The Rainy River District is one of six areas that will address workforce shortages over the next 14 months through the new Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) initiative.
The REDI initiative was officially launched on Oct. 16 and will run until Dec. 31, 2027. The Ontario government partnered with regional community organizations and the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to fill critical sectors facing worker shortages with skilled foreign workers. Some of these sectors include healthcare, manufacturing, construction and skilled trades.
“Led by Confederation College, this regional partnership brings together municipalities, economic development organizations, employers, and community partners to help address labour shortages, attract skilled workers, and support long-term economic growth across Northwestern Ontario,” Angela Halvorsen, executive director of the Rainy River Future Development Corp. (RRFDC), said in a press statement.
“As a regional partner, RRFDC is pleased to support this initiative and help connect Rainy River District employers with resources and immigration pathways that can assist with their workforce needs.”
The OINP’s targeted regionalization initiative first started in 2020 with three communities and expanded with four new community partners in 2025. To date, this has brought in nearly 1,000 workers with experience in critical workforce sectors across these seven partnered communities.
Along with the Rainy River District, other newly affected areas of the REDI initiative include the Greater Sudbury area, the Kenora District, the Nipissing District, Renfrew County and the City of Thunder Bay.
These areas were selected following a period in spring 2026 when the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development invited communities from across Ontario, excluding the Greater Toronto Area to express their interest in participating.
The selected areas were chosen based on demonstrating needs for economic immigration for the following purposes:
- Representation of the geographic and cultural diversity of Ontario.
- Specific labour challenges including in healthcare.
- Community capacity and willingness to support the REDI initiative.
- Ability and readiness to help newcomers get settled.
- Interest and support from community stakeholders, including employers and municipalities.
“The Town of Fort Frances is incredibly pleased that Fort Frances and the Rainy River District are included in the 2026/27 REDI intake,” Mayor Andrew Hallikas said in a press release.
“This program will address employment needs of local businesses while creating opportunities for newcomers. It will support local employers and economic growth. We are grateful to Confederation College, which led a coalition of Municipalities, including the Town of Fort Frances, Indigenous organizations, economic development organizations, educational institutes, healthcare providers and community partners in lobbying the provincial government to include the Rainy River and Kenora Districts in this innovative program.”
The Town of Fort Frances is hosting a session on Nov. 6, running from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Civic Centre, where Representatives from OINP and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will be present to discuss temporary and permanent pathways supporting recruitment and retention of skilled foreign workers with employers.
Regional employers interested in attending the Friday session can register at www.eventbrite.com/e/workforce-solutions-immigration-pathways-for-employers-tickets-2003617155849.
