Northern Ontario is facing a skilled labor crisis that threatens the development of its communities and critical sectors. In response, the Northern Ontario Chambers of Commerce, municipal representatives, and economic groups have launched an initiative to increase the quota of skilled immigration to the region by 3,000 people annually. This effort aims to redirect a more significant number of immigrants to rural areas, away from urban centers like Toronto, which currently receives 90% of immigrants.
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The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, which has had 21,500 spots since 2023, allocates only between 100 and 200 to the northern region. However, it is estimated that Northern Ontario will need around 10,000 new residents each year over the next decade to avoid stagnation. The labor shortage affects both housing construction and vital industries in the region, such as mining and forestry.
Charles Cirtwill, director of the Northern Policy Institute, highlights that the province cannot build housing more quickly because of the need for more skilled workers. Immigration is seen as an immediate and viable solution, allowing people with pre-existing skills to enter the labor market. This would be an effective way to meet the region’s needs while long-term training programs are developed.
The plan projects that cities like Greater Sudbury and Thunder Bay will receive hundreds of new immigrants annually, filling vacancies in sectors with high labor demand. In addition, Charla Robinson, director of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes that diversifying communities through immigration would contribute to a more welcoming environment for newcomers. Established immigrant communities would facilitate the transition of new residents, helping them integrate socially and culturally.
Northern Ontario needs skilled workers not only to fill vacant positions but also to revitalize its aging communities. With the support of economic groups and local governments, the increase in the immigration quota could be the key to ensuring the region’s economic and social future in the coming decades.
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