Ontario targets increased immigrant intake

Ontario is continuing to help businesses in the province attract the talented people they need to compete globally by accepting more skilled newcomers than ever before through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Laura Albanese, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and Deb Matthews, Deputy Premier and Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, last week announced they were targeting a record immigrant intake in the year ahead.

Recognising the success of the OINP and its importance to the province’s economy, the federal government has increased the province’s 2017 allocation by 500 nominees to a total of 6,000. Through the OINP, Ontario is able to nominate people for permanent resident status. Nominees include skilled workers, international students, experienced entrepreneurs, and key staff of established foreign corporations seeking to expand into Ontario.

“Immigration is key to stimulating innovation, growing our workforce and keeping us competitive in today’s global economy,” said Minister Albanese. “By helping attract the people who have the skills and abilities we need to fill labour market gaps, the government is helping ensure businesses are better able to prosper and make our province even stronger,” she added.

About 25 per cent of Ontario’s 2016 nominees work in the thriving ICT sector. This is more than double the amount suggested by Ontario business leaders and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (10 per cent)‎.

Next week, the OINP will open applications for its three highest-volume streams – the International Masters Graduate Stream, the International PhD Graduate Stream, and the Ontario Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream.

With their advanced language skills and global connections, international students are important to the success of Ontario’s economy.

The OINP is also modernising its application process this year with a new, paperless online system, which will speed up the application process, improve customer service, and help employers find the skilled workers they need sooner.

Attracting and retaining skilled newcomers is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

Article published 24th February 2017