Rural Renewal Program
The province of Manitoba has been successful in attracting and retaining immigrants in rural communities through such programs like Modern Community Initiative and that it the model that UCP is aiming to emulate for the Rural Renewal Program. Around 20% of all the newcomers in Manitoba settle in rural areas, and this has facilitated to significant growth of the population around these areas. Kenney noted that the Rural Renewal Program would be linked with the Federal Express System, which is Canada’s primary source of skilled labour.
Express Entry is usually used to manage the large numbers of interested candidates for three of Canada’s leading economic class immigration programs namely; the Skilled Trades Class, Skilled Worker Class, Experience Class. The system ranks candidates based on a score awarded based on some factors such as skilled work experience, education, age and competency in French and English and usually, those with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 points.
However, Alberta has an existing Express Entry- aligned nominee system, Alberta Express Entry but the government did not clarify whether it would be linked to the new proposed Rural Renewal Program.
Rural Entrepreneur Immigration Program
For the Rural Entrepreneur Immigration Program, Kenny said that it was aimed to welcome about 500 immigrants who are experienced entrepreneurs and their families each year. The prospective entrepreneurs will be required to meet minimum investment and net worth thresholds and they must commit to actively managing and operating a business in which they have at least 51% ownership.
All the applicants that succeed would receive a temporary work permit that would be active for two years and could later be eligible for a provincial nomination for permanent residence if certain provided terms are met.
