The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) completed its first year of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), a five-year federal economic immigration program. Jamie Taylor, chief executive officer of the Thunder Bay CEDC, called the program an important pathway for economic immigration and a practical tool to help address labour shortages in the community. Last year, 358 employers within those five sectors across the Thunder Bay census metropolitan area were designated to access the immigration pilot program and gain workers. “It’s important to note that the majority of them were already in Thunder Bay, and this (certification process) is allowing them to stay,” Taylor said. With planning for the 2026 immigration pilot intake underway, Taylor speculates that candidate recommendations and certification will likely be consistent with last year.