In November 2022, the New Brunswick government launched the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP) to attract skilled foreign workers and address labour shortages in the province.
To make sure that this five-year trial produces the required outcomes, it will be often evaluated and assessed. Attracting and retaining newcomers is a top priority for the provincial government, as evidenced by the fact that New Brunswick is ranked eighth in terms of population overall and eleventh in terms of GDP per capita among all Canadian provinces.
This program stands out from other Canadian immigration pathways by having six selected employers offer comprehensive support to candidates.
These employers assist with settlement planning, helping new arrivals adjust to life in New Brunswick throughout their entire immigration process.
What is the NBCWP?
The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP) is a five-year initiative aimed at connecting skilled foreign workers with key industries in the province. Six selected employers, known for their success in hiring international workers, participate in the program.
These employers provide extensive support, including housing and transportation plans for a smooth transition, strategic HR planning, skill development opportunities, up to 200 hours of language training, and assistance in obtaining Canadian secondary education equivalency.
The majority of this pilot initiative is employer-driven. Prospective candidates should check with the appropriate company to make sure the role they are considering satisfies all NBCWP eligibility standards. The partnering employer is in charge of processing applications for this pilot program.
In conclusion, the program focuses on long-term retention and integration into the New Brunswick community.
Participating Employers and Their Roles:
- J.D. Irving Ltd.
J.D. Irving, Limited, founded in 1882, is a diversified Canadian corporation with over 20,000 employees in various industries, including agriculture, construction, shipbuilding, retail, and forestry.
Positions J.D. Irving may hire for:
- Manufacturing and Shipbuilding Roles:
- Metal Fabricator (Red Seal)
- Welder (Red Seal)
- Chargehand, Metal Fabricator (AOPS)
- Stage builders / Scaffolders
- Production Supervisor, Mechanical Training and Coaching
- Crane Operator
- Labourer, Semi-Skilled Services
- Welding Technician (Visual Robot Welding Portal)
- Production Supervisor, Steel
- Detail Planner
- Dimensional Control Surveyor
- Logistics and Procurement Roles:
- Associate Procurement Specialist, River Class Destroyer
- Buyer
- Intermediate Procurement Specialist
- Material Management Specialist
- Senior Procurement Specialist, River Class Destroyer
- Engineering and Technical Roles:
- Engineer, Production Engineering (Design for Manufacture)
- Engineer, Industrial Engineering
- Structures Engineer
- Level III Welding Inspector
- Quality Control Inspector, Pipe
- Operations Trainer, Safety
- Health, Safety and Environment Specialist (2nd Shift)
- Cooke Aquaculture
Cooke Aquaculture Inc. is a family-owned and managed company that has been operating a sustainable aquaculture business in Atlantic Canada for over 35 years. The company is a prominent part of the aquaculture industry, contributing to the economic development of rural coastal areas.
Cooke Aquaculture is a fully vertically integrated seafood producer, with business activities expanding into the following sectors:
- Salmon farming;
- Fish processing;
- Fish product manufacturing;
- Transportation;
- Distribution; and
- Sales and Marketing.
Positions Cooke Aquaculture may hire for:
- Aquaculture and Marine Operations:
- Saltwater Aquaculture Worker
- Hatchery Technician
- Saltwater Marine Site Manager
- Fish Health Manager
- FW Lead Hand
- Saltwater Marine Technician
- Harvest Vessel Captain (Fishing Master III)
- Oiler/Deckhand
- Occupational Scuba Diver
- Harvest Vessel Deckhand
- Processing and Plant Operations:
- Fish Processor
- Fish Processing Plant Worker
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Yield Check
- Large Vessel Cook/Deckhand
- Maintenance and Technical Support:
- Maintenance Mechanic Technician
- Truck and Transport Technician
- Maintenance Personnel
- FW Maintenance Support
- Marine Mechanic
- Maintenance Vessel Captain
- Logistics and Transportation:
- Truck Driver – Owner Operators
- Local Truck Driver
- Truck/Tractor Trailer Driver
- Shunt Truck Driver
- Dispatcher
- Transportation Customer Service Representative
- Groupe Savoie Inc.
Groupe Savoie Inc., a vertically integrated hardwood processing company, specialises in producing high-quality products like pallets, cabinet and furniture components, hardwood lumber, tonewood components, ecological fuels, and wood chips.
Positions Groupe Savoie may hire for:
- Maintenance and Technical Roles:
- Building Maintenance Technician
- Welder / Assembler
- PLC Programmer
- Millwright
- Logistics and Contractual Roles:
- Independent Contractor – Forestry Biomass Truck
- Production Roles:
- Production Support
- McCain Foods Ltd.
J.D. Irving, Limited, a Canadian corporation with over 20,000 employees, operates in various industries such as agriculture, construction, shipbuilding, retail, and forestry since 1882.
Positions McCain Foods may hire for:
- Manufacturing and Production Roles:
- Training Supervisor
- Potato Receiver
- Sanitation Labourer
- Shift Clean Up
- Engineering and Technical Roles:
- Complex Engineering Manager
- Process Engineer
- Research and Development Roles:
- Sensory Scientist
- Process Engineer (R&D)
- Agricultural Roles:
- Potato Truck Driver (Class 3)
- Corporate and Administrative Roles:
- Manager, Human Resources Data Governance & Analytics
- Deductions Intern
.
- Groupe Westco
Groupe Westco, a leading poultry farming company in Canada, has expanded its operations beyond poultry farming to include food production, organic fertiliser production, transportation, power generation, and sustainable power generation.
Positions Groupe Westco may hire for:
- Poultry Farming and Production:
- Hatchery Technicians
- Poultry Farm Workers
- Food Production Technicians (Table and Liquid Eggs)
- Quality Control Inspectors
- Logistics and Transportation:
- Transportation Coordinators
- Truck Drivers
- Distribution Network Managers
- Forestry and Resource Management:
- Forestry Technicians
- Logging Equipment Operators
- Road Excavation Workers
- Forest Harvesting Managers
- Imperial Manufacturing Group
IMG is a leading North American air distribution and building product manufacturer, producing over 7,000 products in HVAC and construction industries. With 11 facilities in Canada and the US, IMG has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for seven years.
Positions IMG may hire for:
- Manufacturing and Production Roles:
- Evening Production Supervisor
- Welder / Assembler
- Millwright
- Production Support
- Technical and Engineering Roles:
- PLC Programmer
- Machinery Operators
- Logistics and Contractual Roles:
- Independent Contractor – Forestry Biomass Truck
- Transportation Coordinators and Truck Drivers
- Supervisory and Management Roles:
- Evening Production Supervisor
- Building Maintenance Technician
The positions offered by employers under the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot can vary according to their changing needs. To stay up-to-date with the roles available, it’s best to regularly check the employer’s website or conduct a web search. This provides the most accurate information regarding current job openings and gives a clearer view of each employer’s hiring needs and business activities.
The NBCWP plays a pivotal role in sustaining New Brunswick’s economy by aligning immigration efforts with the needs of local industries. This targeted approach ensures that employers in key sectors can access the talent they need while providing foreign workers with the opportunity to build a new life in the province.
