Alberta’s government has announced a new initiative aimed at addressing the province’s labour shortages in law enforcement by introducing a new Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) pathway for law enforcement officers.
This move seeks to enhance public safety and support police services in their recruitment efforts, it said.
The province has experienced a decline in the number of local applicants pursuing careers in policing, which has prompted the government to look internationally to fill these critical roles. The AAIP will now include provisions specifically for law enforcement occupations, aiming to attract experienced officers from abroad to help meet the increasing demand for skilled personnel.
“Newcomers bring essential skills and unique perspectives that address Alberta’s labour shortages and enrich our communities,” said Muhammad Yaseen, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism. “By creating a new AAIP pathway for law enforcement, we’re supporting police services in meeting recruitment goals and enhancing public safety.”
Eligible employers for this new pathway must be members of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP), and the positions eligible for nomination include both commissioned and non-commissioned officers, as well as other specialized law enforcement roles. Invited applicants are required to have job offers from AACP members and meet all other criteria set by the Express Entry system.
Mark Neufeld, president of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, noted the competitive nature of police recruitment across North America.
“Expanding the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program to include police officers helps our province’s law enforcement agencies attract experienced and skilled officers from abroad to meet hiring demands, while enhancing the overall safety and security of our communities,” Neufeld said.
The AAIP is an economic immigration program that allows Alberta to nominate individuals for permanent residence. For 2024, the province has allocated 50 nominations specifically for police force staffing. In addition to this initiative, the Alberta government has funded 100 more police officers in Calgary and Edmonton and implemented several measures to improve public safety, including a pilot project teaming Alberta Sheriffs with local police services, expanding the Sheriffs Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods unit, and creating a new Fugitive Apprehension Sheriffs Support Team.