Critical Impact Worker

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) Critical Impact Worker stream targets foreign nationals with experience in semi-skilled and unskilled occupations in northern Canada.

Program Requirements

Applicant Requirements

Connection to Northwest Territories

To be eligible for the Critical Impact Worker stream, candidates must be currently working in an occupation classified as National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D in the Northwest Territories. They must have been working in this occupation in the Northwest Territories for at least one year.

Job Offer

Candidates must have a full-time, permanent job offer from their current Northwest Territories employer in their current position.

Language Proficiency

Candidates have to demonstrate language proficiency in English or French corresponding to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4. Language proficiency must be supported by results from an official language test taken within the two years preceding the application.

Level of Education

While there is no minimum level of education, candidates must have all of the educational credentials required to perform the job they have been offered.

Work Experience

Candidates must have at least six months of experience working in the Northwest Territories in the same NOC C or D position for the same employer that is making the job offer.

Settlement Funds

Candidates for this stream must demonstrate sufficient settlement funds themself and their family. A minimum of $10,000 CAD for the principal applicant and an additional $2,000 for each accompanying dependent. They may do so by providing certified bank statements or official, notarized letters from their bank.

Employer Requirements

Job Offer Requirements

The employer must offer the foreign national a full-time, permanent job with a comparable industry and occupation salary that does not conflict with any collective bargaining agreements.

Business Requirements

Employers hoping to successfully nominate a skilled foreign worker must either be a registered and operational Northwest Territories business for at least one year, or a municipal, First Nations or territorial government of the Northwest Territories. Employers must have maintained good standing with the Northwest Territories’ Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commision as well as the territory’s Employment Standards office. These standings will be verified by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Recruitment Requirements

Employers will be required to submit a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or, if  nominating a candidate with an open work permit without submitting an LMIA, must prove they have advertised the open position both locally and nationally. They will also be required to provide a summary of all applicants and the reasons for refusing their application if an offer has been extended to the foreign national without an LMIA.

Application Procedure

The Northwest Territories Critical Impact Worker stream is open to new applications at any time. The employer holds the responsibility of submitting the paper-based application for NTNP. The typical processing time for applications is 10 weeks once it has been received by the NTNP. If the application is approved, both the employer and the foreign national will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that details the terms and conditions of their nomination as well as the responsibilities of both parties.

After receiving a provincial nomination an applicant has six months to submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants in this program must complete and submit a paper-based application for permanent residence and submit it by mail to the appropriate application centre. Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.

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