Altona and Rhineland's economic development officer is working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to kickstart a second federal immigration program for the region.
Last week, it was announced that the area was selected for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), which aims to connect businesses and employers with the skilled newcomers they need to thrive.
Stephanie Harris says she is eager to build on the success of the previous program, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), that ran in the region for five years and concluded this past August.
"We are thrilled to have been selected, again, to partner with the federal government on an immigration pilot program and build from the success of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot," she said.
Over its five-year run, RNIP saw over 140 successful applicants accept full-time job offers from local employers.
According to Stephanie, this not only addressed immediate labour needs but contributed to the long-term growth and sustainability for participating businesses. That's why the two municipals moved to apply for the new program.
"Welcoming skilled immigrants can help fill gaps in the labour market which is especially important in smaller communities, like Altona and Rhineland, where attracting talent can be more challenging," she explained.
Similarly to RNIP, RCIP offers a pathway to Permanent Residence for successful applicants and their families. A main difference however, noted Stephanie, is that more responsibility will be placed on the employers this time around.
"As we gain more information on what that will look like, we'll be able to share."
There will also be a bigger emphasis on filling critical labour gaps. Stephanie and her team have begun working with IRCC to identify those areas and designate trustworthy employers.
Additional information, including program details and when employers and prospective candidates can apply, will be provided in the near future.