New Agreement Helps Meet the Need for Skilled workers for Oil Sands Projec
Calgary... A new agreement between the Alberta and federal governments will allow for the targeted entry of temporary foreign workers to meet the urgent skilled labour needs of oilsands employers for key projects in Fort McMurray.
Alberta Learning Minister Dr. Lyle Oberg recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Joseph Volpe, federal Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Judy Sgro, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The MOU recognizes the shortage of available skilled tradespeople across Canada and streamlines the process of recruiting workers through the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
"The oilsands industry is vital to the success of both the Alberta and Canadian economies," said Oberg. "This agreement gives Fort McMurray oilsands employers a way to recruit temporary foreign workers when there are no Albertans or Canadians available to fill labour needs and ensures the continued development and success of oilsands projects."
Under the MOU, the federal government will now look at requests to recruit temporary foreign workers up to 12 months in advance of the expected shortfall. This will allow companies in the industry to pre-plan projects and investment. If a company demonstrates a need for temporary foreign workers, the federal government will consider that an overall shortage for those skilled workers exists. As well, work permits granted to temporary foreign workers can be valid for the length of the project instead of just one year.
The MOU aligns with Alberta's labour force strategy, Prepared for Growth , which recognizes immigration and foreign workers as the province's third most important labour source. Employers must first provide proof of a shortage of key skill needs and evidence of efforts to train and recruit Canadian workers, including Aboriginal Albertans, and have notified relevant construction unions.
For more information on Alberta's labour force strategy, visit
www3.gov.ab.ca/hre/lmi/lmstrategy.asp .
Information on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program may be viewed at
www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/nav/top_nav/program/fw.shtml .
Backgrounder
The formal name of the agreement is Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) for the Entry of Temporary Foreign Workers for Projects in the Alberta Oilsands.
Which employers will benefit from this agreement?
The largest employers and developers of the Fort McMurray oil sands projects, who anticipate needing to hire foreign workers to meet investment and project development requirements, will be able to use the streamlined process.
What is Alberta's labour force strategy?
Alberta's labour force strategy, Prepared for Growth highlights a three-pronged approach to meeting Alberta's skilled labour needs:
- training Albertans;
- enhancing labour mobility across the country to encourage the employment of available and qualified Canadians; and,
- increasing immigration and the flow of temporary skilled foreign workers.
What are the provincial and federal government's roles and responsibilities?
Alberta Learning will review and evaluate the credentials of foreign skilled tradespeople, as notified by the employer, to ensure that Alberta training and certification standards are met.
Alberta Learning will also assess the trade knowledge and skills of the foreign skilled tradesperson, on a cost-recovery basis, before their arrival in Canada.
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) will assess employer requests in the context of available labour market information for the region and for the trade, including unemployment rates, prevailing wage rates, and indications of labour shortages. HRSDC examines the employer's efforts to recruit available and qualified Canadians and permanent residents for the position. HRSDC also confirms that the salary offered is in keeping with prevailing wage rates for the trade in the region, and that the working conditions meet generally accepted Canadian norms.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) verifies that the applicant meets the requirements of the position, and meets CIC's requirements concerning security, criminality and health. As well, CIC will meet with industry sector representatives to exchange information on recruitment best practices and on immigration legislative and operational requirements for the entry of these temporary foreign workers into Canada.
Working in a trade in Alberta
The Alberta Government recognizes the high demand by industry for skilled tradespeople and is investing $19 million to respond to the needs of apprentices and employers for technical training spaces.
Alberta:
- recognizes and welcomes tradespeople from other provinces and territories who hold trade certificates with an Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) endorsement.
- welcomes other tradespeople from outside Alberta. An assessment and certification process is in place, through the Qualification Centers, to recognize their prior work experience, knowledge and skills.
- welcomes apprentices from other provinces and territories. In most instances, apprentices are recognized at the same level of their apprenticeship program as in their home province or territory.
- has established an assessment and certification process for the recruitment of temporary foreign workers to assist Alberta industry with construction projects as well as other industries challenged by skilled trade shortages.
For more information about working in a trade in Alberta, visit www.tradesecrets.org.