Halifax Transit recruiting Edmonton bus mechanics

In a telling role reversal, an East Coast city hopes to recruit Edmonton workers for jobs, which for many of them would mean a return home.

Halifax Transit has launched a targeted recruitment drive, in a bid to hire licensed truck and transport mechanics for the city's bus fleet.

"We wanted to take advantage of the downturn out in Alberta," Wendy Lines, manager of bus maintenance for Halifax Transit, said during an interview on CBC Radio's Edmonton AM. 

"For years, we've been losing some of our talent to the West, and we thought we would take advantage of the opportunity to entice people that have either left the province to come back, or entice people interested that are making a move."

The jobs have been advertised on Kijiji and Facebook across western Canada, but Lines said they decided to focus their efforts in Edmonton during this campaign, with targeted advertising and bus billboards.

While Alberta's economy falters, Halifax has become a rare bright spot on Atlantic Canada's financial landscape.

The Conference Board of Canada expects Halifax to attract 2,000 jobs over the next two years, and the local economy there is expected to grow 2.3 per cent this year.

"The economy is great, we're having a boom right now," said Lines.

Successful candidates will enjoy union wages, steady hours and full benefits, in a city where the dollar stretches much further than it would out West, she said.

"Halifax is one of the few communities where you can afford a house on a lake and still drive to the city in 25 minutes," said Lines. "And I know every community says it, but our people here are really great."