Ontario has relaunched its Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) initiative, allocating provincial-nominee spaces to Greater Sudbury, Kenora District, Nipissing District, Rainy River District, Renfrew County and Thunder Bay through to the end of 2027. Unlike the 2021 pilot, the new round operates inside Ontario’s recently overhauled Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream, meaning applicants do not file a separate REDI form but must first qualify under OWP criteria. The province closed its eight legacy streams in June 2026 and introduced OWP with an expression-of-interest system that awards points for wage, language, education and—crucially—regional employment. Earlier this month Ontario tweaked the grid to add 10 points for candidates earning at least CA$80,000 in any of the past five years, a move analysts say will reward experienced trades and healthcare workers willing to settle outside the GTA. By funnelling nomination spots to six predominantly northern regions, Queen’s Park hopes to tackle chronic labour shortages without adding administrative layers. Employers in resource extraction, forestry, agri-food and healthcare sectors are expected to benefit most, as they struggle to attract talent given limited local population growth. For foreign workers, REDI offers a clearer route to permanent residence but does not circumvent federal requirements such as medicals, biometrics and settlement funds. Immigration advisers recommend that candidates line up full-time job offers before submitting an OWP profile to maximise their points and improve selection odds. Municipalities involved have pledged to boost settlement capacity—language classes, housing and community integration services—using CA$5 million in provincial matching funds earmarked for 2027. Success will hinge on whether newcomers put down long-term roots rather than using northern postings as a springboard to Toronto or Ottawa.
Source: IRCC.com
