WestJet has announced a call centre will be landing in Moncton, creating 400 jobs in the process.

The announcement was made Monday, with the provincial government offering up to $3.5 million to make it happen.

The province has offered a $1-million forgivable loan and $2.5 million in payroll rebates.

“The fact that it's a forgivable loan and the fact it's a payroll rebate means that we would only give the financial assistance if and when they create the jobs,” said New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant.

Four hundred home-based call centre jobs that used to be based in Calgary will now be in Moncton.

“Over the next period of four years, we're not going to be backfilling,” said Mark Porter, executive of WestJet People and Culture. “As people move on to other roles or unfortunately leave WestJet for other job opportunities, we're going to grow here as part of that.”

Moncton wasn't alone in its pursuit of WestJet.

“We were considering a number of other communities, but we really felt that Moncton, N.B., ticked the box,” said Porter.

Because of its bilingual workforce, it also allows the company to expand its presence in the east.

It's been a busy couple of weeks for the premier. Gallant delivered the news that IBM is bringing 250 tech sector jobs to Fredericton, Saint John and Florenceville Bristol with almost $3 million in payroll rebates.

Just last week, Premier Brian Gallant announced up to $1 million again in payroll rebates to Organigram, a medicinal marijuana company in Moncton to help them create 113 jobs.

“It speaks very highly of Greater Moncton and how we are very, very competitive, and a place where first-class employers would like to be,” said Gallant.

The company plans to begin hiring in May and training in July, with the goal of being operational by September.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Jonathan MacInnis.