The Town of Westlock, Alberta has closed its popular immigration pathway for the rest of the year after hitting its limit of endorsement letters. The Rural Renewal Stream program, part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, is anticipated to reopen in 2027, leaving employers and foreign workers who had planned to use it this year on hold.
Town officials say the annual allocation of endorsement letters has been fully used for 2026, so no new applications will be accepted. Applications that are already in the pipeline will still be processed, but there will be no changes or additions to endorsements already issued.
The shutdown is the result of tighter federal limits on provincial nominations, paired with overwhelming demand across Alberta. As of June 30, the province had 1,000 nomination spots for the stream, with 563 already issued and only 437 left. With 69 applications still being reviewed, the program hit its ceiling.
Westlock’s program had recently come back from a pause in July 2024, triggered by a shortage of housing, trouble keeping newcomers, and a backlog of 1,826 applications. When it relaunched in mid-2025, it came with new rules: a living wage of $24.50 per hour, intake windows limited to the first week of each month, and a $350 non-refundable fee.
Other communities have also had to pause their streams. Grande Prairie’s program has been on hold since February 2025, and Peace River followed in March 2026.
Local employers interested in the program for next year can reach Davis Prizgintas, Economic Development Officer, at [email protected] or 780-349-4444.
