OKANAGAN – More than 33,000 foreign nationals are ready to apply for full-time permanent jobs through the pilot which is one of the fastest tracks to permanent residency in Canada. The pilot, which began in February 2020 has already recommended 132 employees from 36 countries with jobs in the North Okanagan area for permanent residency. These individuals and their families receive support from Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Support Services Society once they arrive in the community.
Leigha Horsfield, Executive Director Community Futures North Okanagan which is hosting the pilot says, “This is exactly the type of success we were hoping for in our area as many businesses needed skilled workers to support their growth and long-term viability. We are grateful for the employers and employees who have shared their stories so that other local employers can see the benefits of using the RNIP pilot to meet their labour needs.”
The Pilot has a full-time coordinator to help employers post their jobs and complete the recruitment process. Employers with vacant jobs are asked to contact Coordinator Ward Mercer, online or at 250-938-1066 to learn more about becoming pre-approved and connecting with applicants through the RNIP job database.
A video was produced by Rhythm Production Services and Pinnacle Communications & Media about Interior Homecare Solutions. They are telling their story of hiring foreign nationals to encourage more employers to consider the Pilot (RNIP) to address labour challenges.
Interior Homecare Solutions describes the challenges faced in the health care sector during a pandemic and how the RNIP immigration pilot helped her to hire nurses with advanced qualifications from other countries.
The Vernon – North Okanagan RNIP pilot is funded by the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and the Province of British Columbia. Additionally, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) provided a grant to fund the development of the online database platform and a marketing plan.
One of 11 pilots across Canada, the North Okanagan region includes the unincorporated areas, districts and municipalities of Vernon, Lake Country, Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Coldstream, Lumby, Enderby and lands under the authority of the Okanagan Indian Band and the Splatsin First Nation. RNIP Vernon- North Okanagan is designed to strengthen our local economy and support the development of our workforce.