The Ontario government has launched a pilot program that aims to bring more highly skilled immigrants into four rural and northern regions.

Its Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) aims to enable employers in the communities of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton and Thunder Bay to attract as many as 800 additional workers for in-demand careers 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.”

The REDI pilot will be delivered through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which prioritizes and accelerates 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.

The four regions selected for the pilot were identified based on their high demand for skilled labour. The pilot will run until December 31, 2025.

“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.”

The province estimates that by enabling internationally trained newcomers to work in the professions they studied for, province’s GDP could rise by up to $100 billion over five years.