Ontario 2027 regional quotas: 150 spots for North Bay

Attracting international talent beyond major urban centres is a growing priority. In mid-October 2026, the Government of Ontario announced the relaunch of its Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) initiative. Integrated into the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), this approach aims to boost regions outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). By allocating specific quotas to partner communities, the province intends to provide local employers with concrete tools to fill labour shortages and retain skilled foreign workers.

What changes

The REDI initiative changes how provincial nominations are distributed in Ontario. Rather than relying solely on a general provincial pool, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development allocates reserved quotas directly to certain regions.

However, REDI is not a new, independent immigration program. There is no separate provincial form or dedicated application portal. The initiative relies entirely on the existing OINP infrastructure. Candidates must qualify under current streams, notably the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. The innovation lies in holding targeted invitation draws, allowing the province to select profiles that specifically meet the needs of employers in partner regions.

Additionally, employers receive dedicated support. The OINP, in collaboration with responsible municipal bodies (such as the North Bay Economic Development Department for the Nipissing District), offers business assistance services and information sessions to facilitate international recruitment efforts.

Who is affected

This initiative is aimed jointly at skilled foreign workers seeking to settle in Ontario and regional employers struggling to recruit locally.

For the 2026-2027 cycle, six communities have been selected by the province:

• Greater Sudbury
• Kenora District
• Nipissing District (which includes the city of North Bay)
• Rainy River District
• Renfrew County
• Thunder Bay

A crucial point for employers and candidates is the geographic boundary. Eligibility is not limited to the strict municipal borders of the named cities. It is based on the official census divisions defined by Statistics Canada. Thus, for a job offer to be valid under REDI, the workplace must be physically located within the boundaries of the partner census division.

It is also important to note that participating in REDI does not preclude the use of other programs. For example, the city of North Bay and the Nipissing District are concurrently participating in the federal government's Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). Local employers therefore have two distinct pathways to hire foreign talent.

Key dates and figures

The timeline and allocations for the REDI initiative are strictly defined for the current cycle. Here are the key elements to remember:

These 150 spots for the Nipissing District guarantee that a specific volume of workers will be able to obtain permanent residence by settling in this specific region next year.

What to do

The process requires close coordination between the candidate and the employer. Here are the steps to follow to take advantage of the REDI initiative.

For candidates:

1. Find an eligible job: You must obtain a job offer from an employer whose operations are physically located in one of the six partner census divisions (for example, the Nipissing District).
2. Check OINP eligibility: Ensure you meet the requirements of one of the existing Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams (such as the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream).
3. Submit an Expression of Interest: Create a profile and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the OINP online portal. This step must be supported by your employer.
4. Receive an invitation: Ontario will hold targeted draws from the EOI pool to invite candidates eligible for REDI.
5. Apply for permanent residence: Once you obtain the provincial nomination, you must submit your official permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

For employers: Businesses located in eligible regions must ensure that the job offered meets OINP criteria. It is highly recommended to attend information sessions and use the business assistance services offered by the OINP and local partners to properly structure job offers and effectively support the Expressions of Interest of their future employees.