The program aims to bring 2,750 principal applicants plus their accompanying dependants each year to communities with less than 50,000 people or where the population is under 200,000, but are far away from urban centres. It is quite similar in nature to the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program in that local employers, governments and service sectors must work together to connect newcomers with job opportunities through networking and mentoring and help them navigate the education, housing, transportation and health-care systems.
Led by local economic development officials, interested communities must submit their plans to the Government of Canada by March 1 and selected communities will be announced in the spring. They will be matched over the summer with potential immigrants interested in moving there. Information for interested permanent residence applicants (i.e. eligibility requirements, how to apply, etc.) will not be made available by the Canadian Immigration Department until later in 2019.
The program is only available to communities in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Yukon.
