Maple News reports that North Bay, Ontario, has officially launched its stream under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), becoming the eleventh Canadian community to activate this federally guided immigration pathway. The program went live on October 21, marking a key development in Canada’s efforts to attract skilled newcomers to smaller communities across the country.
The RNIP is a community-driven immigration initiative led by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is designed to help regional communities access the economic benefits of immigration by creating pathways for foreign workers who are well-suited to local labor market needs. Twelve communities were selected to participate in the pilot, and only Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, has yet to launch its stream.
North Bay, situated about three hours north of Toronto, is a dynamic city of over 50,000 residents. Its economy is rooted in diverse sectors including healthcare, mining, and tourism, while also serving as a hub for higher education with several post-secondary institutions based in the city. With its launch of RNIP, North Bay aims to leverage immigration to support its workforce and long-term growth goals.
To qualify for the RNIP, applicants must meet basic federal eligibility requirements, including at least one year of work experience within the past three years (with certain exceptions for international graduates). Candidates must also demonstrate official language proficiency in English or French, hold at least a high school diploma, show they can financially support themselves and their accompanying family members, and secure a full-time, permanent job offer within a participating community.
The job offered must correspond in classification with the applicant’s work experience—meaning it must fall under the same level, one level up, or one level down within Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
With the RNIP now active in North Bay, the city joins a growing group of communities across Canada that are shaping their own local immigration strategies. By focusing on attracting skilled professionals tailored to their economies, regions like North Bay are taking a proactive role in Canada’s broader immigration landscape.
Maple News will continue to provide updates as the final community, Moose Jaw, prepares to open its own RNIP stream and as data emerges around the program’s impact on local development in smaller Canadian cities.