The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has introduced a new pilot program called the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot, designed to attract skilled immigrants to rural and northern areas of Ontario.
Running from January 2 to December 31, 2025, this initiative aims to boost economic growth in underserved regions by addressing critical labor shortages.
Program Overview
The REDI pilot will allocate up to 800 provincial nominations to attract highly skilled newcomers to four target regions in Ontario:
- Lanark
- Leeds and Grenville
- Sarnia-Lambton
- Thunder Bay
Approved applicants will receive a provincial nomination through the OINP, which they can then use to apply for permanent residence (PR) with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
How the REDI Pilot Works
The REDI pilot program will process applications through the OINP’s Employer Job Offer streams. Each of the four participating regions will receive 200 additional provincial nominations, distributed among three OINP job-offer streams.
The program will focus on attracting talent to address workforce shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare, technology, and skilled trades (including construction).
Eligibility for the REDI Pilot
To qualify for the REDI pilot, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria for one of the OINP’s Employer Job Offer streams. These streams require candidates to:
- Have a qualifying job offer from a business located in one of the four pilot regions.
- Intend to reside in Ontario.
- Be licensed or authorized to practice their occupation if it is regulated in Ontario.
Below are the eligibility details for each stream:
1. Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
Job Offer Requirements
- Full-time, permanent position.
- In a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
- Pays at least the median wage for the occupation in Ontario.
- The position must align with the employer’s business activities and be critical to its operations.
Candidate Requirements
- Must meet one of the following:
- Hold a valid license or authorization from the appropriate regulatory body in Ontario (if required for the job).
- Have at least two years of work experience in the same occupation within the last five years.
Eligible work experience can include full-time or part-time employment.
2. Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
Job Offer Requirements
- Full-time, permanent position in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
- Pays at least the low wage level for the occupation in Ontario.
- The position must align with the employer’s business activities and be critical to its operations.
Candidate Requirements
- Completed a qualifying education program in Ontario within the last two years:
- Undergraduate degree or diploma (minimum two years, full-time).
- Graduate degree, diploma, or certificate (minimum one year, full-time).
Candidates can consult Canada’s Job Bank to verify wage levels for their occupation by entering their NOC code and work location.
3. Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
Job Offer Requirements
- Full-time, permanent position in an eligible occupation.
- Pays at least the median wage for the occupation in Ontario.
- The position must align with the employer’s business activities and be critical to its operations.
Candidate Requirements
- At least nine months of work experience in the same occupation.
- Minimum education of a high school diploma (or foreign equivalent).
- Language proficiency of CLB 4 or higher.
If the candidate completed their education outside Canada, they must provide an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm their eligibility.
Background on the REDI Pilot
The REDI pilot is an extension of the OINP’s previous Regional Pilot, which ended in 2020. The earlier program successfully allocated 300 nominations to fill labor shortages in regions like Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, and Belleville/Quinte West.
The OINP expects that skilled newcomers filling critical roles will significantly impact Ontario’s economy, potentially adding up to $100 billion CAD to the province’s GDP over the next five years.
About Canada’s PNPs
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are economic immigration pathways that allow provinces and territories to select skilled immigrants to address local labor shortages. PNPs also help distribute immigration more evenly across Canada, encouraging newcomers to settle in rural areas rather than concentrating in metropolitan centers like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Other Regional and Rural Immigration Pilots
In addition to Ontario’s REDI pilot, Canada’s federal government has recently launched two new programs aimed at boosting rural and regional immigration:
- Rural Community Immigration Class
- Francophone Community Immigration Class
Interested in Ontario’s REDI pilot or other PNPs? Contact Skynet Immigration today to explore your eligibility and begin your journey toward Canadian permanent residence. With expert guidance from RCIC Salekur Rahman and a commitment to your success, Skynet Immigration is here to help you every step of the way!