Maple News reports that five Ontario communities participating in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) have published their 2026 priority sectors and occupations. The RCIP provides a path to permanent residence for foreign nationals who have a job offer aligned with a community’s labour-market needs, supporting rural and northern growth.
The participating regions are Thunder Bay, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and Timmins. Each region outlines its targeted sectors and occupations for 2026, aiming to address local shortages and strengthen regional economies.
Thunder Bay, located in Northwestern Ontario, is prioritizing six sectors in 2026: business, finance and administration; health; education, law and social, community and government services; sales and service; trades, transport and equipment operators; and manufacturing and utilities. Notably, manufacturing and utilities is a new inclusion this year.
Within Thunder Bay, the RCIP identifies 25 priority occupations by their National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes. Examples include Administrative assistants (13110), Aircraft mechanics and inspectors (72404), Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers (72410), Bakers (63202), Construction trades helpers and labourers (75110), Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (72400), Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations (72011), Cooks (63200), Dental assistants (33100), Early childhood educators and assistants (42202), General office support workers (14100), Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (44101), Hotel front desk clerks (64314), Licensed practical nurses (32101), Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (33102), Payroll administrators (13102), Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants (33103), Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (11202), Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301), Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers (64100), Social and community service workers (42201), Sawmill machine operators (94120), Security guards and related security service occupations (64410), Other services supervisors (62029), and Transport truck drivers (73300).
Notes accompany Thunder Bay’s list, including edits to align certain titles with official NOC naming, and a caveat that only short-haul and local transport truck drivers are considered under the 73300 code. The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission also indicates that NOCs within the 2026 priority sectors but not on the explicit list may be considered on a case-by-case basis. CIC News sought clarification from Thunder Bay officials on inclusions and exemptions and will update readers as details become available.
Beyond Thunder Bay, Maple News will continue to cover the remaining Ontario regions’ RCIP announcements and how their 2026 priorities unfold for prospective applicants. If you’re exploring RCIP eligibility, consult regional resources and consider an eligibility assessment to understand how your job offer might qualify you for permanent residence.