Thunder Bay to attract skilled newcomers under pilot program

Thunder Bay will be part of a new, provincial pilot program to attract skilled newcomers to the city.

It’s one of four communities — along with Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, and Sarnia-Lambton — included as part of Ontario’s Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) program, announced on Jan. 17.

“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, in a government news release.

“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.”

Under the program, the province said, local employers in those communities will be able to attract up to 800 additional workers in fields including health care, technology and the skilled trades, which includes construction.

REDI 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.

Each participating region will have 200 additional nominations through the OINP’s Employer Job Offer.

The program will run for one year, until Dec. 31, 2025.

Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the announcement.

"The expansion of the REDI pilot to Thunder Bay is a crucial step in boosting the economy and driving community growth by helping local businesses attract the skilled workers they need to thrive," she said in the release.