The City of Brooks recently aided Ebenezer Asare’s pharmacy, which had faced a challenging situation with the loss of three pharmacists in just six months. These pharmacists had relocated to larger cities like Calgary, attracted by the abundance of pharmacist job opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asare had to resort to hiring locums to keep his pharmacy operational, incurring additional costs for travel and accommodation.
Fortunately, Brooks had a distinctive program in place to address such issues. Since 2022, the city, with a population of around 18,000 in southern Alberta, has collaborated with the provincial government to gain more control over immigration decisions. This initiative involves issuing targeted endorsement letters to assist local businesses in need of workers.
Despite encountering some obstacles, the program proved effective for Asare. Over time, he successfully recruited nine pharmacists from overseas, facilitated permanent residency for many through the town’s endorsement letters, and established a system for their on-the-job training and recertification. The success of this endeavor led to the opening of a second pharmacy in Medicine Hat.
The upcoming fall referendum in Alberta will give residents the opportunity to vote on whether the province should have increased authority over immigration matters. Typically under federal jurisdiction, immigration in Alberta has seen changes, with the Brooks program, known as the rural renewal stream, exemplifying how the province targets immigration at a local level.
In light of broader shifts in Canada’s immigration system post-pandemic, the focus has shifted towards attracting individuals with specific skills needed in the economy. Alberta, like Canada, has transitioned to targeting specific categories for permanent residency nominations, such as in tourism and rural sectors.
Various towns, including Brooks, have embraced the nomination program for permanent residency in collaboration with neighboring areas. Despite initial challenges, the program has expanded across the province, with thousands of nominations since its inception in 2022.
Local officials have pointed out the benefits of the program in retaining workers and supporting local businesses. While some communities have scaled back their programs due to oversubscription and slow processes, the overall impact on communities has been positive.
Balancing the pros and cons of local control over immigration, experts emphasize the importance of long-term planning and sustainability in immigration policies. As Alberta prepares for the upcoming referendum on immigration control, the political implications and public sentiment around the issue add complexity to the decision-making process.