SUDBURY – Great news for the City of Greater Sudbury, as Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury, announces additional allocations for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot will receive a total of 515 spots (up from the original 325) for 2023. Each year the program is given a cap for the allowable number of applicants. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will further provide additional allocations for 2024 with an increase from 60 to 200.

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven program. It’s designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to northern and/or smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live in one of the participating communities. This program has greatly assisted in filling important labour shortages in Sudbury and surrounding communities.

Since the program’s inception to date, 541 recommendations have been issued. With the inclusion of primary applicants’ family members this amounts to 1103 total newcomers to the Sudbury community. With the additional allocation room granted by IRCC, we can look forward to a significant increase in participants over the next two years.

Quotes

“I have seen first-hand the importance of this program across our region. Not only has the program directly addressed gaps and challenges such as the labour shortages, but it also continues to drive economic prosperity for our communities in ways that will have a generational impact. I have heard directly from employers about how beneficial this program has been to attract workers, grow and expand businesses, and create economic opportunities within our communities. Today’s news is extremely exciting for the region, and our ability to attract workers while growing Sudbury’s economy.” - Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury

“It is great to see the expansion and success of the Northern Rural Immigration Pilot Project (RNIP) so far. Since its inception, RNIP has facilitated the process of attracting skilled immigrant workers to meet the needs of businesses and to grow communities. I look forward to seeing the continued increase in social and economic development in the Nickel Belt area as more applicants are matched to our region!” - Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages 

"Immigration plays a vital role in growing our population and economy, as well as enriching the social and cultural fabric of our community. The increase in 2023 RNIP allocations for Greater Sudbury and surrounding communities is welcome news for the region. The RNIP program has provided a valuable pathway for newcomers to choose to grow their careers here in Northern Ontario, while simultaneously addressing the needs of local employers seeking specialized and skilled talent. I look forward to continuing this important work with our partners to welcome many more individuals and their families home to Greater Sudbury.” - Paul Lefebvre, Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury

“The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce applauds the federal government for increasing Sudbury allotment of RNIP candidates. The RNIP program has been a significant contributor to our local talent pool and has helped many area businesses find skilled workers to fill vacancies.  These talented new immigrants, and their families, provide a wealth of benefits to our community.” – Debbi Nicholson, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce CEO