Expect more Canadian immigration pilot programs in the coming years

IRCC’s intention to add new regional immigration pilot programs builds off the success of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). 

The AIP, maturing towards becoming a permanent fixture in Canadian immigration, allows designated employers in Canada’s Atlantic region to hire foreign workers who, in turn, receive access to a streamlined permanent immigration process. The RNIP, still in its adolescence, has 11 participating communities across Canada. Similar to the AIP, the RNIP facilitates the immigration process for foreign workers with qualifying job offers in one of the participating communities.

Both the AIP and the RNIP represent innovative immigration programs designed to attract newcomers to regions outside the urban areas of Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, which attract newcomers at a rate highly disproportionate to the rest of the country. 

In IRCC’s departmental plan, the agency addressed this concern directly, “A key element of IRCC’s levels plan is the recognition that regions and communities across Canada have unique needs when it comes to immigration.” IRCC outlined its commitment to addressing this issue by continuing to “design and implement innovative pilots and programs tailored to regional labour market needs.”

What new Canadian immigration pilot programs are coming?

The only confirmed immigration pilot program highlighted in the departmental plan is the Municipal Nominee Program (MNP). The MNP is still in the planning stages, with details about program requirements and application procedures not yet available. However, the Canadian government has described plans to welcome at least 5,000 newcomers through the MNP within 2020-2021.

Aside from the MNP, IRCC hasn’t released details about any other upcoming regional immigration pilot programs. However, based on the AIP, the RNIP, and the proposed MNP, it seems likely that any new programs will be worker- and community-focused, empowering regional communities to have decision-making power in immigration policies impacting their workforces.. 

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