Ontario Introduces New Pilot Program for Canada Permanent Residency

In January 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) launched the Regional Economic Development pilot program through the Immigration REDI program for Canada Permanent Residency. This program seeks to bring 800 skilled immigrants to four rural and northern Ontario regions: Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton, and Thunder Bay. The program period runs from January 2, 2025, to December 31 of the same year.

REDI Pilot Program – An Overview 

The REDI Pilot Program will process applications through the OINP’s Employer Job Offer streams. Each participating region will receive 200 additional nominations. The program will focus on labour shortages in sectors critical to local economies, such as healthcare, technology, and skilled trades like construction.

Eligibility Criteria of the REDI Program

To be eligible for the REDI Pilot Program, applicants must qualify under one of the OINP’s Employer Job Offer streams and have an offer of permanent employment from a current employer based in one of the designated regions. Candidates must also intend to reside in Ontario and, if applicable, be licensed.

Employer Job Offer Streams Under the REDI Program 

The following information explains the employer job offer streams under the REDI program for Canada Permanent Residency.

Foreign Worker Stream

Job offer requirements under this stream include:

• Full-time and permanent employment.
• Occupation falls within TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Salary must be at least the median wage for the occupation in Ontario.
• The position must be located in Ontario and be essential to the business.

Under this, stream candidates are required to fulfill the following requirements:

• If the job requires a mandatory license, the candidate must have a valid license from the relevant regulatory authority in Ontario.
• If no license is needed, they shall have at least two years of work experience in a similar occupation based on the job offer’s National Occupation Classification NOC code from the last five years.

International Student Stream

Job offer requirements under this stream include: 

• Full-time, permanent position;
• Occupation, which falls into TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Wage higher than or equivalent to the lowest wage level established for the profession.
• Position based in Ontario and critical to the employer’s business.

In this stream, candidates are required to fulfill the following requirements:

• Completed an educational program from an eligible Canadian institution in Ontario within the last two years.
• The program must be:
  • An undergraduate degree or diploma is at least two years long when pursued full-time.
  • A graduate degree or diploma of one year (minimum) in length when pursued full-time.
  • A college or university graduate certificate of at least one year in length when pursued full-time.

In-Demand Skills Stream

Job offer requirements under this stream include: 

• Full-time and permanent position.
• Occupation classified under TEER 4 or 5.
• Wage amount equal to or greater than the median wage for the occupation in Ontario.
• Position based in Ontario and critical to the employer’s business.

Candidate should meet the following requirements:

• At least nine months of cumulative paid full-time work experience in Ontario in the same occupation as the job offer within the last three years.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Language proficiency in English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher.

Application Process of REDI Pilot Program 

To apply, interested applicants must first have a valid job offer from an employer in one of the specified regions. With a valid job offer, they can use the relevant Employer Job Offer stream of the OINP. Then, after nomination, candidates can apply for Canada permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Why has OINP started this REDI pilot program?

The REDI pilot follows the success of the OINP Regional Pilot, which ran until the end of 2020. A previous pilot allocated about 300 extra-provincial nominations to the Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, and Belleville/Quinte West regions, successfully mitigating labor shortages due to skilled immigration. 

The OINP forecasts that allowing skilled immigrants to work in professions commensurate with education would increase Ontario’s GDP by as much as 100 billion CAD over the following five years.

Conclusion 

The REDI pilot program is part of Ontario’s efforts to address labor shortages in certain regions by bringing in skilled immigrants. Focusing on rural and northern areas, the program seeks to boost economic growth and ensure that immigration benefits are more evenly spread across the province. Prospective applicants should examine the specific eligibility criteria and have a valid job offer from an employer in one of the designated regions before applying.

For more details about the new pilot program, contact Province Immigration at +91 98961 96762 or info@provinceimmigration.com