The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has launched a new phase of the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) program. That means setting aside six communities outside of the GTA for opportunities to be nominated by the province.
A specific program will help local companies find and hire qualified workers for positions that the local labor market can’t fill and will run through the end of 2027.
Which Communities Are Part of the REDI Initiative in Ontario?
The six municipalities listed below have been selected by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) for the 2026–2027 round:
- Greater Sudbury/Grand Sudbury
- Kenora District
- Nipissing District
- Rainy River District
- Renfrew County
- Thunder Bay
The geographic limits of each participating area are based on census divisions as defined by Statistics Canada. Prospective employers should check the official borders to find out if their future workplace is in a designated area.
What Makes Ontario Choose These Six Communities for REDI?
Ontario selected participating municipalities based on their readiness to help newcomers and their need for economic immigration. The province looked at some factors like:
- The demand for local labor, especially in the health care industry
- Ontario’s diversity of geography and culture
- Communities’ ability and willingness to participate
- Willingness to help new arrivals to settle down
- Support from local stakeholders, including employers and governments.
With REDI, Ontario hopes to help member communities close the skilled labor gap and grow local economic development while connecting regional firms to skilled labor.
How Can Candidates and Employers Take Part in REDI?
Employers: Businesses and stakeholders in the six participating areas can email the OINP at immigration.ontario@ontario.ca for more information on the program or to arrange an employer consultation.
Candidates: Foreign workers are encouraged to review the eligibility criteria for the specific OINP stream they wish to apply to and ensure that their preferred work location is in a designated area. They need to apply through the existing application process and meet the criteria for that stream.
They must apply through the existing pathway application process and meet the requirements.
Ontario has closed its former Employer Job Offer streams as part of its program reform.
Is an Ontario Provincial Nomination Guaranteed by REDI?
No. If a foreign skilled worker is working in one of the six participating regions, they are not eligible for nomination. Candidates must meet the application and selection requirements of the applicable OINP pathway.
In addition, a provincial nomination is different from PR. Successful nominees still need to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the federal government has the final say on their application for permanent residence.
How many workers has REDI helped so far?
The Ontario government says the specific program has helped to nominate approximately 1,000 workers in seven partner communities to date.
But these nominations have helped bolster key economic sectors including skilled trades and health care.
The province launched its regional immigration pilot program in 2020 with three partner communities and expanded it in 2025 with four new community partners.
The 2026-2027 new round offers nomination slots for six designated communities. If you are planning to immigrate to Canada, you need to keep up with the latest immigration news and check the official IRCC website regularly for any changes in eligibility requirements, application requirements and immigration policies.
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