Ontario Communities Outline 2026 RCIP Job Priorities
Five Ontario cities participating in Canada’s Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) have confirmed the employment sectors and occupations that will receive priority for permanent residence nominations in 2026.
The pilot enables foreign nationals with job offers in designated communities to apply for permanent residence if their occupation aligns with local labour needs.
The participating regions are Thunder Bay, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and Timmins.
- Five Ontario communities have announced their 2026 RCIP priority sectors.
- Each region listed specific occupations under the federal immigration pilot.
- New priority areas were added in several cities compared with 2025.
- The RCIP supports rural workforce development across Canada.
- Applicants must meet work experience, education, and language criteria.
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay, in northwestern Ontario, has identified six sectors of focus for 2026: business and administration, health, education and social services, sales and service, trades and transport, and manufacturing. The manufacturing category is new this year. Twenty-five occupations, including administrative assistants, aircraft mechanics, nurses, and truck drivers, fall within these groups. The city said other roles within priority sectors could be reviewed individually.
North Bay
North Bay has also prioritized six sectors, adding natural and applied sciences for 2026. Its list includes 25 occupations such as civil engineers, electricians, financial auditors, and social service workers. The city clarified that fast-food and retail positions are not considered eligible under this pilot.
Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie is focusing on six sectors this year, including newly added categories in business and natural sciences. The city removed sales and service from its previous list. Occupations such as engineers, aircraft assemblers, nurses, and manufacturing technicians are among those prioritized. No specific roles have been confirmed yet under the natural sciences group.
Sudbury
Sudbury, the largest city in northern Ontario, expanded its 2026 list to include business and administration. Other sectors maintained from 2025 are health, education, trades, natural sciences, and agriculture. The city emphasized that some positions in the added sector could be considered only in limited cases. Priority roles include construction managers, dental assistants, health technologists, and mining engineers.
Timmins
Timmins continues to participate in the RCIP with five sectors—health, education, trades, natural resources, and manufacturing—after removing business and administration from its 2026 focus. The city’s updated list features 25 occupations such as heavy-duty mechanics, mining engineers, caregivers, and welders.
About the Rural Community Immigration Pilot
Launched in 2025, the RCIP is a federal immigration initiative designed to help rural areas attract and retain skilled workers. It complements other regional programs such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program by addressing local workforce shortages beyond major urban centres.
There are currently 14 participating communities across Canada. Each designates specific employers authorized to recruit foreign workers in alignment with community-identified labour priorities.
To qualify, candidates must hold a valid job offer from a designated employer and obtain a community recommendation before applying for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They must also demonstrate at least one year of relevant work experience, meet minimum language benchmarks, possess recognized education credentials, and show sufficient settlement funds.
Language thresholds are based on occupation skill type: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6 for TEER 0–1 roles, CLB 5 for TEER 2–3, and CLB 4 for TEER 4–5 positions. Settlement funds range from approximately $10,500 for a single applicant to nearly $28,000 for a family of seven.
Public Relevance
The announcement provides clarity for employers and prospective immigrants seeking to participate in the RCIP’s second year. With multiple Ontario communities refining their labour priorities, the pilot continues to adapt to evolving regional skills demands in health, trades, and technical professions.
Further updates are expected as participating municipalities review their designated employer lists and confirm any changes to occupation eligibility throughout 2026.
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