Alberta looking to attract tech talent with new immigration program
Alberta is creating a new tech-focused immigration policy with the hope it will make attracting talent to the booming industry a little easier.
The province says the Accelerated Tech Pathway will provide a fast track to permanent residence for skilled tech workers who want to move to Alberta.
Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer says it comes as technology companies -- many of them relatively new and quickly growing -- search for talent amidst a small pool of trained professionals.
"This accelerated immigration pathway will help attract the best and the brightest talent from across the globe to Alberta to meet this growing demand," Schweitzer said Thursday.
"It will also ensure Alberta continues to be a top destination for tech investment, which helps diversify our economy."
The province is now home to more than 3,000 tech companies, according to a study done by the Alberta Enterprise Corporation (AEC), compared to just 1,238 companies in 2018, and AEC's data shows startups are pouring into the province and expanding.
The date shows that between 2018 and 2020, the number of companies with 25 or more employees increased from 13 per cent to 25 per cent.
But that boom has come with its issues.
Software developers are in high demand, and now that working from home is no longer an exclusive 'tech perk,' companies are having to impress talent in new ways.
"It has been absolutely bonkers," TalentMarketplace founder and recruiter Qaid Jivan told CTV News in August.
"There are people who are getting multiple offers who normally wouldn't be getting one."
The provincial government says Alberta's new Accelerated Tech Pathway will allow professionals from across Canada and overseas with a job offer in Alberta to be fast-tracked, getting them to permanent residence sooner.
It's part of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program, a federal-provincial program that nominates individuals for permanent residence in Alberta if they have skills to fill job shortages or are planning to buy or start a business in Alberta.
The incoming influx of openings is also leading to some of Alberta's post secondary schools revamping curriculum to make sure young talent can enter the workforce.
SAIT is one of the facilities capitalizing on the opportunity, offering upgrading courses in its new School for Advanced Digital Technology.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Storm leaves at least nine dead, many powerless across Ontario and Quebec
Tens of thousands of people remain without power after Saturday's powerful storm that left at least nine dead and caused extensive damage throughout southern Ontario and Quebec.
What is a 'derecho'? Climatologist explains Saturday's powerful storm
The storm that moved across Ontario and Quebec Saturday is known as a 'derecho', a powerful kind of windstorm that is long lasting and far-reaching.
Trained dogs can identify COVID-19 by sniffing skin swabs: study
A new study that brought sniffer dogs to an airport to search for COVID-19 has found that dogs may be able to detect the virus with high accuracy just from smelling skin swabs.
Russian sentenced to life in Ukraine's 1st war crimes trial
A Ukrainian court sentenced a 21-year-old Russian soldier to life in prison Monday for killing a civilian, sealing the first conviction for war crimes since Moscow's invasion three months ago.
Zelenskyy urges 'maximum' sanctions on Russia in Davos talk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for 'maximum' sanctions against Russia during a virtual speech Monday to corporate executives, government officials and other elites on the first day of the World Economic Economic gathering in Davos.
LIVE AT 9 A.M. PT | Sunrise ceremony opens daylong Kamloops, B.C., memorial to mark graves detection anniversary
A memorial to mark the one-year anniversary of the announcement of the detection of an unmarked burial site at the former residential school at Kamloops, B.C. starts early Monday with a ceremony at sunrise and concludes with a closing evening prayer.
A new billionaire has been minted nearly every day during the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been good for the wallets of the wealthy. Some 573 people have joined the billionaire ranks since 2020, bringing the worldwide total to 2,668, according to an analysis released by Oxfam on Sunday. That means a new billionaire was minted about every 30 hours, on average, so far during the pandemic.
Group of Ontario lawyers petitions courts to keep proceedings virtual
More than 1,000 lawyers in Ontario have signed a petition to make all court appearances 'presumptively virtual unless parties and their counsel agree otherwise.'
Officials expect 3 to 4 days to restore power across Ottawa following storm
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
Edmonton
-
Kane hat trick fuels Oilers 4-1 win over Flames to take series lead
Evander Kane scored a natural hat trick during an electric six-minute span and captain Connor McDavid provided more magic with three assists in another dominant performance as the Edmonton Oilers downed the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.
-
Family of man killed in Chinatown attack hope for solutions to create a safer community
Family members remember one of the men killed in Chinatown this week as a kind and hardworking man, and hope that his needless death will lead to change.
-
'Will change the lake': Residents worry about proposed feedlot operation near Pigeon Lake, Alta.
Residents south of Edmonton are concerned about a proposed feedlot near Pigeon Lake.
Vancouver
-
LIVE AT 9 A.M. PT
LIVE AT 9 A.M. PT | Sunrise ceremony opens daylong Kamloops, B.C., memorial to mark graves detection anniversary
A memorial to mark the one-year anniversary of the announcement of the detection of an unmarked burial site at the former residential school at Kamloops, B.C. starts early Monday with a ceremony at sunrise and concludes with a closing evening prayer.
-
79-year-old waiting for open-heart surgery in B.C. says health is deteriorating
A Vancouver senior says she was told by her doctor in November that she required open-heart surgery. Seven months later, she’s yet to receive a surgery date and says her condition is getting worse.
-
Solemn day of ceremony to mark anniversary of Kamloops unmarked graves
Beginning at sunrise on Monday, the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc will host a solemn day of ceremony and reflection to mark the one-year anniversary of unmarked graves being located at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Atlantic
-
One fisherman dead following incident on remote lake near Saint John
New Brunswick RCMP say a Saint John man has died following an incident Saturday afternoon on Loch Alva Lake, near Musquash.
