The Ontario government has updated the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program to include truck drivers and personal support workers as part of its In-Demand Skills list.
The OINP program allows immigrants with in-demand skill sets to apply to be nominated for permanent residence, filling gaps in the provincial labour market.
In northern Ontario, truck drivers, nurse aides, orderlies, and other personal support workers are now in high demand. Amendments to the OINP have also included reducing the work experience requirements in these categories.
While the update is a step in the right direction, Ontario’s workforce demands in the trades are likely to increase, with new mining and energy transmission projects in the northwest.
For newcomers wanting to start a business or buy an existing one in Ontario, the threshold for investment has been significantly reduced as well: outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), investors now need to invest $200,000 instead of $500,000. Within the GTA, the threshold is down to $600,000 from $1 million.