Ontario has launched the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program. The initiative aims to attract up to 800 highly skilled immigrants to the province’s four rural and northern regions. The program will run from January 2 to December 31, 2025.
The targeted regions include Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay. Skilled immigrants accepted through this pilot will receive a provincial nomination under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This nomination will allow them to apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The REDI program addresses labor shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare, technology, and skilled trades, including construction. It operates through the OINP’s Employer Job Offer streams. Each region will receive 200 additional nominations to process through these streams.
To qualify, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements of one of three streams: the Employer Job Offer, the Foreign Worker Stream, the International Student Stream, or the In-Demand Skills Stream.
For the Foreign Worker Stream, candidates must have a full-time, permanent job offer in a skilled occupation. The position must pay at least the median wage for that occupation in Ontario. Candidates must also meet work experience or licensing requirements.
The International Student Stream targets recent graduates from Ontario institutions. Candidates must have a full-time, permanent job offer in a skilled occupation. The offer must meet wage thresholds and align with the employer’s business needs.
The In-Demand Skills Stream focuses on positions in eligible occupations, including agriculture, construction, and personal support. Candidates must have nine months of work experience, a high school diploma, and basic language proficiency.
The REDI program builds on the success of a previous pilot that ended in 2020. That initiative supported regions like Chatham-Kent and Cornwall, demonstrating the value of regional immigration pathways.
Ontario projects that enable skilled newcomers to work in their fields could boost the province’s GDP by up to 100 billion CAD over five years. With PNPs increasingly critical to Canada’s immigration goals, REDI aims to strengthen smaller communities and support economic growth across the province.
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