Immigration pilot program commences to attract foreign workers to three Ontario towns

By Robin MacLennan

Ontario Construction News staff writer

A new pilot project announced just before Christmas is expected to attract foreign workers to three Ontario towns to address a skilled trade shortage.

“After careful analysis and consultation, Chatham-Kent was selected to be one of only three Ontario communities to launch the Regional Immigration Pilot Program under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP),” Chatham-Kent Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls said in a statement.

“This is a two-year pilot project with skilled worker categories like truck drivers and personal support workers as eligible occupations under the OINP. Our goal is to close labour gaps, improve competitiveness and grow the economy and create jobs.”

Chatham-Kent will launch the regional pilot in 2020 and utilize a nominee process for a two-year period until December 2022, with the aim of supporting local employer needs.

“The labour shortage in our region affects many sectors and is especially challenging in manufacturing, construction, agriculture and tourism/hospitality. Giving our businesses assistance to attract and retain immigrants with the skills they need could really help to fill vacant positions and allow for the projected growth many companies are trying to manage,” said Suzanne Andrews CEO, Quinte West Chamber of Commerce.

Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff recognized the significance of Chatham-Kent being selected as a provincial pilot site.

“Chatham-Kent was recognized by the federal government as Canada’s first welcoming community, so we are delighted to continue to build partnerships with our provincial government, grow our community, and to support our local businesses through being part of this new regional immigration pilot.”

The OINP provides immigration pathways for foreign workers with professional and/or education skills. It allows foreign workers, entrepreneurs and international students to be nominated for permanent residence in Ontario.

“Having this opportunity to attract and retain residents in Chatham-Kent using innovative approaches to bringing skilled immigrants to rural and small communities is very exciting,” said April Rietdyk, general manager of Community Human Services at the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

The Regional Immigration Pilot — which is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) — will be an opportunity for businesses in the three communities to fill talent gaps and support economic growth and a pathway for skilled foreign workers to become permanent residents.

In a recent letter, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade also called on the federal government to work in collaboration to further develop Ontario’s immigration strategy and give the province more choice and autonomy over the selection of economic immigrants.

“Our government is committed to growing economic immigration and connecting job creators in small and rural communities with the talent they need to expand and succeed,” said Fedeli. “Through the Regional Immigration Pilot, businesses in Belleville/Quinte West, Chatham-Kent and Cornwall now have the ability to meet their employment requirements and create even more good jobs.”

While developing the pilot, the government gathered feedback from stakeholders in several small and rural communities across the province. Communities were chosen based on their specific skilled labour challenges, the ability to help newcomers get settled and interest from community stakeholders.

Area employers in the selected communities have identified challenges finding people for their business needs and this has been evidenced by the findings from the annual Employer One Survey. The Chatham-Kent OINP pilot will create opportunities for cross-sector collaboration among employers, business groups, post-secondary institutions, the settlement sector, and government with the aim of addressing Chatham-Kent’s local labour market needs and positioning the community for growth.

“Chatham-Kent being selected as one of only three provincial pilot sites speaks to the strong collaborative relationships, can-do attitudes, and resulting success stories that we know thrive here”, said Rietdyk.

Sites were chosen because of labour challenges, their ability to settle newcomers and interest from local stakeholders.

“Many of Ontario’s regional economic challenges are exacerbated by a lack of workers. Immigration can be a powerful tool to mitigate these challenges,” said Rocco Rossi, president and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “The rollout of the Regional Immigration Pilot will make it easier to connect highly skilled immigrants with the smaller communities that need them.”

The province will monitor the success of the program over the next two years to decide if any changes are needed and if it will be rolled out to the rest of Ontario.