Maple News reports that the North Okanagan-Shuswap region in British Columbia has unveiled its updated list of priority sectors and occupations under Canada’s Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). This move marks another step in supporting economic growth and workforce development in smaller Canadian communities by attracting skilled foreign workers to meet pressing labour demands.
Under the RCIP, communities can target up to five sectors annually. For 2024, North Okanagan-Shuswap has prioritized the following:
– Health
– Education, Law, Social, Community, and Government Services
– Sales and Service
– Trades and Transport
– Manufacturing and Utilities
In total, 26 occupations within these sectors have been deemed eligible for immigration through the RCIP. These include high-demand roles like carpenters, nurses’ aides, early childhood educators, welders, and truck mechanics. Each job is aligned with a specific National Occupation Classification (NOC) code, providing clarity and standardization for applicants.
To qualify, applicants must have a valid job offer in one of the listed roles. Notably, certain positions such as restaurant managers, accommodation service managers, and executive housekeepers require a minimum hourly wage of $25, while all other listed roles require at least $22 per hour.
To ensure fair distribution and sustainability, North Okanagan-Shuswap has introduced caps for some occupations. For example, no more than two candidates can be recommended for positions such as executive housekeepers and restaurant managers per employer. Meanwhile, for roles like wood product assemblers or construction labourers, up to 10 recommendations per employer are allowed.
Additional restrictions have been placed on particular subsectors. The fast food sector (NAICS 722512) has a total cap of 40 candidates and a maximum of two recommendations per employer. Similarly, the gasoline station sector (NAICS 4471) is limited to 20 candidates in total, with a maximum of two per employer.
The RCIP pathway allows rural communities like North Okanagan-Shuswap to tailor immigration to their unique labour force needs, while also providing foreign workers with a potential route to Canadian permanent residence. With local employers and the community playing a critical role in recommending candidates, the pilot ensures that selected immigrants are integrated into the local economy and are likely to stay long-term.
This initiative is part of Canada’s broader strategy to support regional immigration and reduce pressures on larger urban centres by distributing talent more evenly across the country.