Canada announces new Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program

The Government of Canada yesterday announced the creation of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program.

The program is a five-year immigration pilot involving communities and selected provincial and territorial governments. It will aim to help participating communities gain access to a range of support to help newcomers settle in as part of the local community.

This innovative economic Rural and Northern immigration pilot is aimed at testing new, community-driven approaches to address the diverse labour market needs of smaller communities. This initiative builds on the success of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot that was launched in March 2017 to help drive economic growth in Atlantic Canada.

“The economic and social benefits of immigration are apparent in communities across Canada, explained Canada’s Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen. “By creating an immigration pilot aimed at rural and northern communities, we’re looking to ensure that the benefits of immigration are shared across the country.”

As of today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is seeking applications from interested communities in Ontario, Western Canada, and the territories – Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.

in order to select communities to participate in the pilot. Interested communities must work with a local economic development organisation to submit an application, demonstrating how they meet the eligibility criteria and how immigration will promote economic development in their community.

“Communities throughout rural and northern Canada are important to the growth and prosperity of our country,” said Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “Regional economic development is a priority of our government, and we will continue to seek out innovative solutions like this pilot project to help our economy grow for all Canadians.”

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot will complement other economic immigration initiatives, including the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and the Provincial Nominee Program. It will also provide an opportunity for IRCC to support the Government of Canada’s commitment to support the vitality of Francophone communities outside Quebec.

Article published 25th January 2019