Even prior to the current COVID-19 crisis, the province of Nova Scotia was experiencing a large occupational demand for transport truck drivers among Nova Scotia employers. Now, with the COVID crisis underway, this demand has only increased in order to keep the flow of essential goods and commerce moving across the country.
The scale of the demand for Transport Truck drivers is such that the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration has created a special Permanent Residence nomination stream to address the need for Nova Scotia trucking company employers.
The Occupations in Demand Stream allows foreign nationals who have a permanent, full-time job offer with a Nova Scotia employer as a transport truck driver to become nominated by the Province, allowing them thereafter to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants must have at least 12 months of related work experience in the past five years, and meet all applicable immigration eligibility requirements.
For the Nova Scotia employer in need of a transport truck driver, offers of employment can be made to foreign nationals who have a valid Labour Market Impact Assessment ("LMIA") for the position, or to foreign nationals who are LMIA exempt (including workers already in Canada with an open work permit). If neither situation applies, the employer can still make a qualifying job offer under this application stream after conducting the particular recruitment efforts specified under the program.
If you are a Nova Scotia employer interested in hiring a foreign national as a transport truck driver, or if you are a foreign national in Canada and you feel this program may be applicable to you, please contact Jason May, Immigration Lawyer at Burchells LLP if you have any questions about eligibility or the application process itself. We are able to assist.