The provincial government is taking steps to further encourage business immigrants to invest in communities in regional B.C. through the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program.
The program provides accelerated permanent resident status to entrepreneurs and qualified workers based on labour market and economic development priorities.
Among the changes, a new on-line investment matching service will link potential business immigrants to business opportunities in regions, with a focus on small business succession, an area of concern identified by the small business sector. In some cases, small business owners in smaller rural communities are facing challenges in finding people to buy their companies when they are ready to retire. The service is scheduled to launch in November.
Other steps being taken to promote investment and meet labour market demand include:
More aggressively marketing the BC PNP and regional business opportunities to prospective business immigrants internationally with a strong focus on Latin America, Eastern Europe, Russia and India.
Amending program requirements to allow BC PNP business immigrants, who locate in regional communities and invest in existing businesses, to meet their employment commitments by maintaining existing jobs. This change came into effect Oct. 14.
Making the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled pilot category of the BC PNP a permanent program category to help meet the needs of employers in key sectors such as tourism. This change is effective immediately.
Reducing the minimum size for eligible employers located outside of the GVRD from five employees to three. This change came into effect Oct. 14.
"The changes announced today will significantly enhance the effectiveness of the BC PNP in promoting job creation and economic growth in B.C.'s regions," said Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation in a news release. "The program is a vital component of our jobs plan and one that benefits every region of British Columbia through job-creating investments and by helping to meet the growing demand for workers in key sectors of our economy."
Learn more about the program at www.welcomebc.ca/pnp.
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