Canada: New Ontario Regional Economic Development Permanent Residence Pilot

The Ontario government has launched the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program to target highly skilled immigration for four rural and northern regions with a high demand for skilled workers. The four regions selected are Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay. The program will run until December 31, 2025. Under the program, each of these regions is allocated 200 additional nomination spots through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – Employer Job Offer streams. The OINP is Ontario’s economic immigration program, which nominates foreign nationals for permanent residence with the needed skills and experience for the province’s economy (typically for in-demand jobs in health care, technology, and skilled trades like construction). The federal government of Canada then adjudicates the permanent residence application. Interested foreign nationals with job offers from an Ontario employer for a position in one of the pilot communities should visit the OINP website for more information and contact their immigration professional for case-specific advice.