Ottawa is making the Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent program in the new year.
The feds say the employer- and community-led program will build on the success of the previous and current pilots and help meet the distinct workforce needs of rural Canada.
Officials add they intend to continue with the 14 communities currently taking part in the pilot, which includes North Bay and area, with an expansion to additional communities planned in the future.
The new permanent program starts Jan. 1, 2027.
“Rural Canadian communities are vibrant, face unique lived realities across the country and have different labour needs than our big cities,” says Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development). “When Canadian workers simply cannot be found locally, strategic immigration pathways can help fill those gaps. Making the Rural Community Immigration Pilot permanent recognizes the unique opportunities of our rural, northern and remote communities, and will support newcomers and families in building lasting connections to the communities they call home.”
Early results for the pilot show in 2025 and 2026, newcomers have helped fill persistent labour shortages in key sectors such as health care, education, and sales and services, supporting local economies and service provision.
Sudbury, Timmins, and the Soo are also involved in the current pilot.
This year’s plan includes 5,500 admission spaces.
