TORONTO — Ontario Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton has issued a statement calling on the federal government to allow Ontario to nominate more employment-ready immigrants.
“The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is a key step in addressing the province’s skilled labour shortage by helping bring workers with the skills and experience required to solve our economic challenges,” stated McNaughton in the March 11 release. “This program helps grow our booming technology sector, staff the skilled construction trades, and meet regional needs.
“In order to ensure a prosperous future for Ontario, our province requires immigrants with the skills and experience our economy needs. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, I am committed to attracting skilled workers to the province to fill gaps in the labour market, meet the needs of employers and help businesses grow, for the benefit of the people of Ontario.”
Currently, Ontario is only allowed to select around 15 per cent economic immigrants, compared to a minimum of 40 per cent in other provinces, the statement explained. McNaughton said the province is asking the federal government to double the current allocation over the next two years, 2020-2022, to 13,300.
A similar request last year resulted in an increase of only 50 additional positions, McNaughton’s statement noted.
“Last week, Ontario started accepting applications for international students with job offers in our province. Within hours, not even days, the maximum number of applications allowed by the federal government had been reached,” McNaughton said in the release.
“We need greater control to help ensure our specific economic needs are met. We need it to create jobs and prosperity for everyone as we build our province together.”
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