Development Liaison Advisory Committee (DLAC)

The Greater Sudbury labour force survey results for January 2026 are in.

The City of Greater Sudbury is announcing the priority sectors and occupations for the 2026 Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) programs, building on the first year of program delivery to ensure they continue to respond to local labour market needs and support economic growth.

In 2025, the RCIP and FCIP programs supported 571 principal applicants, representing a total of 1,082 individuals, including accompanying family members. Demand for both programs continues to exceed available allocations, reflecting ongoing employer needs across key sectors. The City continues to welcome new applicants and encourages eligible employers to apply.

For the 2026 RCIP program, six priority sectors have been selected: Business, Finance and Administration; Natural and Applied Sciences; Health; Education, Social, Community and Government Services; Trades and Transport; and Natural Resources and Agriculture. Priority occupations focus on high-skilled and in-demand roles, including healthcare professionals such as general practitioners, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, engineering technologists, skilled trades and mining engineers.

The 2026 FCIP priority sectors include Business, Finance and Administration; Health; Education, Social, Community and Government Services; Arts and Culture; Trades and Transport; and Natural Resources and Agriculture. Priority occupations emphasize bilingual and French-speaking talent in administration, health aide and support roles, social and community services, early childhood education, and skilled trades and agriculture.

In 2026, Greater Sudbury has been granted 525 RCIP allocations and 45 FCIP allocations, which will be distributed across eight intake periods.

The selection of the 2026 priority sectors and occupations was guided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) parameters for the pilot programs and was informed by employer consultations, labour market analysis, targeted employer surveys and first-year program data. The Community Selection Committees, supported by the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC), assisted in identifying priority sectors and occupations and approving designated employers.

This work builds on the significant contributions of the GSDC during the previous Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which helped lay the foundation for the current RCIP and FCIP programs. Together with FedNor and IRCC’s ongoing investment since the inception of these pilots and the City of Greater Sudbury’s continued support, these partners have been essential in advancing the region’s newcomer attraction and workforce development goals.

More information about the RCIP and FCIP programs is available at investsudbury.ca

On January 20, 2026, the City’s Finance and Administration Committee directed staff to apply for funding through the Build Canada Homes (BCH) supportive housing program stream which supports the development of new supportive and transitional housing projects. As part of this decision, Council also committed to funding operating costs required to meet BCH eligibility requirements.

The resolution formed part of a broader report to Council on the Social Housing Revitalization Funding plan, which outlines the City’s plan to leverage BCH funding to develop a 40-unit supportive housing project in line with the City’s Roadmap to End Homelessness.

“Expanding supportive housing is a core part of the City's strategy and is essential to building a healthier, more inclusive community,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre. “This project represents another meaningful step that Council is taking to ensure residents in need can access the safe and supportive housing necessary to move forward. I look forward to partnering with our federal and provincial partners to get shovels in the ground.”

As outlined in the report, the Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation (GSHC) is recommending a site adjacent to its building at 720 Bruce Ave. given the site’s proximity to existing housing and support services, as well as its readiness for construction.

This plan also advances the objectives laid out in the 2019 Council-approved Social Housing Revitalization plan which sought to better align housing stock with community need. That plan has led to the divestment of over 50 homes to date, with proceeds reinvested into priority housing projects. These funds have supported the municipal share of the 1310 Sparks Street project ($4.6 million) and 1179 Lorraine Street project ($5.0 million).

While the City will continue to pursue operational funding from the province, Council’s commitment to fund anticipated operating costs between $1.25 million and $2 million in the short term enables City staff to prepare the BCH application and begin engaging with supportive housing providers to identify a partner for the new development.

To view the full Social Housing Revitalization plan report, visit Housing Revitalization Funding Plan

On January 14, 2026, leaders from Cambrian College, Collège Boréal, Laurentian University and NOSM University took part in a Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce panel discussion about how Sudbury’s post-secondary institutions are adapting to meet the evolving needs of northern Ontario’s workforce and economy.

Following this panel, the four leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), creating the Sudbury Partnership for Higher Education. The partnership marks a significant milestone in regional collaboration and long-term economic development.

To learn more, visit: https://collegeboreal.ca/en/actualite/post-secondary-leaders-share-insights-create-new-partnership-at-chamber-luncheon/

The Greater Sudbury labour force survey results for December 2025 are in.

Labour Force refers to the total adult population available to the labour market at a specific time. As of December 2025, the labour force of Greater Sudbury (Census Metropolitan Area) is 102,500 , a increase of 1000 from November 2025.

