Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Skills Development has expanded the Regional Economic Development Immigration (REDI) initiative to six additional communities for the 2026-2027 cycle, according to an ImmigCanada brief dated October 22. The newcomers-retention program offers municipalities technical assistance and marketing funds to attract skilled immigrants outside the Greater Toronto Area. The new entrants—Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Owen Sound, Chatham-Kent, Cornwall and North Bay—will receive up to CAD 500,000 each to develop employer consortiums, foreign-credential recognition pilots and settlement-housing partnerships. In return, communities commit to tracking retention rates for at least three years, providing critical data for future policy tweaks. REDI operates alongside Ontario’s Employer Job Offer and Masters Graduate PNP streams, effectively creating a two-step pathway: first, lure candidates through targeted marketing; second, nominate them for permanent residence once a job offer materialises. Since launching in 2024, participating towns have reported average immigrant retention of 68 percent after 24 months—well above historical norms for Northern Ontario. For employers, the expanded coverage means more local chambers will have access to pre-screening tools and concierge services that match vacancies with overseas talent pools, reducing recruitment costs. Companies should engage early to secure wage incentives and relocation grants that are typically allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. HR leaders should also monitor how REDI metrics feed into future federal allocations; high retention could bolster a community’s case for larger PNP quotas in 2028 and beyond, further smoothing mobility pipelines.
Source: ImmigCanada
