Thursday, April 27, 2025 – The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) has officially launched the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and is now accepting employer applications. This pilot program is designed to enhance workforce attraction and retention by providing a streamlined immigration pathway for skilled workers.

“The Thunder Bay CEDC is excited to host another immigration pilot program, building on the success of previous initiatives in attracting and retaining skilled workers in our community. Programs like this play a vital role in strengthening our local workforce,” says Jamie Taylor, CEO, Thunder Bay CEDC. “This year we will see a more targeted approach and will support employers across five key sectors, including Business, Finance & Administration, Health Occupations, Education, Law, Social, Community & Government Services, Sales & Service, as well as Trades, Transport, Equipment Operators, and Related Occupations.”

Unlike the previous Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which was administered by the CEDC on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the new RCIP is entirely employer driven. Prospective candidates will not apply directly to the CEDC; instead, participation is restricted to employers operating within the five approved sectors. Only Designated Employers will have the ability to work with the CEDC to recommend candidates for permanent residency through RCIP.

Employers within the Thunder Bay CMA may apply to the CEDC for designation to use the RCIP. This designation allows the employer to either retain a qualified foreign national already working here or recruit from within Canada or abroad. Employers who are interested in becoming Designated, should review the steps on our website, complete the mandatory IRCC training, and submit their Employer Designation Application Form.

The CEDC will review applications on a first come first served basis and issue a Confirmation of Designation as well as list the employer as a RCIP Designated Employer (DE) on our website.

Designated Employers can then:

• Assess candidates based on RCIP eligibility.
• Submit Recommendation Application Forms to the CEDC for review.

If approved:

• The CEDC issues a Recommendation Certificate to the candidate and notifies the employer.
• The candidate may use the Recommendation Certificate to apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
• Guidance on applying for a RCIP-specific work permit will be provided, if needed.

If you are a candidate interested in this program, please reach out to your employer. Only employers who are willing to participate can initiate the process by contacting the CEDC.

For more information and resources, please visit the IRCC website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility.html

Employers who are looking to learn more and apply for the RCIP, visit our website: https://gotothunderbay.ca/rural-community-immigration-pilot-rcip/