For AAIP applicants affected by wildfires, Alberta waives the work experience requirement, providing new job possibilities and support for affected people.

The eligibility requirements for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) were temporarily changed in response to the disastrous wildfires that have occurred in the province. These adjustments are intended to assist employees whose jobs have been affected by the fires, especially those in the travel and hospitality sectors.

Temporary Exemption from the Need for Work Experience
For applicants using the Alberta Opportunity and Tourism and Hospitality Streams, the AAIP has temporarily exempted certain job experience criteria from July 19, 2024, until November 30, 2024. With this modification, workers impacted by the wildfires will be able to find new jobs more quickly and won’t be required to fulfill the standard work experience requirements.

The Alberta government declared that workers in these streams who have been impacted by the wildfires and are looking for other employment opportunities may apply for open work permits issued by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Requirements for Work Experience in Affected Streams
Normally, applicants in the tourism and hospitality program would need to have completed 780 hours of work experience in six consecutive months with their current company. In the meantime, candidates for the Alberta Opportunity Stream usually require:

>A minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in their current employment in Canada, abroad, or a combination of both within the last 30 months, or at least 12 months of full-time work experience in their current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.

A minimum of six months of full-time work experience in their present occupation in Alberta within the previous eighteen months is required of holders of Post-Graduation Work Permits.

As there are no particular work experience criteria for applicants using the Rural Renewal and Express Entry pathways, these interim measures have no bearing on them.

Extra Assistance for Workers Affected by Wildfires

A larger range of initiatives are being implemented to assist individuals impacted by the wildfires, of which the temporary waiver of the work experience criteria is only one. The Alberta government revealed new options for affected individuals to get support on July 26, 2024. These possibilities include:

>Free replacement of lost, stolen, or destroyed passports and other travel, immigration, or citizenship documents.
>the capacity to prolong or reinstate status as a temporary resident.
>If you are unable to continue working for your current employer, you have the option of switching from an employer-specific work permit to an open work permit.

Candidates will have a year to prove they fulfill the requirements set forth by the AAIP, which includes finding a new, qualified work if they lost their prior one as a result of the fires.

According to the Alberta government, all other requirements for every stream in the AAIP will still be in place. Authorities will keep a careful eye on the situation and may provide more updates as appropriate.

The economic impact of wildfires in Alberta
Over 100 wildfires have broken out in Alberta this summer, resulting in substantial destruction and inconvenience, especially to the travel and hotel industries. 358 of the 1,113 buildings in Jasper, a popular tourist attraction, have been destroyed by the flames. Jasper’s evacuation order was only revoked on August 17, 2024.

In addition to uprooting residents, the wildfires have negatively impacted Alberta’s regional economy. The tourism sector, which is essential to Alberta’s economic expansion, has taken a serious hit. The province wants to increase the size of its tourism industry by 2025, therefore one of its main goals in responding to the wildfires has been to assist companies and employees in this vital industry.

Alberta aims to stabilize its labor market and maintain the provision of vital services by reducing immigration restrictions for workers impacted by the wildfires.

This brief modification to the qualifying requirements shows the province’s dedication to modifying its immigration laws to meet the demands of its economy and the difficulties encountered by its citizens during difficult times.