Canada announces new immigration pilots to support rural and Francophone minority communities

 IRCC will open the community application process this spring to select communities who will participate in the pilots.

MP Anthony Rota is welcoming today's announcement regarding new pilots for rural and Francophone minority communities, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues work toward creating a permanent rural immigration program.

“Today’s announcement for a permanent Rural and Northern Immigration Program is tremendous news for Nipissing-Timiskaming and all of Northern Ontario. RNIP has shown how rural communities can attract and retain skilled workers who contribute to our economic growth." says Anthony Rota "This will allow current employers to build stronger workforces now and into the future. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of the two new pilot programs and the continued work towards implementing RNIP as a permanent program.”

 The Rural Community Immigration Pilot will launch in the fall of 2024. It aims to ensure that rural communities continue to have the ability to access programs that address labour shortages and help local businesses find the workers they need. It will provide pathways to permanent residence for newcomers who can help to overcome critical labour job shortages and want to live long term in these smaller communities.

 Modelled on the success of the RNIP and as part of our Francophone Immigration Policy, we are also launching the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot in the fall of 2024. The pilot will focus on increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec and will help ensure the economic development of Francophone minority communities, while also helping to restore and increase their demographic weight.

 Rota says, “Rural and Francophone minority communities are critical to Canada’s long-term growth, and regional immigration plays a key role in strengthening their economies. In particular, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) has been successful in connecting businesses and employers in remote communities with the skilled newcomers they need to thrive. Not only has the program directly addressed gaps and challenges such as the labour shortages, but it also continues to drive economic prosperity for our communities in ways that will have a generational impact.”

 IRCC will open the community application process this spring to select communities who will participate in the pilots and will share more details in the coming months.