Government of Canada invests to boost immigration to meet the workforce needs of Sault Ste. Marie employers and to help maintain up to 300 jobs

From: Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario - FedNor

News release

FedNor funding to help attract skilled newcomers to address employment gaps in the region

August 5, 2021 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario – FedNor

A highly skilled workforce is key to the growth of Canadian businesses and a strong national economy. Immigration continues to play an important role in addressing Canada’s skill and labour needs, while helping to attract investment capital. Through Regional Development Agencies, such as FedNor, the Government of Canada is helping communities across the country attract skilled newcomers that match employer needs, leading to enhanced productivity, economic growth and further job creation.

Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedNor, today announced a Government of Canada investment of $500,000 to enable the City of Sault Ste. Marie to implement Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) in the region.  

Provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, the funding will enable the City of Sault Ste. Marie to attract and retain newcomers to Northern Ontario to fill employment gaps. Specifically, the funding will be used to support outreach, training, administration, communications and marketing needed to identify, select and support businesses and newcomers in relocating to Sault Ste. Marie. As part of the project, the City will also assist employers in identifying and targeting potential applicants for positions that have gone unfilled.

Designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities, RNIP supports permanent residence for skilled foreign workers wanting to relocate to a participating community. The City of Sault Ste. Marie is one of the 11 successful applicant communities across Canada selected to participate in this five-year economic pilot program, which runs until 2025.

Quotes

“Attracting immigrant skilled workers is an integral part of our government’s Innovation and Skills Plan and will be fundamental to Canada’s inclusive and sustainable economic recovery. In these uncertain times, we want Canadian businesses to know that we have their back and our government’s focus on immigration and diversification supports business growth and helps create high-quality jobs in Sault Ste. Marie and across Northern Ontario.”
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedNor

“The funding announced today reinforces our government’s commitment to recruit and retain top talent so we can continue growing and supporting rural regions. Our government’s focus on immigration and diversification will support a strong economic recovery that is inclusive, sustainable, and creates high-quality jobs here at home in Sault Ste. Marie.”
- Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedNor

“The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is an important opportunity to attract skilled newcomers to our community and to support our employers. As a welcoming and inclusive community, Sault Ste. Marie is pleased that we are one of 11 Canadian communities selected for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. I want to thank the Government of Canada and FedNor for their support in helping us meet our workforce needs and maximizing the social and economic potential of the region.”
- Mayor Christian Provenzano, City of Sault Ste. Marie

Quick facts

  • The funding announced today is provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP), which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, diversification and business growth.

  • IRCC’s RNIP is community-driven and designed to disperse the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities and create a path to permanent residency for skilled foreign workers who want to secure employment in one of the participating communities.

  • Since 2015, FedNor has provided more than $183 million in NODP funding to support 487 projects, which helped create and maintain more than 8,400 jobs in communities and First Nations across Northern Ontario.

Associated links

Contacts

Catherine Mounier-Desrochers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
catherine.mounier-desrochers@canada.ca

Barclay Babcock
Communications Officer
FedNor
705-690-0957
barclay.babcock@ised-isde.gc.ca

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