Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled two new immigration pilot programs aimed at supporting rural areas and French-speaking minority communities across Canada. The announcement, made during a press conference by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, also confirmed that the current Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) will evolve into a permanent program.
Minister Miller emphasized the economic and social contributions of regional immigration, stating that it is vital for connecting businesses in remote areas with the talent they need to grow. These targeted pilot programs are designed to attract skilled foreign workers who are willing to settle long-term in communities that face demographic and labour market challenges.
“These initiatives highlight our continued commitment to regional immigration, which plays a key role in strengthening Canada’s workforce and supporting vibrant, diverse communities,” Miller said.
The two new pilot programs are scheduled to launch in Fall 2024. In preparation, IRCC will begin accepting community applications this spring. Select communities will have the opportunity to participate based on criteria that are expected to be released in the coming months.
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot will directly replace the RNIP, which was launched in 2019 and is approaching the end of its five-year mandate. Like its predecessor, the new rural pilot will allow eligible newcomers to obtain permanent residency while meeting the specific labour needs of smaller, remote communities.
IRCC notes that this pilot will focus on helping communities address workforce shortages by attracting immigrants who are not only qualified but also committed to staying and contributing to long-term growth.
In parallel, a second pilot will focus on Francophone minority communities, aiming to revitalize and support French-speaking populations outside of Quebec. While limited details have been released so far, IRCC stated these efforts will contribute to Canada’s larger goal of promoting linguistic diversity and economic sustainability in minority-language communities.
More specifics about the selection criteria, eligible occupations, and participating communities will be released in the coming months. IRCC intends to engage closely with local stakeholders to ensure the pilots align with each region’s specific needs.
Together, these new programs represent Canada’s strategic pivot toward decentralized immigration policies that support underrepresented regions and help newcomers find meaningful opportunities while strengthening Canada’s economy.
Maple News will continue to follow and report updates as IRCC releases further details.