Canada makes it easier for RNIP applicants

As per a December 14, 2020, Press Release by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC], an “increased flexibility in Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot” has been announced by the Immigration Minister of Canada Marco Mendicino.

Specifically targeted at spreading the benefits of immigration to the smaller communities in Canada, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot [RNIP] assists such communities to attract the workers they require through the creation of a path to Canadian permanent residence for skilled foreign workers.

What is the change in IRCC requirements for RNIP?

Candidates no longer have to obtain the eligible work experience over a continuous period of time. Now, they can demonstrate that the required 1,560 hours – or 1 year’s – work experience had been got in the 3 years before their RNIP application. This will be applicable even in cases wherein there have been breaks in employment. The policy change applies to – All RNIP applications received so far, and All future applications going ahead. With the change in the work experience requirement for the RNIP, a candidate will no longer be penalized for any short breaks, such as layoffs or temporary work interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in their employment history.

All other existing admissibility and program requirements – including that of IRCC as well as the participating community – will still have to be met by the candidate.

A temporary measure introduced by IRCC allows RNIP applicants awaiting a decision on their Canada PR applications to apply for a Canadian work permit “without being penalized due to processing delays caused by the pandemic”.

These measures come as IRCC announces the first permanent residents – Brilla Mercy Kunjumon and Alexander Nangpukin Likilasua [working as licensed practical nurses in Sault Ste. Marie] –  to be accepted by Canada under the RNIP. 

A community-drive program, the RNIP of Canada spreads the benefits of economic immigration to the comparatively smaller communities in the country.

10, out of the 11 communities participating in the RNIP, are accepting applications.

Community	Province	Status
Brandon	Manitoba	Accepting applications
Claresholm	Alberta	Accepting applications
Altona/Rhineland	Manitoba	Accepting applications
Moose Jaw	Saskatchewan	To be launched
North Bay	Ontario	Accepting applications
Sault Ste. Marie	Ontario	Accepting applications
Sudbury	Ontario	Accepting applications
Thunder Bay	Ontario	Accepting applications
Timmins	Ontario	Accepting applications
Vernon	British Columbia	Accepting applications
West Kootenay	British Columbia	Accepting applications

Earlier, British Columbia’s Vernon had eased its community requirements for the RNIP.

As per the June 14, 2019 News Release by IRCC [Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada] announcing the Pilot, “This pilot will help attract people that are needed to drive economic growth and help support middle-class jobs in these communities.”

On successfully securing a nomination through the RNIP, the applicant can expect to receive their Canadian permanent residence within 12 months of applying to IRCC. 

The rural and northern communities in Canada face specific demographic and economic challenges, which include an aging population on one hand and a resultant labour market shortage on the other.

Combined together, such factors make it difficult for these communities to address their local labour market requirements, in turn hindering their economic growth.

Moreover, most newcomers to Canada prefer settling in the larger urban centres, thereby missing out on the quality of life and employment opportunities offered by the smaller communities.

In March 2017, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot [AIP] was launched by the Canadian government with the aim of spreading the benefits of economic immigration to the smaller Canadian communities that come within the four Atlantic Provinces – Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

Over the years since its launch, the AIP has helped employers and local communities to attract as well as retain immigrants to the Atlantic Provinces in Canada.

The RNIP follows the success of the AIP, building upon the success of the Pilot.

According to Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Maryam Monsef, “Strong economies in rural Canada benefit all Canadians … The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot will create jobs and increase Canada’s competitive advantage.”

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Quick Facts

• Canada: Immigrants account for 33% of all business owners
• Immigrants make up 20% of Sports Coaches in Canada
• 500,000 immigrants working in Canada are trained in STEM fields
• 1 in 4 people employed as an artisan or craftsperson in Canada is an immigrant
• More than 1 out of every 4 workers in the food and beverage sector are immigrants
• High demand for immigrants in the healthcare sector in Canada
• On average, immigrants donate more to charity than Canadian-born citizens

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If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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