North Okanagan-Shuswap Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is an employer-driven immigration pathway that provides foreign workers with job offers from designated employers in participating rural communities a route to Canadian permanent residence (PR).
North Okanagan-Shuswap, located in British Columbia, is one of the 14 participating RCIP communities. The region has released its priority sectors, eligible occupations, wage requirements, and recommendation caps for employers.
Priority Sectors in North Okanagan-Shuswap
The community has identified the following five priority sectors for RCIP participation:
Health
Education, Law and Social, and Community and Government Services
Sales and Service
Trades and Transport
Manufacturing and Utilities
Eligible Occupations for RCIP in North Okanagan-Shuswap
Foreign workers with a genuine job offer in one of the following occupations may qualify for the program:
| Occupation | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Accounting technicians and bookkeepers | 12200 |
| Accounting and related clerks | 14200 |
| Accommodation service managers | 60031 |
| Administrative assistants | 13110 |
| Appliance servicers and repairers | 72421 |
| Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products | 94211 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers | 72410 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Construction trades helpers and labourers | 75110 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 |
| Executive housekeepers | 62021 |
| General office support workers | 14100 |
| Hairstylists and barbers | 63210 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Heavy equipment operators | 73400 |
| Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing | 95103 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 |
| Manufacturing managers | 90010 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors | 94212 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Restaurant and food service managers | 60030 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
Minimum Wage Requirements
Restaurant and food service managers, accommodation service managers, and executive housekeepers: $25/hour
All other listed occupations: $22/hour
Employer Recommendation Caps
The community has set specific recommendation caps per employer for certain occupations:
Accommodation service managers – 2
Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products – 10
Construction trades helpers and labourers – 10
Executive housekeepers – 2
Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing – 10
Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors – 10
Restaurant and food service managers – 2
Other occupations may not have caps, or limits are yet to be determined.
Subsector Restrictions
Two subsectors in North Okanagan-Shuswap have additional restrictions under RCIP:
| NAICS Code | Subsector | Cap by Subsector | Cap per Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 722512 | Fast food (limited-service eating places) | 40 | 2 |
| 4471 | Gasoline stations | 20 | 2 |
Eligible Communities in North Okanagan-Shuswap
The RCIP-eligible area includes:
The entire Regional District of North Okanagan
Electoral Areas C, D, E, F, and G of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District
The City of Salmon Arm
Specific eligible communities include (but are not limited to):
Armstrong
Ashton Creek
Anglemont
Blind Bay
Bench
Celista
Cherryville
Coldstream / Lavington
Deep Creek
Enderby
Falkland
Grindrod
Lumby
Salmon Arm
Scotch Creek
Sicamous
Silver Creek
Sorrento
Spallumcheen
Vernon