Ontario is making Sarnia-Lambton a priority destinations for newcomers amid a skilled labor supply shortage.
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“This program is going to be absolutely critical to the area filling many of the skills gaps that have been identified,” said Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership CEO Matthew Slotwinski.
The program is called Rural Economic Development through Immigration (REDI).
It’s a pilot program through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, underway now until Dec. 31, that reserves 200 nominations in Sarnia-Lambton for applicants through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Slotwinski said.
A similar successful pilot included Chatham-Kent in 2020, he said.
“This is an extension of the previous pilot,” he said.
Whether it will continue beyond 2025 is unclear, he said.
The OINP provides various ways for foreign workers, international students and others with the right skills to apply for permanent residence. The federal government decides whether to approve applications.
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Under the REDI pilot, Sarnia-Lambton is guaranteed 200 nominations in 2025, Slotwinski said.
Areas not selected for the program don’t have any nomination guarantees, he said.
“I really can’t emphasize enough how appreciative we are” to be selected, he said.
Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, and Thunder Bay are the other areas participating in the 2025 REDI program, each guaranteed 200 OINP nominations, he said.
All were selected based on labor challenges, ability to help settle newcomers, community interest, and their geographic and cultural diversity, according to provincial program information.
Some of the roles being targeted in Sarnia-Lambton include in childcare, construction, healthcare and skilled tradesSlotwinski said.
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“You can look at this as filling gaps in our local labor supply that couldn’t be accommodated by those that are already living in the community,” he said.
Key is the program doesn’t replace other programs helping locals find employment, he said.
“It’s to fill those areas where there are identified labor gaps,” he said.
The economic partnership plans to work with other local economic development officials, Lambton College, the Sarnia-Lambton chamber of commerce, local immigration partnership and other groups to get the word out and make sure people are welcomed and supported, he said.
The economic partnership is covering the estimated $50,000 expense for program administration, he said.
Employers looking to fill positions and prospective newcomers alike are encouraged to contact the partnership at 519-332-1820, or [email protected]he said.
Hopes are to encourage more people to settle in Sarnia-Lambton, he said.
The partnership is also providing support for local employers to navigate hiring and retaining skilled talent via the program, and will be hosting a series of information sessions, officials said in a news release.
“We are tremendously excited for what this could mean for the Sarnia-Lambton area,” Slotwinski said.
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