02/14/2019
Spreading immigration to rural and northern Canada
Rural, remote and northern communities face specific economic and demographic challenges, including youth migrating to larger-population cities and provinces, aging populations and labour market shortages. Under existing federal economic immigration programs, the majority of newcomers choose to settle in large urban centres rather than smaller communities.
IRCC has created a pilot project to test a new, community-driven approach to attracting and retaining newcomers to Canada’s northern and rural communities. The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot will support the economic development of Canada’s more remote communities. It will also help spread the benefits of immigration across Canada, supporting economic development in rural areas.
Communities will be selected based on a set of criteria, including the ability to support and integrate new immigrants.
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot builds on the success of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, which was launched in March 2017 to help drive immigration and economic growth to Atlantic Canada. The new project will complement the Government of Canada’s other economic immigration initiatives, like the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and the Provincial Nominee Program.
Associated links
News Release – New federal immigration program to support middle class jobs in rural and northern communities
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot: About the process
