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Ontario has come up with the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program that aims to reduce labor shortages and increase economic activity in smaller and rural communities. It runs between January 2, 2025, and December 31, 2025, targeting the regions of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay. It will look to bring 800 skilled immigrants into these four critical industries: healthcare, technology, and skilled trades.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (REDI) is a program that nominates people for permanent residence based on job offers in targeted regions. The initiative aims to redistribute immigration benefits more evenly across the province, focusing on small and rural towns that have struggled to attract immigrants.
How will this new program work?
The REDI pilot program will assess the application through OINP Employer Job Offer Streams. Under this, each participating region will given 200 additional nominations. These job offers are specifically reserved for candidates with job offers in any four pilot communities.
Goal and Objective of REDI Pilot Program
The main objective of REDI is to address serious labor shortages in rural and smaller urban areas that cannot attract skilled professionals by offering them Canada Permanent Residence Visa Status. The initiative is aimed at:
- Supporting economic development in regions with specific labor market needs.
- Encouraging immigrants to settle long-term in smaller communities by creating opportunities for integration and employment.
- Reduce reliance on urban centers, redistributing immigration benefits more evenly across Ontario.
The REDI pilot also supports Ontario's broader commitment to economic recovery and growth by providing a clear pathway for skilled immigrants to settle and contribute to regional economies.
Key Features of the REDI Pilot
The program is delivered through the OINP's existing job offer streams, which are:
- Foreign Worker Stream: For skilled professionals with a valid job offer.
- International Student Stream: For recent graduates with job offers in eligible regions.
- In-Demand Skills Stream: Reaches out to workers in the health, agriculture, and construction sectors.
Nomination spaces are limited to 200 per region to ensure that every community benefits from the initiative.
Why is REDI focusing on these regions?
The choice of the four regions—Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay—was strategic. These areas have shown potential for economic development and a requirement for skilled workers.
They encompass industrial centers, agricultural centers, and emerging technology corridors. Even though these communities have unique strengths, they face a combination of geographic and demographic challenges that prevent them from attracting new immigrants.
For example:
- Lanark Leeds and Grenville have strong manufacturing and agricultural sectors but are struggling with aging populations and the out-migration of young workers.
- Sarnia-Lambton is an industrial hub with significant opportunities in petrochemicals and engineering but needs skilled workers to sustain its growth.
- Thunder Bay, located in Northern Ontario, has a growing demand for healthcare professionals, as well as opportunities in mining and forestry.
By targeting these regions, the REDI pilot is attempting to level out the playing field of immigration, enabling smaller communities to tap into the skills and contributions of newcomers.
Eligibility Criteria of this Pilot Program
To be considered under this pilot program, newcomers are required to fulfill the following eligibility criteria for each stream under the OINP to become eligible for Canada Permanent Residence.
Category | Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream | Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream | Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream |
Job Offer Requirements | - Full-time and permanent. - Occupations Under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. - Pays equal to or more than the median wage. - Based in Ontario. - Position critical for employer’s business. | - Full-time and permanent. - Occupation listed under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. - pays at least as much as the minimum wage. - Based in Ontario. - Position critical for employer’s business. | - Full-time and permanent. - In an eligible occupation. - Pays a wage that is at least as high as the median. - Based in Ontario. - Position critical for employer’s business. |
Candidate Requirements | - For regulated jobs: Valid license or authorization. - For non-regulated jobs: At least 2 years of work experience in the same NOC occupation (last 5 years). - Experience can be full-time or part-time. | - Completed eligible education in Ontario: - Undergraduate degree/diploma (min. 2 years full-time). - Graduate degree/diploma (min. 1 year full-time). - College/university graduate certificate (min. 1 year full-time). - Apply within 2 years of completing education. | - At least 9 months of work experience in the same occupation. - High school diploma. - Language proficiency: CLB 4 or higher. - ECA required if education is completed abroad. |
General Requirements | - Intended to reside in Ontario. - Licensed or authorized to practice if required. | - Intended to reside in Ontario. - Licensed or authorized to practice if required. | - Intended to reside in Ontario. - Licensed or authorized to practice if required. |
Wage Level | Median wage for the occupation in Ontario (check on Canada’s Job Bank). | Low wage level for the occupation in Ontario (check on Canada’s Job Bank). | Median wage for the occupation in Ontario (check on Canada’s Job Bank). |
Conclusion
The Regional Economic Development through Immigration pilot program in Ontario seeks to alleviate labor shortages and reach underrepresented communities by bringing 800 skilled immigrants to four regions with critical industries. Success in the program will depend on the collaboration between governments, employers, and local communities on job offers, community integration, and regional development.
For complete detail and guidance about Ontario Immigration, it is advised to contact Province Immigration via +91 98961 96762 or info@provinceimmigration.com.
