Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Government of Canada will provide $500,000 to 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, funding will help the city 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.
“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,” said Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development.
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.
“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,” said Mayor Christian Provenzano.