Canada's rural and northern communities attract newcomers
Image credit: Manny Moreno on Unsplash
Immigration plays a crucial role in Canada’s economic recovery from the pandemic and, now more than ever, newcomers are vital to the future of rural and northern communities across the country.
The government of Canada is committed to supporting these communities, expanding immigration to create jobs, addressing labour shortage, and helping businesses grow.
Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the expansion of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), increasing the benefits of immigration in the 11 participating communities. A number of new improvements will be implemented this fall and will support community partners, employers and candidates by;
• Expanding the geographic boundaries of the following participating communities, so more employers are able to participate: North Bay (Ont.), Sudbury (Ont.), Timmins, (Ont.), Sault Ste. Marie (Ont.), Thunder Bay (Ont.), Brandon (Man.), Altona/Rhineland (Man.), Moose Jaw (Sask.), Claresholm (Alta.), West Kootenay (BC) and Vernon (BC).
• Making it easier to fill labour market needs in the healthcare and trades sectors, by expanding the range of job offers available to candidates, with specific work experience.
• Allowing communities to participate for a longer period, until August 2024, when the pilot comes to an end.
• Helping community partners provide greater support to candidates and employers.
• Reducing the amount of settlement funds participants are required to have.
• Strengthening program integrity.
Based on the recommendations of community partners, these changes take another step in meeting their needs and promoting growth in smaller and rural communities across the country. With expanded geographic boundaries, the RNIP will support more employers in filling crucial labour market needs.
Regional immigration programs like the RNIP are increasingly important to the sustainable growth of Canada and build on the success of the new permanent Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), launched in March 2022, which continues to help the Atlantic provinces attract the skilled newcomers they need to address the labour shortage and demographic challenges in the region. To-date, 167 confirmed permanent program applications have been received since the launch.
Francophone immigration is also crucial for Canada, including in rural and northern communities. Immigration is one of the most important factors in maintaining, and even increasing, populations of Francophone minority communities, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is collaborating with partners, provinces and territories to ensure French-speaking immigrants have the opportunity and resources to settle in, and contribute to, Francophone communities across the country. IRCC will continue to take measures to increase the proportion and retention of French-speaking newcomers in welcoming Francophone communities outside Quebec.
Expanding regional immigration builds on the ongoing work to strengthen Canada’s immigration system, including the plan to hire up to 1,250 new employees by the end of this fall to reduce application backlogs, with a focus on addressing labour shortages, improving client experience and reuniting families. IRCC is taking action to ensure that the immigration system works well for everyone – including those in rural and northern communities.
“Rural and northern communities face unique economic and demographic challenges, and the expansion of RNIP makes it that much easier for communities to fill their critical labour market needs,” said Fraser. “They also expand community boundaries so that employers in remote areas can access the program, helping to support economic development and growth in smaller communities across the country.”
A few quick facts:
• Rural communities employ over four million Canadians and account for almost 30 per cent of the GDP. They help to supply food, water and energy for urban centres, sustaining the industries that contribute to Canada’s prosperous economy.
• As of June 30, 2022, 1,130 newcomers have arrived in RNIP communities, helping address labour shortages in key sectors, such as health care, hospitality and food services, retail, manufacturing and transportation.
It is estimated that an average of 125 newcomers and their family members could be welcomed into each of the participating communities, every year.
There is a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants, plus family members, whose applications can be accepted for processing under RNIP, in any given year.
In January 2022, Canada invested $35 million to ensure newcomers settling in small towns and rural communities have access to essential services during their first year in Canada.