Maple News reports that two more Canadian communities—Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario and Brandon in Manitoba—have unveiled their priority sectors as part of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), offering clarity for potential newcomers seeking permanent residency opportunities in smaller Canadian centres.
The RCIP is an immigration pathway aimed at addressing labour shortages in rural areas by helping communities attract and retain foreign talent. Eligible candidates with job offers in partner communities can apply for permanent residency through this initiative.
Sault Ste. Marie, located in Northern Ontario near the U.S. border, has identified five priority sectors for the 2025 intake: education, law and social services; health; manufacturing and utilities; sales and service; and trades and transport. While specific occupations within these sectors have yet to be announced, the city has been allotted 300 RCIP spots for 2025.
Brandon, Manitoba’s second-largest city, has taken a more detailed approach, listing specific occupations within five broad sectors: health; education and community services; manufacturing and utilities; natural and applied sciences; and trade and transport. Each role includes the associated National Occupation Classification (NOC) code and minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirement, which ranges from level 4 to 6 depending on the position.
Demand in the healthcare sector remains high. Brandon has dedicated 15% of its 180 available RCIP spots for 2025 specifically to healthcare professions such as registered nurses, general practitioners, licensed practical nurses, and specialists in clinical medicine. Among other highlighted fields are engineering, mechanics, construction trades, early childhood education, and IT support roles.
Jobs such as industrial butchers, mechanical engineers, plumbers, and user support technicians are also on Brandon’s priority list, underlining the city’s need for both highly skilled and practical tradespeople to support its economic growth.
Both communities will distribute the remaining RCIP spots among the listed sectors on a first-come, first-served basis. These updates reflect a broader national strategy to situate newcomers in regions that can benefit from their skills while improving the long-term retention of immigrants outside of Canada’s major urban centres.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and other regional immigration programs designed to strengthen Canada’s workforce and support rural development.