March 14th, 2024 at 02:47 am
Canada’s New Immigration Pilots for Rural and Francophone Communities
This article discusses two new pilot programmes in Canada that will begin in 2024, providing new opportunities for skilled people. These initiatives, launched by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, seek to enhance Canada’s rural minority communities.
In a press conference earlier today, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced two new immigration pilots, one for rural communities and one for francophone minority communities across Canada, while also announcing that the existing Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) will be made permanent.
In a press conference today, Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasised the importance of rural and francophone minority communities throughout Canada. He went on to say that “regional immigration plays a key role in strengthening their economies, [especially with respect to] connecting businesses and employers in remote communities with the skilled newcomers they need to thrive.”
According to IRCC, the decision to implement these new pilot programmes will “help attract and retain skilled foreign workers in rural and Francophone minority communities, contributing to their economic and linguistic vitality.”
Both of IRCC’s new immigration pilot programmes are expected to commence in the autumn of 2024.
IRCC has also stated that the “community application process” for both pilot programmes will begin “this spring” and will allow “selected communities” to participate. While the IRCC has said that more information about both programmes would be shared “in the coming months,” current information about these two pilot programmes is provided below. Click here to read the complete IRCC press release from today’s announcement.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot
According to IRCC, this pilot programme is being launched “to ensure that rural communities continue [being able]… to access programmes that address labour shortages and help local businesses find the workers they need.” So yet, Canada’s immigration agency has revealed no specifics about the pilot other than the fact that, like the current RNIP, it will allow eligible applicants to pursue permanent residency in Canada.
IRCC, like the RNIP, states this project is aimed for “newcomers who can help [rural communities] overcome critical labour job shortages and want to live long term in these smaller communities.”
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Because pilot programmes are limited to five years, IRCC’s new programme, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, will effectively replace the RNIP.
Since its inception, the RNIP has enabled 11 communities in five provinces – Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia – to attract newcomers who want to settle in their communities and can help these regions address pressing labour and demographic concerns.
To immigrate to Canada under the RNIP, individuals must meet a number of personal and job experience eligibility requirements, as well as receive a community endorsement from a “designated community economic development organisation.”
Candidates for the RNIP must meet one of the federal criteria listed below:
- Have a referral from one of the recognised communities.
- Having one year of continuous job experience during the last three years (minimum 1,560 hours).
OR
- Graduated from a publicly sponsored postsecondary institution in the local community.
- Have a legitimate employment offer to work in one of the recognised localities.
- Meeting the language barrier required for the NOC skill type/level of the given job.
- Having enough money to settle and sustain themselves and their family in the neighbourhood.
- Intend to reside in the community.
More: Candidates for the RNIP must also meet standards relating to their educational history, have a work offer, and be able to speak English or French. Full information regarding the RNIP can be found here.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot
The IRCC’s Francophone Community Immigration Pilot aims to increase the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in non-Quebec communities, promote economic development, and increase the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities.
The department’s new Francophone pilot programme is the most recent indication of Canada’s focus on French-language immigration throughout the country. Among its other measures, the focus on skilled immigrants with good French-language ability moving to Canada under category-based Express Entry programmes demonstrates this commitment.
Since the beginning of 2024, IRCC has held two lotteries for eligible French-language candidates, granting 9,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). For reference, IRCC’s other two category-based draws resulted in only 3,650 ITAs.
Quick facts.
As of December 31, 2023, 4,595 entrants had gained permanent residence through the RNIP, contributing to labour shortages in important industries such as health care, lodging and food services, retail, manufacturing, and scientific and technical services.
On February 21, 2024, IRCC extended the deadline for current RNIP communities to recommend individuals for permanent residency to July 31, 2024. IRCC also expanded the number of candidates that communities may recommend. These adjustments enable participating communities to participate in the pilot for a longer length of time while still satisfying their labour needs with talented applicants.
On October 31, 2023, IRCC published An Immigration System for Canada’s Future, a study that outlines a strategy for strengthening our immigration system to better meet the requirements of both our country and newcomers. As part of its efforts to put the report’s recommendations into action, IRCC is looking into ways to improve regional immigration, including through the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.
The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot fulfils IRCC’s commitment in the Policy on Francophone Immigration’s 2024-2028 Implementation Plan to include new Francophone communities targeted by regional economic immigration programmes, in which employers and the community play a role in selecting newcomers to their area. This trial will also help to satisfy the Government of Canada’s ambitious targets for French-speaking immigrants, which are established in the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan.
Conclusion
As Canada takes a forward-thinking approach to immigration, these new pilot programmes represent a paradigm change towards inclusivity, regional development, and language variety. Through focused measures, Canada is paving the road for a more dynamic, resilient, and affluent society.
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