Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had announced new pilots for rural and Francophone minority communities, with a view to creating a permanent rural immigration program.
- The Rural Community Immigration Pilot will launch in autumn 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.
- The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, part of the Francophone Immigration Policy and modelled on the success of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), will also be launched in autumn 2024. The pilot will focus on increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec.
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.
On February 21, 2024, IRCC extended the deadline for current RNIP communities to recommend candidates for permanent residence until July 31, 2024. IRCC also increased the number of candidates that communities can recommend. These changes allow participating communities to take part in the pilot for a longer period and continue meeting their labour needs with skilled candidates.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.