RCIP in Steinbach, Manitoba: How the Community Recommendation Works

Steinbach runs RCIP the first-come, first-served way: no points grid, no ranking. Up to five recommendations per monthly intake, one per occupation per month, and the intake closes early when seven applications arrive. It is also one of the clearest community pages in the program — the whole seven-step process, the occupation list, the caps and the fees are published. This post explains it as the Steinbach Economic Development Corporation publishes it.

Sources: Steinbach RCIP — official site

The community and the program

The program is run by the Steinbach Economic Development Corporation (SED). RCIP Program Manager: Gwen Reimer (Gwen@SteinbachEDC.com). The designated area covers the City of Steinbach plus the surrounding areas including the RM of Ste. Anne, RM of Piney, RM of La Broquerie, and the urban districts of Landmark and Vita.

Steinbach is employer-driven throughout. The program does not match candidates with employment, and the page is direct with candidates: “We sincerely appreciate your interest, but we will not be responding to your inquiries at this time.” Employers drive every step.

Priority sectors

Steinbach’s priority sectors (by NOC broad category) are:

• Health
• Education, law and social, community and government services
• Sales and service
• Trades and transport
• Natural resources and agriculture
• Manufacturing and utilities

Ineligible businesses: gas stations, fast food restaurants and convenience stores are not eligible as designated employers.

Priority occupations — 30 NOCs

Health and trades employers must demonstrate ongoing shortages through vacancy data, and education employers must show compliance with provincial childcare regulations.

Per-occupation limits. Most occupations are capped at one recommendation per month and two per calendar year. Health occupations on the list — registered nurses, health care aides, dental assistants, pharmacists and home support workers — have no per-occupation limitations. Two occupations are already fully subscribed for the year with no spots available: accounting and related clerks, and early childhood educators and assistants. Food service supervisors are limited to employers with 20 or more employees, excluding fast food, at most one per year.

How the process works — seven steps

Step 1 — Employer designation. The employer must be an active, genuine business operating continuously under the same management for at least 2 years within the community boundaries; do business in at least one priority occupation; do at least 75% of its business work inside the boundaries; complete the free onboarding training and free intercultural competency training; agree to support settlement of each applicant; agree to be listed publicly; and be in good standing under employer-compliance, Manitoba Employment Standards and Workplace Safety and Health law. Ineligible: consulates; staffing or employment agencies; businesses owned by an authorized immigration representative; businesses an applicant (or their spouse or partner) owns or controls; and employers under IRPR 200(3)(g.1) and (h). Designation is free, applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and an in-person meeting with the Program Manager is required before a final decision. Annual reviews, including site visits, may follow.

Step 2 — Apply for designation. The employer contacts Gwen Reimer first to discuss eligibility, the job offer and candidate eligibility, then submits through the SED designation form and upload portal.

Step 3 — Hire a candidate. SED does not match candidates with employment. If the candidate is not already working for the employer, the employer must show it tried to recruit a Canadian citizen or permanent resident first: the position advertised on Local Job Shop for a minimum of 2 months, as well as on either Indeed or Canada Job Bank, with proof of advertising and results.

Step 4 — Apply for recommendation, during a monthly intake only. The employer submits the Recommendation Application Form (signed by employer and candidate), the SED Recommendation Checklist documents, the Offer of Employment form, the Intent to Reside form and Schedule 1, through the SED portal. Incomplete or expired documents mean the application may be returned. Candidates in Canada must include proof of valid status (work or study permit).

Step 5 — Processing. First come, first served. Up to five recommendations per intake; at most one recommendation per occupation per month and two per occupation per calendar year (with the health exceptions above). Candidates may be asked to attend a formal interview. A recommendation certificate does not guarantee PR — IRCC decides.

Step 6 — Candidate applies to IRCC for PR with the certificate, and the employer continues its settlement-support commitments.

Step 7 — Optional work permit while PR is processed (through the IRCC route linked on the program page).

Fees and settlement funds

RCIP is free for employers — there is no application fee. An optional $230 work permit compliance fee may be paid to IRCC if a work permit is needed.

Steinbach does not require proof of settlement funds when submitting a community recommendation application, but candidates will need it for the IRCC PR application. The amount is 50% of the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for rural areas by family size, and it is not required if the candidate is already working in Canada with valid authorization.

Who cannot apply in Steinbach

Visitor-visa holders and people without valid status in Canada are not eligible for a Steinbach recommendation. Candidates in Canada must hold a valid work or study permit.

Intake status

Monthly intakes in 2026: March 2, April 1, May 1, June 1, July 2, August 4, September 1, October 1, November 2 and December 1. The intake opens on the first business day of the month and closes as late as the 15th, or when seven applications are received — whichever comes first. The review period runs from the 16th to the last day of the month. As of this post, the November intake (opened November 2) is current, and December 1 is the last listed 2026 intake. No 2027 dates are published yet.

Designated employers

The list is published on the program page as a PDF (November 2026), with about 50 employers including HyLife Ltd., Loewen Windows & Doors, Boston Pizza, Shoppers Drug Mart, Steinbach Dental Clinic, Penner Group, Prairie Truck Service, Smitty’s, Santa Lucia, Westland Insurance and Manitoba Health — Health Protection/Environmental Health, plus childcare providers including Kinder Korner, Happy Feet and Landmark Child Care.

What to do next

• Confirm your occupation is on the 30-occupation list and that the employer is designated and in a priority sector.
• If the candidate is not already working for the employer, start the recruitment-evidence clock early — two months of Local Job Shop advertising plus Indeed or Job Bank.
• Get the file in on the first business day of the month. The intake closes when seven applications arrive, and only five recommendations are issued per intake.
• Check the per-occupation caps before applying — accounting clerks and early childhood educators have no spots left this year.
• Make sure the candidate holds valid status in Canada. Visitor status does not qualify in Steinbach.

Frequently asked questions

Does Steinbach use a points system? No. Recommendations are first come, first served, within the per-intake and per-occupation limits.

Can I apply to the community directly? No. Only a designated employer can submit a recommendation application, and only during a monthly intake.

Is there a fee to become a designated employer? No. Designation is free; the only fee mentioned is the optional $230 IRCC work permit compliance fee.

Do I need to show settlement funds for the community application? No — Steinbach does not require them at the recommendation stage. You will need them for the IRCC PR application unless you are already working in Canada with valid authorization.

I am in Canada on a visitor visa. Can I get a Steinbach recommendation? No. Visitor-visa holders and people without valid status are not eligible.

How VG Immigration Services can help

If Steinbach is your community — or you are deciding between communities — book a consultation at vgis.ca or WhatsApp 416-578-9269. We check your occupation against the priority list, confirm the employer’s designation and recruitment evidence, and prepare the PR application once a recommendation is in hand.