Third phase of ‘Alberta is Calling’ campaign launched

EDMONTON – The Government of Alberta has launched the third phase of the Alberta is Calling campaign to encourage skilled tradespeople to make the move to the province.

The campaign is now in-market in British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario and includes the Alberta Is Calling Moving Bonus, a one time, $5,000 refundable tax credit, a release said.

“Alberta’s continued economic growth presents a wealth of opportunities for skilled workers from across the country. The Alberta is Calling campaign and Moving Bonus reaffirm our government’s commitment to attracting top talent and addressing labour force needs for sectors that are crucial to sustaining our province’s prosperity. It also demonstrates we are serious about filling productive jobs with productive workers to support our expanding infrastructure needs,” said Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Matt Jones in a statement.

The 2024 budget allocates $10 million to the moving bonus to support 2,000 workers in the trades, the release said.

Phase one of the campaign deployed in August 2022 focused on attracting skilled workers in the health care, trades and technology sectors from Toronto and Vancouver and the second phase, deployed in March 2023, targeted regions in Ontario and Atlantic Canada with the highest rates of unemployment.

The third phase, which will run until July 2, focuses on skilled trades workers in British Columbia, Québec and Ontario. This phase will be much narrower in scope and used to market the Moving Bonus to skilled tradespeople, the release said.

The cost of the third phase of the campaign is expected to be $2.5 million.