Addressing Labour Shortages in Ontario’s Regional Communities Through Immigration (REDI).
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has launched the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program, a new one-year initiative that will run from January 2, 2025 to December 31, 2025. This program aims to address the labour market needs of four select Ontario communities by attracting skilled foreign workers who may not be available locally.
Pilot Communities -The REDI pilot focuses on four communities facing labor shortages:
- Lanark County
- Leeds and Grenville
- Sarnia-Lambton
- City of Thunder Bay
By 2025, OINP will allocate 200 nomination slots for skilled foreign workers under the program’s employer job offer streams. These nominations are specifically reserved for applicants with a job offer in one of the four pilot communities.
How it works
The REDI pilot builds on existing OINP employer job offer streams and offers a pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers with a valid job offer in the selected regions. These communities were chosen based on several factors:
- A demonstrated need for economic immigration.
- Specific challenges of the labor market.
- Ability and willingness to support newcomers and integrate them into local communities.
The government has unveiled a new pathway for skilled workers that will launch in 2025: the Ontario REDI pilot program. This could be your chance to achieve permanent residency.
Program Objectives
The key objectives of the REDI pilot are:
- Attract qualified foreign talent to fill gaps in the labor market in regional communities.
- Promote the OINP and encourage employers in pilot communities to use the program to address local workforce shortages.
- Provide a direct path to permanent residency for skilled workers who wish to live and work in one of four pilot regions.
By addressing labour needs and promoting economic immigration, the REDI pilot project aims to strengthen Ontario’s regional economies and make the province an even more attractive destination for skilled workers.
For more details about the communities involved, you can visit their respective websites.
