ABC Vancouver city councillor Brian Montague is calling on the provincial and federal governments to create a new immigration stream aimed at attracting and retaining globally recognized creative professionals and cultural entrepreneurs in British Columbia.
His member motion, set for consideration during Vancouver City Council’s public meeting this Wednesday, proposes the creation of a “Creative Talent Stream” under the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program (B.C. PNP). This initiative would be designed to support the long-term residency and career development of world-class talent across sectors such as music, live events, nightlife, film and television production, visual effects, digital media, and gaming.
This creative sector is a “cornerstone” of the city’s cultural identity and the provincial economy, supporting over 89,000 jobs and contributing over $6.7 billion to provincial GDP in 2022 — exceeding forestry and hospitality.
Montague asserts that Canada lacks a modern immigration stream tailored to the needs of the creative sector, unlike the international hubs of Los Angeles and London.
Current immigration pathways often fail to accommodate creatives with non-traditional education backgrounds, freelance careers, or project-based employment. Many foreign creative professionals enter Canada on temporary permits without a clear path to permanent residency, while Canadian-trained talent often leaves for more supportive jurisdictions abroad.
The motion recommends that the Province work closely with industry organizations –including Creative BC, Music BC, and DigiBC — to develop an industry-informed nomination process for these workers. It also urges collaboration with the federal government, particularly Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to secure dedicated nomination spaces for exceptional creative talent.
Such approaches would help B.C. remain globally competitive in the creative economy.
If approved, the City will also submit a resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) for discussion at its 2026 policy convention, advocating for a province-wide pilot project that could eventually expand nationally.
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