Two rural & French-minority immigration pilots are launched. Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot includes these two pilots. 

Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasized the value of rural & francophone minority communities across Canada. He notes that regional immigration plays a key role in strengthening their economies, connecting businesses and employers in remote communities with the skilled newcomers they need to thrive. 

Accordinly, IRCC explains the decision to introduce these new pilot programs, which will help attract and retain skilled foreign workers in rural and Francophone minority communities, thus contributing to their economic and linguistic vitality. 

Both of IRCC’s new immigration pilot programs are presently on pace to launch in Fall 2024. 

Two rural and French-minority immigration pilots are launched. IRCC has also indicated that the community application process for both pilot programs will open this spring & will allow ‘select communities’ to participate. The department will share more details about both programs in the forthcoming months. 

Rural Community Immigration Pilot

This pilot program is a way to ensure that rural communities continue to access programs that address labor shortages & help local businesses find the workers they need. Thus far, Canada’s immigration department hasn’t provided details about the pilot other than noting that it will, similar to the existing RNIP, enable eligible newcomers to pursue permanent residence in Canada. 

Much like the RNIP, IRCC states that this pilot is for newcomers who can help overcome labor shortages and want to live long-term in these smaller communities. 

  • Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot 

IRCC’s new pilot program, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, will effectively replace the RNIP because pilot programs can only last a maximum of five years. 

Since its introduction, the RNIP has enabled 11 different communities in five provinces – Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, & Saskatchewan. In order to bring in newcomers who wish to settle in these communities & are able to help these regions address their pressing labor & demographic concerns. 

In order to immigrate to Canada via RNIP, applicants must meet various personal and work experience-related eligibility criteria and receive a community recommendation from a designated community economic development organization. 

Among the eligibility requirements for the RNIP, applicants must meet either of the following sets of federal criteria: 

  • Having a suggestion from one of the designated communities
  • Having one year of eligible continuous work experience in the last three years

Or

  • Graduating from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in the recommended community
  • Possessing a genuine employment offer to work in one of the designated communities 
  • Meeting the needed language threshold for the NOC skill type/level of the job offer
  • Having enough funds to settle & support themselves & families in the community 
  • Intending to reside in the community  

More: Eligibility for the RNIP also requires applicants to meet criteria related to their educational background, having an employment offer, having the ability to speak French/ English, etc. 

Francophone Community Immigration Pilot 

Two rural and French-minority immigration pilots are launched. IRCC’s new francophone immigration pilot aims to help the federal government increase the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in communities outside of Quebec, aiding in the economic development of Francophone minority communities, and helping restore & improve their demographic weight. 

Moreover, IRCC’s new Francophone pilot program is its recent instance of Canada’s emphasis on French-language immigration nationwide. Among its other initiatives, this commitment is evident in the focus on skilled workers with strong French language proficiency immigrating to Canada through category-based Express Entry draws. 

Since the beginning of 2024, IRCC has conducted two draws for eligible French-language applicants, issuing a total of 9,500 ITAs in these draws. For context, IRCC’s additional two category-based draws have seen the department issue a total of only 3,650 ITAs.