Thunder Bay CEDC Receives Extension and Geographic Expansion of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
September 26, 2022 – Following the announcement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), administered by Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC), has been extended to February 29th, 2024 and geographically expanded to include a broader regional catchment.
The geographic boundary of the RNIP Thunder Bay and Area encompasses Thunder Bay and Rainy River Districts, including the following communities:
- City of Thunder Bay
- Town of Atikokan
- Town of Fort Frances
- Town of Rainy River
- City of Dryden
- Town of Emo
- Municipality of Greenstone
- Town of Marathon
- Township of Dorion
- Township of Manitouwadge
- Township of Nipigon
- Township of Schreiber
- Township of Terrace Bay
- Township of Red Rock
- Municipality of Sioux Lookout
- Township of Ignace
Jamie Taylor, CEO of Thunder Bay CEDC, is thrilled to continue the Pilot’s success.
“The RNIP is thriving in our community and this expansion will allow us to work with a broader scope of employers,” she says. “Population growth and workforce development are needed across the region and it is advantageous to administer the Pilot in surrounding communities for which Thunder Bay is the major urban centre. This boundary expansion will allow employers in communities with economic ties to Thunder Bay fill identified gaps in the labour market while strengthening the regional economy.”
She adds that Thunder Bay is a leading community in the administration of the RNIP, with 184 participating employers and nearly 400 recommended candidates to date.
“We are well on the way to meeting this year’s target number of 250 recommended candidates and there is the potential for an increased allotment of recommendations for next year.”
Thunder Bay CEDC has recommended 175 candidates for permanent residence so far in Year 3 of the Pilot (January through December 2022), with many more applications currently under review and in process.
Thunder Bay CEDC will be hosting an information session for employers who are interested in using the Pilot on Tuesday October 25th. Registration is at RNIP2022EmployerInformationSession.eventbrite.ca.
About the RNIP Thunder Bay and Area
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is a new community-driven immigration program designed to spread the economic benefits of immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in Thunder Bay and Area. The RNIP allows eligible employers to make full-time permanent job offers to skilled foreign workers who can help fill identified labour shortages in the community.
Thunder Bay CEDC has recommended nearly 400 candidates for permanent residence under the RNIP since the commencement of the Pilot in 2019. Learn more about the RNIP Thunder Bay and Area at gotothunderbay.ca/rnip.
