Huron County was not selected by the province as one of the regions to implement the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) program, but it will be able to take part.
The purpose of the REDI program is to promote immigration outside of the Greater Toronto Area with selected partner communities by allocating a specific number of guaranteed employer-endorsed applications for permanent residency for skilled workers in critical workforce gaps.
County council received an update from Mark Nonkes, Manager of the Local Immigration Partnership, last week, who said that Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skill Development announced six regions that were selected and Huron County was not one of them.
However, Nonkes said their application impressed the province enough that 25 spaces will be reserved for Huron County applicants through the province's Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
"This allocation has been reserved specifically for your community and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis," read correspondence from a Ministry representative. "Once this dedicated allocation has been fully utilized, eligible candidates from your region may still pursue opportunities through the OINP. They will be considered alongside other candidates across Ontario rather than for nominations reserved specifically for your community."
The successful communities selected to implement the REDI program in 2026-2027 were: Greater Sudbury, Kenora District, Nipissing District, Rainy River District, Renfrew County, and Thunder Bay.
