Canada has continued to show its commitment to welcoming immigrants to smaller parts of the country with the start of the community application process of a new pilot program.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s announcement of the community application process for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot happened on May 21.
This comes two months after the immigration department launched these two new pilots – to be implemented in fall 2024 – to attract the skilled workers to grow the economies of rural and francophone minority communities.
On March 6, 2024, Miller announced that the Rural Community Immigration Pilot will aim to ensure that rural communities continue to have the ability to access programs that address labour shortages and help local businesses find the workers they need.
According to Miller, it will provide pathways to permanent residence for newcomers who can help to overcome critical labour job shortages and want to live long term in these smaller communities.
The Francophone pilot, on the other hand, is modelled on the success of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and aimed towards increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec.
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It is aimed at helping the economic development of Francophone minority communities while also helping to restore and increase their demographic weight.
“Promoting growth and vitality in rural and Francophone minority communities is crucial to our national identity, and we recognize the unique economic, linguistic and cultural contributions that newcomers bring to these areas,” said Miller.
“That is why we are introducing these new pilots and inviting rural and Francophone minority communities outside Quebec to apply. I look forward to working together to address the diverse needs of these communities across Canada.”
The inclusion of Francophone communities in immigration programs is a “core measure” of IRCC’s Francophone Immigration policy.
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The Immigration Department invited interested economic development organizations across Canada to participate in one or both of the pilots, wherein the organizations will apply on behalf of the communities and demonstrate their eligibility and show how immigration will strengthen their local economies.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will select up to 15 communities to participate in the pilot on the basis of economic needs, the availability of services and programs to assist newcomers, and the capacity of their economic development organizations to form IRCC partnerships.
Together, the two pilots will allow IRCC to process up to 5,500 PR applications every year.
The announcement of selected participants will be made in the coming months and the onboarding and training will start in fall.
