Ontario Economical Growth. Credit: Unsplash/Mathieu Stern
Toronto/CMEDIA: Building on the success of the OINP 2020, Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program has reportedly been launched by the Ontario government.
REDI is aimed at highly-skilled immigration for four rural and northern regions, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay with a high demand for skilled labour.
Having recently passed the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 which expanded Ontario’s immigration pathways for self-employed physicians using the OINP, and introduced standards and enforcement mechanisms for immigration representatives who consult on OINP applications.
The criteria for the selection of these four regions for the REDI pilot was based on their high demand for skilled labour. The pilot is running for one year from January 2, 2025, until December 31, 2025.
Local employers in these communities are enabled by REDI to attract up to 800 additional workers for in-demand careers to local economic growth, such as health care, technology, and the skilled trades, which includes construction.
“Our government is growing rural and northern economies and giving them the tools they need to build for the future,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “With REDI, we’re enabling rural and northern businesses to attract the talent they need, by providing a blueprint for targeted economic immigration that strengthens communities and drives our economic prosperity.”
To be delivered through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), the new REDI pilot will prioritize and accelerate skilled immigration to fill in-demand labour needs that cannot currently be met.
Through REDI, the four participating regions have 200 additional nominations each through the OINP’s Employer Job Offer streams to strengthen local economic growth.
Interested internationally trained workers with an Ontario employer’s job offer for a position located in one of the pilot communities applying for permanent residence under the REDI pilot are encouraged to visit the OINP website.
Ontario’s GDP could reportedly be increased up to $100 billion over five years by enabling internationally trained newcomers to work in the professions they studied.
“Our government is creating more opportunities for businesses in rural Ontario to attract more in-demand workers that are essential for driving local economic prosperity,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “It is because of programs such as REDI, that help develop skills needed to meet the growing demand in small towns and communities across the province, that we continue to build a strong and prosperous rural Ontario.”
Over one million local workers for in-demand careers in every corner of the province are also being trained by the province by investing up to $1.4 billion through the Skills Development Fund Capital and Training Streams in partnership with local employers, including over $250 million to train rural and northern workers to date.
The new REDI pilot and investments are part of the government’s efforts to building a brighter future for all Ontarians ensuring Ontario remains the best place to live, work and raise a family.
Ontario’s investment of $100 million in 2024-25 in settlement and employment services could help newcomers learn English or French, access job-ready training and land careers.