-
'I'll be back next year to win it again': 2 Halifax runners win Blue Nose Marathon Sunday
Two new Haligonians won the Blue Nose Marathon Sunday, and for both, it was their first time winning a marathon.
-
Halifax-area building under construction collapses; no one on-site at the time: developer
An investigation into how and why a building under construction in the Halifax area collapsed on Sunday is underway, according to the developer behind the project.
Vancouver Island
-
Port Hardy residents warned after man encounters 'aggressive black bear' in town
The BC Conservation Officer Service is warning residents of Port Hardy to "take precautions" after a man had an encounter with "an aggressive black bear" in the district on Friday.
-
Police seek Parksville bank robbery suspect with tattoo on right thumb
Mounties on the Mid-Island are asking the public for help identifying a man suspected of robbing a bank in Parksville last week.
-
Business case for bringing rail back to Vancouver Island released
The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), which manages rail on Vancouver Island, released last week an initial business case stating the need it sees for safe, efficient, reliable, transit-like rail as the island's population grows.
Toronto
-
Storm leaves at least nine dead, many powerless across Ontario and Quebec
Tens of thousands of people remain without power after Saturday's powerful storm that left at least nine dead and caused extensive damage throughout southern Ontario and Quebec.
-
What 3 Hamilton stakeholders want out of this Ontario election
The Ontario election campaign may not be generating the same level of interest as some previous races but Kojo Damptey says that the result will nonetheless be "critical" for Hamilton.
-
Driver dead after crashing into east-end Toronto home, gas leak capped
Toronto police say a man is dead after he crashed into a home in the Beaches Sunday evening and caused a gas leak.
Montreal
-
Hundreds of thousands of Quebec homes still without power after weekend storm
Hydro-Quebec states at the height of the storm, 550,000 customers were without power.
-
What's open and closed in Montreal this Victoria, Patriots' Day long weekend
Whether you call it Victoria Day or Patriots' Day, here's a list of what's open and closed on Monday, May 23.
-
Large fire rips through brush south of Montreal
A large fire left stretches of brush south of Montreal burnt to ashes as firefighters hosed down fields to contain the blaze.
Ottawa
-
More than 150,000 Ottawa homes and businesses still without power following the storm
Hydro Ottawa says it could take three to four days to restore power to tens of thousands of Ottawa homes and businesses following Saturday's powerful storm.
-
Ottawa's mayor recommends people work from home for the next few days
Mayor Jim Watson is asking Ottawa residents to work from home over the next few days following the long weekend as the clean up continues from Saturday's devastating storm.
-
What to do with spoiled food after a power outage
Power has been out for hundreds of thousands of people in Ottawa for more than a full day, which means food is spoiling in fridges and freezers across the city.
Kitchener
-
Missing plane leaving Delhi, Ont. discovered in Northern Ontario
OPP say the missing plane that took off from Delhi, Ont. and never arrived at its destination was discovered Saturday evening in Lake Superior Provincial Park, about two kilometres east of Old Woman Bay.
-
'Looked like we drove into a warzone': Cleanup continues following strong storm that knocked out power
Residents on Maple Street in Cambridge were busy cleaning up large pieces of broken trees and avoiding dangling power lines on Sunday, after the severe storm that rocked Southwestern Ontario the day before.
-
Police investigating fatal crash in Cambridge: WRPS
A man is dead after a fatal single-vehicle crash in Cambridge, according to police.
Saskatoon
-
43 CP Rail cars carrying potash derail east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
Clean up is underway after 43 CP Rail train cars carrying potash left the track Sunday morning east of Fort Macleod, Alta.
-
'A dream come true': Sask. Rattlers players rekindle childhood friendship
Saskatchewan Rattlers players Scottie Lindsey and Lawrence Moore are set for a reunion nearly 20 years in the making.
-
Why 'Peacekeepers' have been key to the success of Saskatoon Tribal Council's new shelter
The work of staff known as Peacekeepers has been an integral component of the success of the Saskatoon Tribal Council Wellness Centre, a city report says.
Northern Ontario
-
Missing plane found
Ontario Provincial Police say a missing aircraft was discovered Saturday evening in Lake Superior Provincial Park, about two kilometres east of Old Woman Road.
-
8 people dead after storm rips through Ontario; tens of thousands without power
The death count related to a destructive storm that ripped through much of southern Ontario continues to rise
-
Officials expect 3 to 4 days to restore power across Ottawa following storm
Hydro Ottawa says it will take several days to restore power and clean up after a severe storm damaged hydro poles and wires on Saturday.
Winnipeg
-
Evacuation order issued, closures expanded in Whiteshell Provincial Park
The Province of Manitoba is advising of a mandatory evacuation order and expanding closures in Whiteshell Provincial Park.
-
'Everything has gone up': Animal shelters struggling to keep up with rising costs
Pet rescues are feeling the pinch with the cost of food, gas and many other items only getting pricier, making it all the more difficult for shelters to operate.
-
Indigenous Manitoba man risks his life to bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine
Kim Sigurdson, a Métis philanthropist from Manitoba, travelled to Ukraine in early May on his own dime to bring support to displaced Ukrainians.
Regina
-
Sikh Society of Regina gathers to celebrate Vaisakha
The Sikh Society of Regina’s sixth annual Vaisakha celebration began Sunday with a large parade to the provincial legislature that was followed by festivities in Wascana Park.
-
Cyclists raise over $10,000 for Ukrainian orphanage
A 100 mile bicycle trek took place this weekend raising money for a good cause.
-
'Owl of us Matter': Sask. author’s new book teaches children about Indigenous history
A University of Regina student has created a children’s book as a resource to teach kids about Indigenous history.