The Northern Policy Institute (NPI) recently released a report known as “Just the Tip of the Iceberg: The First Few Months of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot'' by Hilary Hagar. The NPI partners with FedNor to evaluate the program annually.
This report outlines how the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) unfolded in 5 participating communities. It also evaluates the impact and refers to areas for improvement for the RNIP.
What Is the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)?
The RNIP was first introduced in 2019 to encourage economic immigration to the rural and northern communities in Canada. Currently, 11 communities across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are participating in this pilot.
What Did the Report Conclude?
The report found that while the RNIP was successful in providing communities in Northern Ontario a pathway to secure their economic future, many challenges need to be addressed in the future to ensure further success.
Here are some recommendations made by the NPI for the current and future development of the program:
- A standardized toolkit for municipalities to ensure proper learning of the officials on the Canadian immigration process
- Dedicated resources to increase engagement with employers, the general public, and the participating community organizations
- Dedicated resources to provide settlement services
- Clearly stated roles, responsibilities, and expectations between all participating partners and the government to avoid confusion
