The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has signed on to a program aimed at settling skilled immigrants in B.C. to fill employment roles and operate businesses.
The BC Provincial Nomination Program (BC PNP) is used to select immigrants with valuable skills and place them where their talents are needed most.
The RDEK says the Regional Immigration Collaboration initiative helps make the BC PNP more effective by engaging with communities to understand how immigration programs could be better targeted to address their needs.
With the RDEK’s decision, the regional government will appoint a community advisor to advise the BC PNP of local workforce needs and gaps.
“By the RDEK enrolling in the program, it brings an East Kootenay perspective to the provincial discussion on immigration programs, resources and workforce needs with access to advice on the potential use of the full range of PNP tools,” said the RDEK.
The RDEK will work with Kootenay Employment Services and Community Futures East Kootenay to facilitate the program.
“Some of our businesses are looking for skilled tradespeople in a lot of cases, and they can’t find those folks,” said RDEK Board Chair Rob Gay.
“It goes right from professional doctors and many other vacancies in our communities, and people from other countries and other provinces could help.”
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