Rural communities make vital contributions to Canada’s economy and culture, but they frequently face unique labour market and demographic challenges as the majority of Canadians and newcomers settle in Canada’s urban centres. In particular, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) was successful in connecting businesses and employers in remote communities with the skilled newcomers they need to thrive.
That is why the Government of Canada is introducing two new pilots to help rural and Francophone minority communities attract and retain newcomers with the right skills to help their regions succeed as we work to establish the RNIP as a permanent program.
Last March, federal immigration minister Marc Miller toured Sault Ste. Marie and announced the launch of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP). Today, Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, joined Mayor Matthew Shoemaker to announce that Sault Ste. Marie has been selected to participate in RCIP with an allocation of 300 spots.
This pilot will provide 18 communities with a permanent residence pathway to attract and retain newcomers who can fill key jobs and who want to live long-term in these areas. RCIP ensures that rural communities have access to programs that address labour shortages and help local businesses find the workers they need.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie will work with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to identify its critical labour gaps, designate trustworthy employers and recommend suitable candidates to IRCC for permanent residence. IRCC has begun training the economic development organizations, and each community will provide details and timelines on when employers and prospective permanent residence candidates can expect to have a chance to apply.
Quotes:
“Since the RNIP program was launched in Sault Ste. Marie six years ago, I have regularly heard from local officials and business owners about its success in addressing labour challenges and driving economic prosperity. We are a community that has been built by immigrants for generations, and I am thrilled that we will be able to continue that success under this new program.”
– Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors
““The Rural Community Immigration Pilot will help ensure Sault Ste. Marie doesn’t lose economic opportunities by linking skilled immigrants to jobs that would otherwise go unfilled. This kind of targeted economic immigration is essential for sustaining the local economy and growing our population. I’m grateful for the Federal government’s support.”
– Matthew Shoemaker, Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie
"Rural and Francophone communities are vital to Canada’s growth and cultural diversity, and we value the unique contributions that newcomers make in these places. By welcoming skilled immigrants to these areas, we are addressing labour shortages and economic needs while promoting the benefits of living in a smaller town or city. Our commitment to supporting these regions reflects our belief that each one matters. That is why we will make the RNIP a permanent program, and why we are introducing these two new pilots. We’ll continue to work closely with these communities as we work to connect businesses with the skilled workers they need to thrive.”
– The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
“When our rural and remote communities succeed, Canada succeeds—it’s as simple as that. Through the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, your federal government is helping to fill jobs and drive growth in our magical, small communities, making life better for everyone who lives there.”
– The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Quick facts:
- On October 31, 2023, IRCC released An Immigration System for Canada’s Future—a report that lays out a pathway to strengthen our immigration system to better meet the needs of our country and of newcomers. As part of the work to implement the actions identified in the report, IRCC continues exploring opportunities to enhance regional immigration, including through these new pilots.
- The inclusion of new Francophone communities in regional economic immigration programs is a core measure of IRCC’s Policy on Francophone Immigration.
- Part of the Acadian Peninsula, Sudbury, Timmins, and St. Pierre Jolys are also participants in the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative, which will help them settle and integrate French-speaking newcomers who arrive in their communities under the FCIP.
- Preliminary findings suggest strong retention in RNIP communities. In October 2022, 87% of RNIP newcomer survey respondents stated that they stayed and planned to stay in their RNIP communities.
- As of November 2024, 9,738 newcomers have been granted permanent residence through the RNIP, helping address labour shortages in key sectors such as health care and manufacturing.
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