In its latest Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) update, the Government of New Brunswick confirmed that 63 endorsement applications were pulled from the provincial pool during selection rounds held on September 25 and October 2, 2026. The announcement, published on October 22, underscores the province’s continued reliance on the federal–provincial pathway to meet pressing labour-market needs in construction, education, manufacturing, trades, professional IT services, sales and transportation. Under the AIP, employers that have been provincially designated may request an endorsement certificate for a specific foreign national; that certificate is then used to support both a permanent-residence application and a two-year, employer-specific work permit. By drawing directly from an existing pool—rather than issuing traditional “invitations to apply”—New Brunswick can fast-track candidates who already live and work in the province, many of whom benefit from “maintained status.” This status allows them to keep working under the conditions of an expiring permit while IRCC processes the new AIP work-permit application, minimising disruption for employers. The latest selection brings the province’s 2026 AIP total to 695 applications, with officials signalling that occupational restrictions were further relaxed on October 14 to widen eligibility. Only four low-skill NOC codes—fish-plant workers, food-service supervisors, restaurant managers and shippers/receivers—remain off-limits for endorsement, reflecting a sharper focus on longer-term retention in higher-skill roles. For Canadian multinationals with Atlantic operations, the update offers a predictable pathway to convert temporary foreign workers into permanent residents without the time and cost of an LMIA. HR teams should audit existing Atlantic talent pools and flag high-potential candidates for AIP endorsement before the province receives its 2027 allocation, which is expected to remain capped. Practically, employers should verify that their AIP-designated status is current and that supporting documentation—including settlement plans and wage attestations—aligns with the latest guidance. Candidates, meanwhile, should keep their profiles up to date in the provincial system, as selections are timestamp-sensitive; the cut-off for these rounds was 23:59 AST on the day before each draw.
Source: CIC News
