Making Ontario more competitive for permanent residency

Ontario is less competitive than other provinces when it comes to approving permanent residency for new Canadians. This impacts our ability to attract talent at a time when we desperately need to increase our workforce, especially in Peterborough and the Kawarthas where unemployment remains well below the national average.
 
We have put forward a policy resolution for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to add pressure to our provincial government to take a look at the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program and rework it to help employers attract and retain talent.
 
Ontario offers a lot for prospective new Canadians in terms of job opportunities and multicultural communities, but it has become less competitive when it comes to getting permanent residency.
 
For many people here on student and work visas, securing permanent residency is a major source of anxiety. Fear of not being accepted before their visas expire is driving people to other provinces that increase their chances of success.
 
Labour markets are softening, but access to labour remains one of the biggest barriers to business. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce 2023 Ontario Economic Report found businesses reported investing in workforce development to be their second highest policy priority.
 
The slowing economy is likely to ease labour pressure, but the slew of impending retirements will further increase demand.
 
While unemployment increased in the second half of 2023, BDC reports that it’s because the active working population grew with about 430,000 jobs being created between January and November of 2023.
 
As much as Ontario has to offer newcomers, lack of access to housing and the rising cost of living are increasingly becoming barriers. Add this to the fact that other provinces make it easier to gain permanent residency while offering lower living costs and Ontario is increasingly becoming less attractive.
 
Currently, the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) points system offers similar criteria to the Federal Express Entry program, which does not set the Province apart nor is it helpful for the candidates who fall outside the scope of the federal program. Our province should be targeting those who fall outside the federal criteria, especially if they are currently working or have a job offer in Ontario.
 
There is a lack of clarity on what National Occupation Codes (NOC) will be invited in the future, pushing people from certain professions to other provinces that are more likely to sponsor them. Additionally, provinces like Alberta have had success by removing the requirement to select a specific job or occupation from a list, opening up more opportunities for new Canadians to work in any job or business sector.
 
We have small and microbusinesses in Ontario that have a desire to sponsor new residents, but their business does not meet financial requirements. In the Greater Toronto Area, sponsoring businesses must have five employees and $1 million in revenue. Outside the GTA that drops to three employees and $500,000 in revenue. This financial threshold especially impacts small family businesses from immigrant communities.
 
Some candidates for residency have been working in Ontario for years with programs like the Labour Market Impact Assessment, but still do not qualify for residency here. Others are here studying for in-demand vocations like personal support workers, but don’t qualify for the Student Job Offer stream because their program is less than two years.
 
It has been pointed out by a number of industry professionals that the online application system is not as user-friendly as it could be, especially when those trying to apply may have language barriers, technology barriers, and slow internet connections.
 
Ontario needs to make some strategic changes to its approach to immigration and sponsoring candidates for permanent residency.
 
Recommendations
We recommend the Government of Ontario:
 
Make Ontario more competitive for securing permanent residency by:

1. Tailoring the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program to target candidates who fall outside the federal criteria with an emphasis on those already working in Ontario, including establishing a program for those with long-term work experience in Ontario as a pathway to residency.
2. Reducing employment criteria barriers, including:
   1. Providing clarity on what NOC codes will be invited in the future or eliminating the requirement to select a specific job or occupation from a list altogether.
   2. Lowering the revenue requirement and requirements for a specific number of employees for businesses to allow for smaller businesses to sponsor permanent residents.
3. Opening up the Student Job Offer Stream program to students in one-year programs.
4. Improving the functionality of the OINP website, providing a more up-to-date and user-friendly experience.