Ahead of its expiration in February 2024, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) has seen a surge in applications. The city of Thunder Bay’s Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC), which oversees the Pilot, has experienced an overwhelming interest from immigrants seeking to settle in the region. Despite having only 115 spots available for 2023 and 2024, over 200 applications were submitted within an hour of the portal opening on November 17, indicating a strong desire for economic immigration in the region. The RNIP, launched three years ago to benefit smaller communities, has seen local applicants increase from 67 in 2020 to 475 in 2023, with an additional 100 spots allocated for 2024.
