With its economy outperforming forecasts, Ontario is the economic engine of Canada and certainly the destination of choice for many foreign nationals immigrating to the country in search of meaningful employment.
“Ontario welcomed over 500,000 residents in 2023, a record high, and population growth is expected to remain historically strong over the next few years,” notes the Conference Board of Canada.
The latest Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data reveals 206,810 new permanent residents chose to settle in Ontario last year, roughly 43.8 per cent of the total 471,770 new permanent residents to Canada in 2023.
Ontario also welcomed 318,185 temporary foreign workers under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and another 50,045 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The province also issued 362,720 study permits to international students last year.
In New Workboots to Kick Deficits Down the Road: Our Analysis of the Ontario Budget 2024, the think-tank forecasts a rebound in the housing market in Ontario this year.
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“In terms of housing starts, just over 100,000 units will break ground annually between 2024 – 28, surpassing its record year in 2021,” notes that report.
“Although the government’s goal to build 1.5 million homes between 2022 – 31 remains a stretch, strong population growth and the government’s emphasis on infrastructure in (the) budget are important steps to stimulate residential investment.”
The Conference Board of Canada’s forecast calls for economic growth in Ontario this year of 3.9 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 1.3 per cent for employment growth.
Faced with that anticipated growth in demand for workers, Ontario’s immigration department has responded by making things easier for foreign nationals to come to the province for jobs.
Last year, Ontario became the first jurisdiction in Canada to ban the regulated professions from requiring Canadian work experience in more than 30 occupations.
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“It’s an all-too-common experience: meeting a skilled newcomer trained as an engineer, doctor, or accountant, working in a low-wage job that has nothing to do with their profession,” said then-Immigration Minister Monte McNaughton.
“Our government has a plan to build a stronger Ontario that works for everyone, and we’re going to do it by unleashing the talent we have right here at home.”
Through its two-tier immigration system, Canada allows foreign nationals to gain their permanent residency through the federal Express Entry system’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) of the 10 Canadian provinces.
OINP Supports Employers By Making It Easy For Foreign Nationals To Immigrate To Canada
Through its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Canada’s most populous province supports Ontario employers by facilitating the immigration of managerial, professional and skilled foreign workers and international students required to meet their human resources needs.
Interested candidates must follow a two-stage process. First, they apply for nomination to the provincial government and then, if nominated, apply for permanent residence to the federal government.
The OINP manages two intake systems to manage applications: Expression of Interest (EOI), Express Entry and Business Immigration. Each intake system is further divided into several streams.
Applicants must register in either the Expression of Interest system or the Express Entry system to let the OINP know that they wish to be invited to apply.
All streams in the EOI category operate through the OINP’s Express of Interest (EOI) system. To qualify, a candidate needs to register an EOI and receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA).
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
- Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream
- Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream
- Masters Graduate Stream
- PhD Graduate Stream
Express Entry streams operate through the federal government’s Express Entry System and are catered to candidates who have the skills and experience that Ontario employers need. Candidates must first register in the Express Entry system and receive a Notification Of Interest (NOI) before applying.
Ontario has suspended applications to the Entrepreneur Stream and has stopped accepting new EOIs.
Through the OINP, the province issues periodic ITAs through its EOI system and NOIs to candidates in the Express Entry pool, allowing them to apply for nomination under one of the targeted streams. The details and methodology used are published after the draws are done.
Foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada through OINP must now complete the Application Consent form but no longer need to provide an Attestation Form for applications made under the province’s EOI system.
That form must be:
- completed;
- correctly dated;
- signed by the applicant;
- signed by the applicant’s spouse and dependents, if applicable, and;
- uploaded with other documents in the application.
“If the form is not completed correctly, your application will be returned as incomplete and your fee will be refunded,” notes the OINP.
Representatives, including immigration lawyers, are not allowed to sign this form on their clients’ behalf.