By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
Canada has made its Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent programme, creating a long-term pathway for skilled foreign workers to settle in smaller communities facing labour shortages.
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Metlege Diab, announced the decision on Monday,in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the programme will initially retain the 14 communities participating in the pilot, with plans to expand to more locations in the future.
The initiative connects foreign workers and their families with local employers and community support services to encourage long-term settlement and help address workforce shortages.
Diab said rural communities play an important role in Canada’s economy but continue to face difficulties recruiting workers.
She said making the pilot permanent would help smaller communities attract and retain workers needed to sustain essential services and economic growth.
The programme is employer- and community-led, allowing participating areas to identify their specific labour needs and recruit eligible foreign workers.
