On May 9, 2023, Thunder Bay, ON, issued new community recommendations in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). The city approved the applications of 274 candidates whose evaluations scored as low as 49%. Last year, the community recommended a total of 377 candidates. The Thunder Bay CEDC will prioritize applicants for the recommendation who are most likely to settle and contribute to the local economy. Candidates who received a community recommendation can submit their applications for permanent residence in Canada to Immigration Canada (IRCC). In 2023, the city recommended 504 applications.