The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is being expanded and Ottawa says our area is benefiting.
Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced a number of improvements will be made this fall to the program.
The changes include the expansion of geographic boundaries of several participating communities, including North Bay.
Fraser says the range of job offers available to candidates with specific work experience is also being expanded making it easier to fill labour market needs.
Communities will also be able to take part for a longer period of time, until August 2024, when the pilot program wraps up.
“Rural and northern communities face unique economic and demographic challenges, and the expansion of RNIP makes it that much easier for communities to fill their critical labour market needs,” says Fraser. “They also expand community boundaries so that employers in remote areas can access the program, helping to support economic development and growth in smaller communities across the country.”
The feds say expanding regional immigration builds on the ongoing work to strengthen Canada’s immigration system with a focus on addressing labour shortages, improving client experience and reuniting families.
“We are taking action to ensure that our immigration system works well for everyone – including those in rural and northern communities,” states a release.
Another change to the program will see a reduction in the amount of settlement funds participants are required to have.