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General information only — not legal advice. Immigration rules change often. Confirm details on the official Government of Canada (IRCC) or provincial website, and speak with a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer about your situation.
The Rural Community Immigration Program, initially launched as a pilot in January 2025, has now been established as a permanent program as of November 9, 2026. This announcement was made by the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
The 14 communities that participated in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot are expected to continue in the permanent program. These communities include:
- Pictou County, Nova Scotia
- North Bay, Ontario
- Sudbury, Ontario
- Timmins, Ontario
- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Steinbach, Manitoba
- Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
- Brandon, Manitoba
- Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
- Claresholm, Alberta
- West Kootenay, British Columbia
- North Okanagan Shuswap, British Columbia
- Peace Liard, British Columbia
Communities were initially selected for the pilot based on several criteria:
- Economic Needs: Communities needed to demonstrate an identified labour shortage in various sectors and have vacant jobs that could not be filled by Canadians or permanent residents.
- Capacity to Welcome Newcomers: This included access to health care, housing, educational facilities, and settlement organizations and services.
- Administrative Experience and Capacity: Communities needed to show availability of funding to support participation and experience with initiatives aimed at attracting, settling, or retaining newcomers.
The Rural Community Immigration Program builds on the employer-community partnership model established under the pilot. It aligns immigration with local economic priorities and supports the long-term retention of newcomers. The program is structured around three core elements:
- Community-driven Priority Setting: Communities identify priority sectors and occupations based on local labour market needs.
- Formalized Employer Role: Employers are vetted and designated by communities based on their labour needs and ability to support newcomers.
- Enhanced Program Integrity: The program includes measures such as mandatory employer training and robust monitoring to ensure compliance and improve program outcomes.
Prepared by Verixa from official information published by IRCC — News releases (canada.ca) (2026-11-12). Check the official source before you act. This article is general information, not legal advice.