WHEREAS employers across Northern Ontario are experiencing a critical shortage of skilled workers, contributing to a shrinking labour market with an estimated 50,000 newcomers needed by 2041 to sustain current Northern Ontario population levels;
AND WHEREAS, the labour shortage is causing significant economic hardship for Northern Ontario communities, including reduced productivity and business closures;
AND WHEREAS population and migration trends to 2021 suggest that Northern Ontario needs 100,000 newcomers by 2041 to sustain current population;
AND WHEREAS the success of the federal Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) demonstrates the effectiveness of allocating nomination spots to address regional labour shortages in attracting newcomers to Northern Ontario;
AND WHEREAS, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has been expanded from 9,750 nominees in 2022 to a goal of 21,500 nominees in 2024;
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT Council for the Municipality of East Ferris urges the Government of Ontario to address the critical market shortage of skilled labour in Northern Ontario by allocating 3,000 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program spots to support the region's economic growth and development;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, local Members of Provincial Parliament; the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, and the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce.