On February 4, 2008 a 2-year Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project was launched under the Strategic Occupations category of the BC PNP. This pilot project applies to select occupations in the tourism/hospitality and long-haul trucking industries .
This 2-year pilot project applies to select occupations and eligible employers in the tourism/hospitality and long-haul trucking industries, and to qualifying foreign workers.
The tourism/hospitality and long-haul trucking industries were selected for this pilot project as they play a critical role in BC’s export-oriented economy, and are experiencing acute and persistent labour shortages.
Through their respective provincial industry organizations, these industries have developed human resource development strategies to hire, train and retain domestic workers, and have demonstrated that they will be unable to fully meet their on-going workforce requirements without the opportunity to retain foreign workers through permanent immigration.