Sault Ste Marie and Brandon Reveal Key Sectors for RCIP

Two more communities participating in Canada’s new Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) have officially announced the sectors they will prioritize for immigration in 2025. The RCIP is aimed at addressing labor shortages in rural regions.

The cities of Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario and Brandon in Manitoba are the latest to release their priority sectors under this federal pilot program, offering foreign workers new opportunities to obtain Canadian permanent residence.

The program is designed to support regional economic development by attracting talent in high-demand sectors, giving immigrants a chance to build their futures in smaller Canadian cities where their skills and qualifications are needed most.

Sault Ste. Marie’s Priority Sectors

Sault Ste. Marie, a scenic city in Northern Ontario situated along the border with Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is one of the 14 designated communities under the RCIP. For 2025, the city has been allocated 300 spots for eligible candidates under the pilot program.

The following priority sectors have been identified by Sault Ste. Marie:

• Education, Law and Social, Community, and Government Services
• Health
• Manufacturing and Utilities
• Sales and Service
• Trades and Transport

Although the city has not yet announced specific occupations under each sector, it is expected that these details, along with a list of designated employers, will be published in the near future. Job seekers and prospective immigrants are encouraged to monitor the city’s official RCIP page.

Brandon’s In-Depth Occupation List

Brandon, the second-largest city in Manitoba province and a significant hub for agriculture and manufacturing, has also released its 2025 RCIP priority list. Brandon has been allocated 180 slots for the upcoming year, with 15% specifically set aside for candidates in the healthcare sector.

The city’s comprehensive list includes sector-specific occupations along with their National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes and minimum required Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels. Here’s an overview:

Brandon’s approach ensures a well-distributed focus across a variety of industries, with special emphasis on healthcare and skilled trades.

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What is the RCIP?

The RCIP was launched by the federal government as a five-year initiative to help smaller communities address persistent labor shortages. The program is employer-driven, meaning applicants must secure a job offer from a designated employer within a participating community to qualify.

Each community participating in the RCIP selects sectors based on local labor market needs. Only employers in those priority sectors can be designated under the program, and only job offers in those sectors are eligible. This ensures that immigration through RCIP is aligned with local economic goals.

As of now, Sault Ste. Marie and Brandon have outlined their sectoral priorities, but they have not yet released the full list of approved employers. Timmins, another community in Northern Ontario, was the first to announce both its priority sectors and occupations.

Who Can Apply for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)?

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a community-driven, employer-based pathway to permanent residence in Canada. To qualify, applicants must secure a valid job offer from a designated employer within a participating community and meet several eligibility criteria. To apply, candidates must:

• Work Experience: Have at least one year of continuous, full-time work experience in an occupation listed under the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This experience must have been obtained within the three years prior to applying for permanent residency.

• Job Offer: Hold a valid, full-time job offer or employment contract from a designated employer in Canada. The position must be based in a participating rural community, with at least 75% of the work carried out within that community.

• Language Proficiency: Meet minimum language requirements based on the job’s TEER level:
  
  • CLB 6 or higher for TEER 0 and 1 roles
  • CLB 5 or higher for TEER 2 and 3 roles
  • CLB 4 or higher for TEER 4 and 5 roles

• Education: Possess at least a secondary school diploma. If the education was completed outside of Canada, candidates must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm equivalency.

• Settlement Funds: Show proof of sufficient funds to support themselves and any accompanying family members for one year. The required amount is at least 50% of the low-income cut-off for rural areas.

• Community Commitment: Demonstrate a genuine intention to live and work in the community where the job offer is located.

• Recommendation: Obtain a valid recommendation from a participating community’s economic development organization. This certificate is required at the time of application and is valid for six months from the date of issue

Applicants currently in Canada must also hold valid temporary resident status throughout the application process. The program operates on an annual cap system, so early application is recommended once opportunities open.

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Read More: First Set of Occupations for New Permanent Residence Pathways

Source: canada.ca

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