A new immigration pilot has been launched in the West Kootenays to attract and retain talent for critical local jobs.
The West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) builds on the former West Kootenay Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) that ran from 2020 to 2024.
Offered through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in 14 communities across the country, the program provides a pathway to permanent residency for immigrants seeking to settle long-term and fill key job vacancies that support the local economy.
Andrea Wilkey, Executive Director of Community Futures Central Kootenay, which is leading the pilot, says while the RCIP and former RNIP programs are structured differently, their purpose – to hire talent for hard-to-fill positions – remains the same.
However, she says the RCIP program requires a stronger role from employers in the application process.
“There’s much more emphasis on employers coming forward and recommending a candidate for permanent residency,” she explains.
To participate in RCIP, employers must first become designated before they can submit applications for candidates to receive a community recommendation for permanent residency.
Wilkey says the designation process ensures potential RCIP employers are committed to fair recruitment practices and prepared to support newcomers in their transition to living and working in the region.
“In order to be designated, they’re required to complete some online training: first, to learn about the pilot and its goals; and second, to ensure they’re providing a welcoming workplace. One of the biggest goals is not only to bring highly skilled workers to our communities but to keep them here as well.”
The pilot also sets a minimum wage threshold of at least $20 per hour.
The following five sectors have been identified as regional priorities for the program due to critical labour shortages:
- Health
- Education, Law, and Social, Community & Government Services
- Sales & Service
- Trades, Transport & Equipment Operation
- Manufacturing & Utilities
These priority sectors are similar to those identified for the RNIP program and were chosen based on input from the West Kootenay RCIP Steering Committee, which includes leaders from economic development, education, and the non-profit sector.
“Those people around the table reviewed the priorities from the Northern Immigration Pilot, engaged with local employers in one-on-one discussions, and analyzed labour market data, which led us to identify these five sectors,” adds Wilkey.
The RNIP program supported 256 employers in hiring for over 650 hard-to-fill positions over its four-year term. Wilkey estimates the RCIP program will be just as successful, with a goal of supporting 60 employers per year and 200 candidate recommendations.
“That said, its success remains to be determined because, this time, completing the application is the responsibility of the employer, as opposed to the candidate. So, we’ll see how much capacity employers have to do this.”
In many cases, Wilkey says candidates are already working for an employer in the community, and the RCIP program provides them a pathway to stay longer.
“Oftentimes, these employees are someone the employer really wants to keep, but because of their status in Canada – maybe they were on a work permit about to expire – this gave them the opportunity to retain those employees.
“I think when people hear about an immigration pilot, they assume the majority will be new people coming to the community. The reality is many of these people are already here and are just looking for a way to stay.”
The RCIP program covers a wide area, including the entire Regional District of Central Kootenay and most of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, extending west to and including Rock Creek.
Once enough employers have been designated, RCIP will begin accepting candidate recommendations.
Candidate recommendation applications from designated employers should be open in early July 2025.
Employers within the identified priority sectors are invited to visit westkootenayimmigration.ca to learn more.
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