The unemployment rate for Greater Sudbury (Census Metropolitan Area) in December is 6.7%. The unemployment rate in Ontario is 7.6% and Canada is 6.7%.
The number of people employed in the city is 95,600, up from 94,800 in November 2025.

The participation rate is 62.8%, a slight increase from November 2025. The participation rate remains below the pre-COVID peak of 65.1% in May 2019.

Effective December 27, 2025, to January 1, 2026, Building and Planning Services of the City of Greater Sudbury will be offering reduced front-facing services to the public. We will be launching temporary service measures that will give our public and stakeholder groups the ability to provide information to staff and access services during this holiday season.

Submitting Applications 

Building Services: Permit applications from the public or stakeholder groups may be electronically submitted directly through PRONTO. Permit processing times may be impacted during this time. All other inquiries can be submitted directly to Building Services general email buildingservices@greatersudbury.ca.

Planning Services: Applications made under the Planning Act by the public or stakeholder groups may be electronically submitted directly through PRONTO . All other requests can be submitted directly to Planning Services general email planningservices@greatersudbury.ca.

Receiving Permits

From December 27, 2025, to January 1, 2026, Building Services will only be issuing permits through PRONTO to residents or stakeholder groups on an emergency basis where impact to life safety is of concern.

Building Inspections

Building Services will not be conducting regular inspections as of 2 p.m. on December 24, 2025, and will resume on January 5, 2026. Inspections will be granted to residents or stakeholder groups only on an emergency basis where impact to life safety is of concern. Building Services Inspection requests can be directed to the Manager of Inspection Services by calling 311.

The Greater Sudbury labour force survey results for November 2025 are in.

It's been a big week for our post-secondary schools, and what looks to be an even bigger 2025/26 school year.

1. Laurentian University Continues Steady Enrolment Growth

Laurentian University has released its preliminary enrolment figures for the Fall 2025 term, showing stability in its overall student population. The data reveals that the overall student headcount has remained consistent year-over-year.

This stability is driven largely by a resurgence of interest from domestic students. Domestic enrolment has risen by 8%, with gains seen across both undergraduate (+7%) and graduate (+11%) levels. Notably, the university is reporting a historic milestone in its bilingual mandate: 27% of the student population is now studying in a French language degree program, the highest proportion in the university’s history.

While the domestic growth is a positive indication of a recovering reputation and strong community ties, it is counterbalanced by shifting global trends. The university looks forward to building on this foundation, ensuring that student success and the quality of the bilingual and tricultural experience unique to Laurentian remain at the forefront of its mission.

2. Cambrian College Climbs Higher on National List of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges

Cambrian College has climbed the rankings of Canada’s research colleges and placed first in a specific category.

Every year, Re$earch Infosource Inc. compiles its list of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, according to research income. For 2025, Cambrian is ranked 32nd nationally, up six places from the previous year, with more than $4.55 million in applied research funding. It is the 14^th year in a row that Cambrian has made the list.

Among medium-size colleges, Cambrian placed first overall for use of paid student researchers, with 231 student positions created for projects last year. Cambrian also placed third among medium-size colleges for growth of research income from industry partners, which increased year-over-year by 157%. Cambrian also ranked fifth among medium-size colleges for industry funding as a percentage of total research income, sixth for overall growth in research income, sixth for industry research income, and tenth for research partnerships in total, which numbered 61 last year.

Cambrian R&D works with industry partners in the fields of mining, heavy industry, heavy electric vehicle technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and social sciences.

3. Collège Boréal in the 2025 Ranking of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges

For the fourth consecutive year, Collège Boréal’s applied research projects stand out while actively contributing to the growth of Ontario's businesses and organizations.

Research and Innovation Boréal (RIB), Boréal’s research office, has once again been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges for 2025. This achievement highlights the institution’s role as a key partner for the communities and organizations it works with. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, 11 major projects helped advance research in areas as diverse as agriculture, construction, immigration, social innovation, and mental health.

In collaboration with private and university partners, and with the support of funders such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Colleges and Institutes Canada, and the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS), RIB leads meaningful projects. These initiatives support food-waste management, soil rehabilitation, the socioeconomic integration of newcomers to Canada, access to health care for French-speaking communities, and efforts by Indigenous communities to reclaim the natural resources of their ancestral lands.

Greater Sudbury City Council approved the 2026 municipal budget on December 3, 2025, achieving a reduction of nearly 2 per cent from the tax levy increase originally tabled on November 4. The budget includes targeted investments in infrastructure, public safety and employee well-being.

Originally presented as a two-year budget, Council opted to approve funding for 2026 only due to recent organizational changes and upcoming elections. However, the capital budget was readopted for 2026-2027.

For more information about the budget, visit greatersudbury.ca/budget.