Canada’s Ontario reopens regional immigration initiative for skilled workers seeking permanent residence

Canada’s Ontario province has launched a new round of its Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) initiative, giving skilled foreign workers another potential route to permanent residence if they are willing to live and work in selected communities outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The programme will run until December 31, 2027, through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). It aims to help regional employers recruit skilled foreign workers to fill vacancies that cannot be met through local hiring.

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According to an immigration law firm, the latest round will allocate provincial nomination spaces to six participating communities: Greater Sudbury, Kenora District, Nipissing District, Rainy River District, Renfrew County and Thunder Bay.

The province has not yet announced how many nomination spaces will be allocated to each community.

Which six Ontario communities are included?

The six participating communities and districts were selected based on their need for skilled foreign workers and their capacity to attract and support newcomers.

The selection process also considered local labour shortages, employer involvement and the availability of settlement services to help immigrants integrate into their communities.

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The initiative is particularly relevant for foreign workers who are open to living outside Toronto and its surrounding urban centres. However, choosing one of the participating locations does not automatically make a candidate eligible for the programme.

Who can apply under the REDI initiative?

The initiative is intended for skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in one of the six participating areas.

Candidates must meet the applicable eligibility requirements of the OINP. Their eligibility will depend on the relevant immigration pathway and their individual circumstances.

There is no separate REDI application. Candidates are considered through the regular OINP process, provided they meet the requirements of the applicable stream.

Prospective applicants should therefore review the current provincial nominee programme criteria before proceeding.

How does the permanent residence process work?

The process involves both provincial and federal authorities.

Ontario first assesses eligible candidates under its provincial nominee programme. A provincial nomination can support a foreign worker's application for Canadian permanent residence.

The federal government then assesses the permanent residence application. Receiving a provincial nomination does not automatically guarantee permanent residence, as applicants must still meet federal immigration requirements.

The REDI initiative is designed to connect employers in participating communities with foreign workers whose skills are needed locally. It also helps employers and regional partners understand and use Ontario's immigration programme.

What has changed in the latest round?

Ontario's regional immigration initiative builds on earlier efforts to attract newcomers beyond its largest urban centres. According to the provincial government, the programme began as a pilot in 2020 and expanded in 2025.

It has supported the nomination of nearly 1,000 workers across seven partner communities to date.

The latest round will continue to focus on communities facing labour shortages and capable of supporting newcomers. However, the allocation of nomination spaces among the six participating areas remains unannounced.

What should prospective immigrants do now?

Foreign workers considering the initiative should first assess whether they are willing to settle and work in one of the participating communities. They should then check the current OINP eligibility requirements and identify the immigration stream that matches their qualifications and circumstances.

Candidates should not assume that the initiative guarantees a job offer, provincial nomination or permanent residence. They should monitor official Ontario government updates for details on nomination allocations and implementation.

The official REDI programme information is available on the Ontario government's website.