Ontario Launches New Regional Economic Immigration Pilot: REDI Program

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has unveiled a new pilot initiative: the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) program, set to run from January 2 to December 31, 2025.

This pilot program aims to attract up to 800 highly skilled immigrants to four rural and northern regions in Ontario:

• Lanark
• Leeds and Grenville
• Sarnia-Lambton
• Thunder Bay

Eligible newcomers approved under the program will receive a provincial nomination from the OINP, allowing them to apply for permanent residence (PR) through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Program Details

The REDI pilot will operate through the Employer Job Offer streams of the OINP, with each region receiving 200 additional nominations to address local labor shortages. The focus will be on critical sectors like healthcare, technology, and skilled trades, such as construction.

How to Qualify

To be eligible, applicants must meet the requirements of one of the following OINP job offer streams:

1. Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

• Full-time, permanent job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
• Wage equal to or above Ontario’s median wage for the occupation.
• Minimum two years of work experience or a valid license for regulated occupations.

2. Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

• Full-time, permanent job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
• Wage equal to or above the low wage level for the occupation.
• Completion of an eligible Canadian post-secondary program in Ontario within the last two years.

3. Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

• Full-time, permanent job offer in an eligible in-demand occupation.
• Nine months of work experience, a high school diploma, and CLB 4 or higher in language proficiency.