Brunswick could refuse an application if they are not notified of any changes in the candidate's life circumstances.

Candidates will then receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and have 45 calendar days to submit their application online. The application must be submitted electronically through the candidate's INB account, along with all supporting documents provided as PDF files.

It is important to note that submitting an application and meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee a nomination. The Government of New Brunswick reserves the right to change criteria and/or pause streams. Candidates must ensure they meet all the requirements and have all the necessary documents before applying.

Candidates must intend to settle in New Brunswick

Candidates must demonstrate a genuine intention to settle in New Brunswick permanently. They may be asked to provide evidence of their intention to settle in the province, such as:

• Actions taken to permanently settle in New Brunswick
• Current employment in New Brunswick
• Employment search details
• Length of previous and/or current residence in New Brunswick
• Community involvement
• Ability to support themselves in the province
• Connections to New Brunswick through work, study, or family
• Professional networks and affiliations
• Residency, including household lease agreements and/or property ownership
• Family ties and other social relationships and connections
• Details of prior visits to Canada
• Connection to other jurisdictions in Canada

Candidates must also have a valid, full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer and be offered a competitive wage. The wage must meet or exceed the median wage level for the occupation in the specific region of New Brunswick and be comparable to the rate paid to workers with similar levels of experience and training for equivalent jobs in the province.

Candidates must have a valid job offer from an eligible employer

The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot is an employer-driven stream, meaning that candidates cannot directly apply for it. Instead, applications must be submitted by one of the six participating employers. These employers have been chosen due to their exemplary record of immigrant hiring practices and their ability to provide settlement services for new immigrants.

To be eligible for the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot, candidates must have a valid job offer from one of these six employers:

• Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
• Imperial Manufacturing Group
• J.D. Irving Ltd.
• McCain Foods
• Groupe Savoie Inc.
• Groupe Westco

The job offer must be for a full-time, non-seasonal, permanent position and must include a competitive wage that is in line with the prevailing wage rates for the same occupation in New Brunswick.

In addition to having a valid job offer from an eligible employer, candidates must also meet other eligibility criteria, including age, language proficiency, education, and work experience requirements. Candidates must also demonstrate their intention to settle in New Brunswick and be able to submit a Canada PR application, which includes having all the necessary documents and meeting all eligibility requirements.

Candidates must be offered a competitive wage

The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot is an employer-driven stream, meaning that candidates cannot directly apply for it. Instead, employers must submit applications on behalf of candidates.

As part of the application process, candidates must be offered a competitive wage. This means that the wage offered to the candidate must be comparable to the rate paid to workers with a similar level of experience and training for equivalent jobs in New Brunswick.

If a candidate was hired at a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), their wage at the time of registration and application must be equal to or greater than the wage stated in the LMIA.

The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot is a five-year pilot program that aims to address critical labour shortages in various sectors across the province. The program was created to attract skilled workers to occupations that have been, and will continue to be, difficult to fill in New Brunswick.

To be eligible for the program, candidates must meet certain requirements, including the intention to settle in New Brunswick and having a valid job offer from an eligible employer in the province. The candidate's wage must be competitive with other employees in similar positions in New Brunswick.

Candidates must be aged 19-55/59

The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot is an employer-driven initiative, meaning that candidates must apply through one of the six participating employers. The program does not accept direct applications from interested candidates.

To be eligible, candidates must be between 19 and 55/59 years old on the date they submit a complete application after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

The six employers participating in the pilot are:

• Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
• Imperial Manufacturing Group
• J.D. Irving Ltd.
• McCain Foods
• Groupe Savoie Inc.
• Groupe Westco

These employers were chosen due to their exemplary record under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and their history of good immigrant hiring practices.

The pilot program is designed to address critical labour shortages in various sectors across the province of New Brunswick. It aims to attract skilled foreign workers to occupations that have been, and will continue to be, difficult to fill.

To be eligible for the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Have a valid, full-time, non-seasonal, permanent job offer from one of the approved employers.
• The wage offered must be competitive with other employees in similar positions in New Brunswick.
• Intend to settle in New Brunswick and demonstrate this intention by providing evidence such as actions taken to settle in the province, current work or residence in the province, involvement in the community, connections to the province, and familial or social ties.
• Be certified or licensed by a regulatory authority if working in a regulated occupation in New Brunswick.
• Score a minimum of CLB/NCLC level 4 in all abilities.
• Have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent, as demonstrated by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organisation.
• Have at least one year of paid work experience in the last five years (1,560 hours over 12 months).

Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can then follow these steps to apply:

• Accept the Employment Offer from a participating employer.
• Create an Expression of Interest (EOI) on the online portal of Immigration New Brunswick (INB).
• Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from your employer in your INB account.
• Submit your complete application online within 45 calendar days of receiving the ITA.
• Receive a decision on your application from the Government of New Brunswick.
• If your application is approved, you will receive a nomination certificate and a work permit support letter.
• Submit your permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• Receive a decision on your permanent residence application from IRCC.

The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot is a five-year pilot program, after which it will either become permanent or be discontinued.

Frequently asked questions