Introduction

In February 2008, BC government announced about Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project. This project is aimed for filling labour shortage in Tourism, Hospitality, Long-Haul Trucking and Food Processing. It was going to end by February 2010, but, because of demand, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project has been extended until August 31, 2011.

Eligible Occupations

Tourism/Hospitality

6435 Hotel Front Desk Clerks

Tour and Recreational Guides and Casino Occupations

6441 Tour and Travel Guides
6442 Outdoor Sport and Recreational Guides
6443 Casino Occupations

Occupations in Food and Beverage Service

6451 Maitres d’hotel and Hosts/Hostesses
6452 Bartenders
6453 Food and Beverage Servers

Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers and Related Occupations

6641 Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers and Related Occupations

Cleaners (employed directly by hotels/resorts)

6661 Light Duty Cleaners
6662 Specialized Cleaners
6663 Janitors, Caretakers and Building Superintendents
6672 Other Attendants in Accommodation and Travel: Doorkeeper, Hotel Guest Services Attendant

Other Elemental Service Occupations (employed directly by hotels/resorts)

6681 Dry Cleaning and Laundry Occupations (Hotels/Resorts only)
6682 Ironing, Pressing and Finishing Occupations (Hotels/Resorts only)
6683 Other Elemental Service Occupations: Attendant, Sauna Room (Hotels/Resorts only), Hotel Valet

Long-Haul Trucking

Qualifications

• Operate articulated or multi-articulated heavy commercial vehicles (over 4,600 kg gross vehicle weight) on routes more than 160 km from home base
• Have at least two years employment experience as a long-haul truck driver in the three years prior to their application to the BC PNP
• Hold a valid BC Class 1 driver’s license
• If required, air brake endorsement and other certification

Food Processing

9461 Process Control and Machine Operators, Food and Beverage Processing
9462 Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters, Poultry Preparers and Related Workers
9463 Fish Plant Workers
9465 Testers and Graders, Food and Beverage Processing
9617 Labourers in Food, Beverage and Tobacco Processing
9618 Labourers in Fish Processing

Qualifications

Eligible Employers

• The employer must be incorporated or extra-provincially registered or registered as a limited liability partnership in BC.
• The employer must have a permanent establishment in BC (“permanent establishment” has the meaning contained in the federal Income Tax Act).
• The employer must have been in operation in BC for at least one year (two years for the Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project); and must have at least five permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalents) in BC at the time the application is made to the BC PNP.
• The employer’s business must be financially sound and have a history of good workplace and business practices, including compliance with all applicable employment, labour, immigration, health, and safety laws and regulations.
• If the nominee applicant has an ownership stake in the employer, their share is less than 10%. Individuals who own 10% or more of the employer supporting the application are not eligible under the BC PNP

Required Documents

• Checklist – Download
• Nominee information Form – Download
• Guaranteed job offer Form – Download
• Fee payment Form – Download

Processing Time

The entire process would complete within from 8 weeks to 12 weeks.