The MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River is welcoming the decision to make permanent the Rural and Northern Immigration Program (RNIP).

The program served as a pilot to help area businesses bring in skilled immigrant workers to the northwest and acquire permanent status.

It was first set up for Thunder Bay before including other parts of the region.

Marcus Powlowski expected the program to be permanent, noting it has shown its success.

“I think the numbers for northwestern Ontario were 475 people in the last year,” says Powlowski.

“You’ve seen people starting to come into Fort Frances as immigrants. It started out limited to Thunder Bay, but it was about two years ago we expanded it to include the whole area.”

“Rural and northern communities face unique economic and demographic challenges. However, through the RNIP, rural communities have been able to attract and retain skilled workers that they’ve needed for years to ensure their economic growth,” says Marc Miller, the federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

A final intake of applications to RNIP in northwestern Ontario was to expire in February.

The federal government recently extended the deadline to the end of July.

It has also increased the number of candidates to be recommended for permanent residency.

Powlowski notes it was Canada’s immigration policies that helped in the development of many northwestern Ontario communities, and the continuance of RNIP ensures their long-term survival.

“We need those immigrants, both for businesses that are looking to find employees to fill existing positions. I know there’s a lot of businesses that actually want to expand, but they’re having trouble doing so because they don’t have enough workers,” says Powlowski.

With the expansion of the RNIP, the federal government is introducing two new immigration programs specific to rural and Francophone communities.

Both will be launched this fall.