Canada creates a permanent immigration pathway to help rural communities attract and retain talent

STELLARTON, NS, Nov. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- As announced in Budget 2026, Canada is refocusing immigration to where it can best support the economy, including in smaller, rural and remote communities facing persistent labour shortages.

Today, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that the Government of Canada has made the Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent program.

This employer- and community-led program will build on the success of the previous and current pilots and help meet the distinct workforce needs of rural Canada.

The program intends to continue with the 14 communities currently taking part in the pilot, with an expansion to additional communities planned in the future. To support effective retention, the program relies on strong, locally driven partnerships between employers and community partners to connect newcomers and their families with the support they need to succeed in the long-term and make these communities their home.

Through the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, the Government of Canada is restoring stability and sustainability to Canada's immigration system, including by retaining skilled workers who are already living and contributing in communities across the country. By continuing to bring down the temporary resident population while attracting top talent, Canada will reduce pressures on communities, fill labour gaps in key sectors and propel our long-term prosperity.

Quotes

"Our government understands that rural communities play a critical role in powering Canada's economy. At the same time, many face real challenges finding the workers they need. That's why we're transitioning our successful rural immigration pilot into a permanent program--helping smaller communities attract and retain essential workers who deliver services and drive economic growth. We appreciate that a one-size-fits-all approach to immigration doesn't work for rural Canada, and this permanent pathway is one part of our work to ensure that communities of all sizes can share in the benefits of responsible, sustainable immigration."

– The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

"We've seen the difference this program makes here in Pictou County. It's helping local businesses keep workers they need, people who've become our neighbours and friends, and want to build their lives here. We're one of 14 communities that have helped make this pilot work. Now we're making it permanent, so businesses can count on it when they can't fill jobs locally, and these families can keep calling our community home."

– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada, Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova

"Rural Canadian communities are vibrant, face unique lived realities across the country and have different labour needs than our big cities. When Canadian workers simply cannot be found locally, strategic immigration pathways can help fill those gaps. Making the Rural Community Immigration Pilot permanent recognizes the unique opportunities of our rural, northern and remote communities, and will support newcomers and families in building lasting connections to the communities they call home."

– The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)

"Strong communities are built when businesses can grow, employers can find the people they need, and individuals and families see a future for themselves in the places they choose to call home. The Rural Community Immigration Pilot has helped Pictou County strengthen its workforce, support business growth, and welcome new residents who are contributing to our communities and economy. Making the program permanent gives rural regions greater certainty and flexibility to address workforce challenges, support long-term growth and create lasting prosperity."

– Jason Guidry, Chief Executive Officer, Pictou County Partnership

"WearWell Garments Limited was established in 1978, at a time when sewing was part of our high school curriculum. Finding skilled workers at that time was not difficult. However, with changes to both the high school curriculum and the clothing manufacturing industry within Canada, finding employees with the skill sets WearWell requires has proven to be a more difficult challenge in recent years. Although we continue to recruit locally as much as possible, we have found great success in also recruiting through immigration pathways. The Rural Community Immigration Pilot is one way that we have found success in assisting employees who want to settle here, buy or rent homes, work towards becoming citizens of our community and country, and contribute to our local economy."

– Amber Manning, WearWell Human Resources Manager

Quick facts

• Making the Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent program complements this year's immigration levels plan, which includes stabilized admissions targets and a continued focus on directing immigration to where it's needed most.
• In this year's plan, 5,500 admission spaces are targeted for the permanent Rural Community Immigration Program.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ran the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot from 2019 to 2024, and has run the Rural Community Immigration Pilot since 2025.
• More than 2,800 employers participated in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, with over 12,500 candidates and their families admitted to rural and smaller communities across Canada.
• Early results for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot show that, in 2025 and 2026, newcomers have helped fill persistent labour shortages in key sectors such as health care, education, and sales and services, supporting local economies and service provision.
• From January 2025 to August 2026, communities participating in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot vetted and designated more than 1,950 trusted employers facing persistent labour shortages that could not be filled locally. These employers issued over 4,700 job offers and community recommendations. The eligibility criteria for new communities in any future expansion will be communicated through a future announcement.
• For employers seeking to hire skilled workers, additional immigration pathways to live in Canada permanently are available, such as the Provincial Nominee Program and federal economic programs managed by Express Entry. There are also various temporary pathways available.

Related products

• Backgrounder: Canada creates a permanent immigration pathway to help rural communities attract and retain talent
• Backgrounder: Building a stronger Canada through a well-managed, predictable immigration system
• News release: Canada launches rural and Francophone community immigration pilots

Associated links

• Budget 2026: Masters of our destiny
• Supplementary information for the 20272029 Immigration Levels Plan
• Rural Community Immigration Pilot web page

SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Contacts for media only: Taous Ait, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, [email protected]; Media Relations, People and Communications Sector, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, [email protected]