Canada’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Certainly! I can provide information about the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) in Canada in English.
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is an initiative by the Government of Canada aimed at attracting and retaining foreign workers in small and remote communities located in Ontario, Western Canada, and the three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut). The pilot program was designed to address labor market challenges faced by these communities and to support their economic growth.
Under the RNIP, eligible communities partner with the government to develop a local immigration strategy tailored to their specific needs. These communities are designated as participating communities in the pilot program and can recommend foreign workers for permanent residence in Canada. The program focuses on attracting skilled workers who meet the needs of the local labor market and have the intention to settle in the participating community.
To participate in the RNIP, foreign workers need to meet the program’s eligibility criteria, which may vary slightly depending on the specific community. Generally, applicants must have a valid job offer from an employer in a participating community, meet the minimum language requirements, have the necessary work experience, and demonstrate the intent to reside in the community. Each participating community has its own set of criteria and requirements, so it’s important for applicants to review the specific guidelines provided by the community they are interested in.
The RNIP aims to provide a pathway to permanent residency for foreign workers, which allows them to settle in the participating community and contribute to its economic and social development. By attracting skilled workers to these smaller and more remote areas, the program helps address labor market gaps and supports the growth and sustainability of these communities.
It’s important to note that this information is based on the knowledge available up until my last training update in September 2021. For the most up-to-date and detailed information about the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, it is recommended to visit the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or contact them directly.
RNIP Participating Communities
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is a community-driven program in which participating communities take the lead in attracting new immigrants, matching them with local job vacancies, promoting a welcoming community, and connecting newcomers to established members of the community and local settlement services.
The following 11 communities are currently participating in the pilot:
1. North Bay, Ontario
2. Sudbury, Ontario
3. Timmins, Ontario
4. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
5. Thunder Bay, Ontario
6. Brandon, Manitoba
7. Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
8. Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
9. Claresholm, Alberta
10. Vernon, British Columbia
11. West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), British Columbia
To be eligible to participate in the pilot, a community must meet the following criteria:
1. Have a population of 50,000 people or less and be located at least 75 km from the core of a Census Metropolitan Area, or have a population of up to 200,000 people and be considered remote from other larger cities (using Statistics Canada’s index of remoteness).
2. Be located in one of the following provinces or territories: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
3. Have job opportunities available.
4. Have an economic development plan.
5. Have a local economic development organization that can manage the pilot for the community.
6. Have the capacity to settle new immigrants in the community, including having or developing relationships with local or regional immigrant-serving organizations, opportunities for newcomers to connect with established community members through mentoring or networking, and access to key services like education, housing, transportation, and healthcare.
How to Immigrate Through the RNIP
To be considered for the RNIP, potential candidates must meet the following federal criteria as well as the requirements established by the participating community where they hope to settle.
Federal Criteria:
1. Have a recommendation from one of the designated communities.
2. Have at least one year of continuous work experience in the past three years (minimum of 1,560 hours), or have graduated from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in the recommending community.
3. Have a genuine job offer to work in one of the designated communities.
4. Meet the language threshold for the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type/level of the job being offered.
5. Have sufficient funds to settle and support themselves and their family in the community.
6. Have an intention to live in the community.
Community Recommendation:
A community recommendation is based on the candidate’s intention to live in the designated community, the job offer’s alignment with the community’s economic needs, the candidate’s work experience and skills, and the candidate’s ties to the community. Recommendations are made by a designated community economic development organization.
Work Experience:
Eligible candidates must have a minimum of 1,560 hours (one year) of paid work experience in the past three years in one occupation, which can be with different employers and obtained in Canada or outside Canada. The work experience can be accumulated during the three years preceding the application, regardless of breaks in employment. Self-employed work experience is not eligible. Candidates must have performed the majority of the main duties and all the essential duties listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) for their profession, as well as the activities listed in the lead statement.
Education:
Candidates must have a Canadian high school diploma or its foreign equivalent. Diplomas obtained outside Canada must have their equivalency confirmed by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a designated organization. The ECA report must be less than five years old at the time of
application. Individuals who have graduated from a post-secondary program in the recommending community are exempt from the work experience requirement if they meet certain conditions.
Job Offer:
Potential candidates must have a genuine, full-time, permanent job offer in one of the participating communities. The wage must meet the minimum wage listed for that NOC in the Canada Job Bank, and the candidate’s previous experience must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the offered job. The job offer must meet certain requirements defined by the Government of Canada, including the needs of the employer, the employer’s active involvement in the relevant business, the employer’s capacity to fulfill the terms of the offer, and compliance with employment laws and rules.
Language Requirements:
The minimum language requirements vary based on the NOC skill level of the job offer. The minimum language scores, measured using the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB), are as follows:
– NOC skill level 0 and 1: CLB 6
– NOC skill level 2 and 3: CLB 5
– NOC skill level 4 and 5: CLB 4
Funds:
Candidates must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their families after moving to Canada. The funds must be owned by the candidates and cannot be borrowed from anyone. Proof of funds can include bank account statements, documents showing real property or other investments, and documents guaranteeing payment of a set amount of money payable to the candidate. The minimum required funds vary based on the number of family members.
Please note that individuals working legally in Canada at the time of application are exempt from the settlement funds requiremen