The recent decision by the Alberta government to temporarily pause the Alberta Opportunity Stream Program has left many permanent residency seekers in a state of uncertainty and stress.
As of Feb. 15, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) was temporarily paused to sort through pending applications for the Alberta Opportunity Stream. This decision has put many individuals in a situation where they had been working toward their permanent residence dreams.
Anureet Kaur, who moved from Surrey to Calgary last year, found herself in a tough spot after the pause. She had been working at a pizza joint for a year to gain the experience she needed to apply for permanent residency. However, the sudden pause made her situation worse since her work permit was also near expiration.
“I am very stressed about my future, and I do not know what I should do next,” said Kaur.
Kaur was ready with her file and was prepared to submit it to the program. However, the sudden decision by the government left her in shock.
“I did not expect it at all. I was very happy to apply my file so that I could settle my future here in Canada, which was my dream,” said Kaur.
According to Statistics Canada, Alberta has been seeing a steady growth in the number of people moving from provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, contributing significantly to its population growth.
Alberta students have mixed feelings about the situation. While some sympathize with those affected by the pause, others voice concerns about the strain it puts on resources like housing and groceries.
One reason for the pause is to help fill labour shortages in healthcare, technology, construction, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, and other in-demand sectors.
According to job market forecasts on the province’s website, Alberta will be expecting a shortage of registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses over the next two years.
In the meantime, many individuals are waiting for the government’s next action and hoping for clarity.
“It’s been incredibly stressful. We do not know when the program will resume or what the next steps are, and it makes me feel anxious and unsettled,” said Kaur. “Even so, I hope that it resumes soon so that me and others in similar situations can continue our journey towards permanent residency.”
