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IRCC Announces Participating Communities for the RCIP Program

January 30, 2025

 The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality is pleased to share that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that the Peace Liard region (which for the purposes of the program includes the Northern Rockies and Fort Nelson), has been selected as a participating community in the Rural and Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) program. This initiative aims to enhance economic growth and support sustainable development in rural areas by attracting newcomers who can contribute to local communities.

 The RCIP program will offer numerous benefits to our area, including increased population growth, enhanced labor market participation, and the revitalization of local economies. By welcoming new residents, we can foster diversity, stimulate innovation, and create a vibrant community atmosphere that supports both existing and incoming families.

 In the coming months, through Community Futures Peace Liard as the coordinating agency, the regional working group will collaborate closely to develop a comprehensive plan for implementing the RCIP program within our community.  While specific details are still being finalized, we encourage those interested in the program to remain patient as we work through the necessary steps to ensure a successful rollout. 

 We look forward to sharing more information soon and appreciate the community’s enthusiasm and support for this exciting opportunity.

 For more information on the RCIP program in the Peace Liard, please contact Moira Green, General Manager, Community Futures Peace Liard at admin@communityfuturespeaceliard.com, and for further updates from the NRRM, please subscribe to our News Feed.

View the Community Futures Webpage

Listen to February 4th CBC Radio Interview 

February 6th Open House YouTube Live Stream

RCIP Informational Handout: What It Is and What It isn't 

Learn more about the Rural Community Immigration Pilot  

Peace-Liard Rural Community Immigration Pilot webpage

Frequently Asked Questions
 Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
 The Rural Community Immigration Pilot Program will help employers in the Peace Region of Northeast BC

address job shortages by attracting skilled foreign workers—about 60 for the region. Led by
Community Futures Peace Liard (CFPL) and Northern Lights College (NLC), the program will focus
on five sectors yet to be determined, offering a pathway to permanent residency for workers
wanting to live and work in the Peace Region.

It fills positions local employers can't after extensive recruitment. Employers choose to
participate and sponsor qualified applicants who meet the criteria. Employers apply and are
assessed by a local committee, then recruit international candidates who meet job and residency
requirements. Candidates apply for permanent residency, with local committees recommending
applications to Immigration Canada.
 Q: Why is the municipality doing this project? 
 A: This is not a municipal program; it’s a federal program being managed by Community Futures Peace Liard. Our community was selected to participate because of skills shortages in key labour market areas, and Council believes this program could help fill these critical roles, supporting development and sustainability of our community.
 Q: What are the requirements for the new program?
 A: Employee requirements: link | Employer Requirements: link
 Q: How long has this program been running?
The RCIP Program replaced the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program which concluded in Fall 2024, and welcomed 125 applicants annually to participating rural, northern communities (of which the Peace Region was not one). Successful participating communities/regions for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot Program was announced January 30, 2025.  
 Q: How will the government or Municipality address Fort Nelson's job shortage to accommodate an influx of immigrants, and where will they be housed?
 A: Most likely, applicants in Fort Nelson will already be living and working in the community, and based on the findings of the NRRM Housing Needs Report, there is an availability of housing in the community now and into the future.
 Q: How many program applicants will be skilled versus unskilled and what is the average education level, and what will be the priority jobs for the program?

A: The breakdown of skilled versus unskilled applicants and their average education level is currently unknown, though the program does require a minimum equivalent of Canadian secondary school graduation. The job sectors for the program are still yet to be determined, but priority jobs will be based on the needs of the community and local employers. Further details will be clarified as the program develops.
 Q: How many people will Fort Nelson see through this program? 
 A: At this time it has not been decided how the 60 applications will be divided among the participating communities.
 Q: Will those with work permits or temporary worker status currently be prioritized within the program? 
 A: We won’t know until the program is developed however temporary foreign workers who are already here will be eligible if they meet the established criteria.  
 Q: Will Fort Nelson receive special consideration or support due to its size? 
 A: NRRM will follow the same RCIP framework as other communities, but local needs will be considered in the process.
 Q: Will you introduce an education program to encourage youth to take on low-wage entry-level jobs while running this immigration program?
 A: The focus of the immigration program is on addressing specific workforce needs, but we recognize the importance of encouraging youth to take on entry-level jobs. While this program doesn’t directly address youth education or employment, the NRRM would welcome suggestions to help foster youth engagement in the workforce, and would be happy to share those suggestions with local education providers such as School District 81 or Northern Lights College.
 Q: Will the employers applying be publicized?
 A: As this is not a municipal program it is not known how the federal government will choose to recognize those employers who are approved to participate in the program.
 Q: What is the process to ensure the employers seeking this influx of workers are actually unable to fulfill the positions locally?
 A: Employers seeking workers through this program receive no subsidy, and they will be required to demonstrate they are unable to fill the positions locally. With this program being co-delivered with the input of local committee members, there will be a high level of oversight and accountability in order to approve employers.
 Q: I know for a fact some of the employers looking for these opportunities are ignoring local existing applicants. This is where the hole is in this program.
 A: Employers must show that they’ve made efforts to fill the positions locally, jobs must be verifiable and employers be approved to participate in the program. There will be a process developed for concerns to be brought forward.
 Q: How will you verify that the position could not be filled locally? If the requirements are merely procedural, the program could be abused.
 A:  The municipality will not be directly involved in this process; however, Community Futures is working with a local working group to refine the approach. The guidelines established so far are as follows: Once a job offer is extended, employers must complete a recommendation application and submit it to the community. This application must:
  • Provide proof that the position could not be filled locally
  • Ensure the job offer aligns with the pilot program's requirements
  • Confirm the candidate meets all program criteria
  • Commit to connecting the candidate with immigrant settlement services in the community
 Q: Was taking part in this program a Council decision, and can we actually pull out of this program at this point, or have we gotten to the point of no return? Will you answer that honestly?
 A: The topic of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot program was received by and discussed among Council in both July and September of 2024. It is expected that Council will be asked to formalize participation in the program by signing a Memorandum of Understanding, this spring. When that occurs, it will be part of a public meeting, with notice of meetings and meeting agendas being available online at: https://nr.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/220151/ or through the NRRM’s meeting portal at: https://nr.civicweb.net/Portal/

Q: In the case of an immigrant in this program, if they commit a criminal act, will they be sent back?

A:  That is a question best answered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Those legal matters are outside of a local municipality’s jurisdiction or expertise. However, it's worth noting that IRCC conducts thorough due diligence, including criminal history and background checks, as part of a very comprehensive screening process.