Issue

Immigration is an integral part of Canada’s continued economic growth. Our aging demographic, and lack of children being born, are set to leave Canadas economy desperately short of workers in the decades to come. Immigration will play a vital role in filling this labour gap, and we need to fund the programs that bring newcomers in. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada should provide sustainable funding and it needs to communicate clearly and provide stability so these programs can plan appropriately.

Background

The Federal Government has announced that a new permanent immigration program, the Rural Immigration Program (RIP), will be replacing the expired Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which was highly successful for the 11 communities that participated across Canada. There are also two pilot programs in the interim called the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot1. RNIP has helped 4,595 newcomers receive permanent residence through the pilot as of the beginning of 2024, with another thousand or more expected by the time the program concludes this year2. These programs provide a guaranteed, stable population boost to cities in Canada that aren’t typically a primary destination for newcomers. These cities include Brandon, Claresholm, Moose Jaw, North Bay, Sault Ste Marie, Sudbury, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Trail, Vernon, and West Kootenay3. These cities have all unanimously benefitted from the program, as evidenced by each of these cities supporting advocacy efforts to make RNIP a permanent program which led to the RIP being announced this year.
The benefits of these programs are certain but their funding models are not. Every city also runs their part of the program differently, as there is no uniform plan for who administers the program and how the funding model works. Cities run the programs in some cases, a chamber of commerce in other cases, and economic development officers in other situations. The funding comes from diverse sources including municipalities, federal economic development programs, and regional economic development programs.
The federal government must introduce sustainable, long-term funding to ensure these programs operate efficiently and continue to provide these crucial immigration services. We have heard from many communities that the current funding uncertainty has led to staffing challenges and the inability to maintain high service levels with the programs. These services require funding certainty and the ability to build on the great work that has been done by the pilot programs.
Funding for these initiatives shall come from a reallocation of expenditures from within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Recommendations:

That the Government of Canada:

1. Commit to having the IRCC fund staff positions for programs that bring newcomers to Canada including pilot programs like the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot.

2. Announce a stable and multi-year funding package for staff positions through the IRCC for the upcoming, permanent Rural Immigration Program, which is succeeding the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

Submitted by Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, co-sponsored by North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce and Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce