North Bay is expected to begin welcoming its first permanent immigrants under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot in the fall of 2020.
Last Friday, Ahmed Hussen Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced that North Bay is one of 11 communities selected to participate in the federal government’s new immigration pilot project.
“North Bay is one of five cities in Northern Ontario making up the 11 that were chosen. The other northern centers are Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury,” explained Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota in making the local announcement at North Bay City Hall Monday morning.
The pilot can accommodate up to 250 immigrants.
“They can come alone, or they can come with their whole family, but the 250 maximum includes only the one person,” said Rota.
He told the group of community partners and supporters gathered, that members of the Northern Ontario caucus pushed hard to be included in the pilot.
“We heard from employers who need skilled employees. I look around here and I see certain faces that I have spoken to, they have called me and said they want to expand, but they don’t have the people,” said Rota.
“Rural communities employ more than 4 million people in Canada, and they contribute to about 30 per cent of the GDP (gross domestic product). Canada’s population is aging, specially in smaller communities. They face challenges such as youth leaving their hometowns and skilled jobs going unfilled. They also have problems attracting and retaining newcomers.”
Rota said over the next five years his government will work directly with selected communities to help attract and welcome newcomers.
“Our government believes in communities that already have healthy economies like North Bay. Immigrants and immigration are key to alleviating our labour challenges and growing our future,” said Rota.
There was an overwhelming response when the call for applications was launched, with over 50 communities across northern Canada expressing an interest.
The application for North Bay includes stakeholders up and down the Highway 11 corridor from Burk’s Falls, all the way to Temiskaming Shores.
The North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce was the lead during the application phase of the process.
Chamber vice-president Patti Carr says approval will be given to those referred to as economic immigrants.
“They do have to have a full-time job offer when they do come. They must have economic stability before they even arrive. And we also have this other piece that is very important to our employers here, and that is, employment services. It’s what Yes Employment and a number of others along the corridor can offer for families or spouses of these immigrants as well,” said Carr.
She says many businesses are having a hard time finding the right fit for the job.
“We have looked locally, regionally and provincially and unfortunately we will not be able to fill all these spots that are coming available due to retirement and lower population.”
North Bay Mayor Al McDonald is pleased the city was selected as a pilot location.
“I will say this is a strategic approach to growing our workforce and population right here in the city.”
The mayor said this pilot is a good fit with council’s mandate to grow the city.
“It is not just the jobs. We have business owners that are retiring, and they’re looking for people to buy their businesses. So, you can imagine, these individuals are moving in and buying the local businesses so they can continue to operate versus shutting down,’ said McDonald.
“When we’re trying to attract industry to our city, the number one concern is if the labour force here available for them. Our mandate is to grow our city. It helps our existing businesses here because they’re having trouble attracting the skilled trades, and it is an opportunity for us when we’re trying to attract business and industry through Invest North Bay that we can say the local labour force is here and available.”
Other partners include the North Bay and District Multicultural Centre, the City of North Bay, Nipissing University and Canadore College.
“One goal of the pilot is to test new ideas in approaches to immigration in smaller centers. It also provides an opportunity for our government to work with pilot test sites, take what we’ve learned and create a blueprint for community-based immigration,” said Rota.
“It means we will address local needs. We will empower communities to attract and retain newcomers by having a welcoming environment. It is very important that communities themselves have a voice. They know what they need. Employers know who they need and what kind of skills they need. We want them to work and live and become active members of our community. “
As a community partner, the role of the North Bay and District Multicultural Centre will be in welcoming the immigrants to the area, offering its diverse services.
“Through well established programs and partnerships, we strive to support the full but equal and valuable participation of newcomers in all aspects of community life,” said Debra Robertson.
“Ultimately this pilot is an opportunity for us in the community to strengthen and to grow. And it is an opportunity for newcomers to embrace life here in the north, and experience all that it has to offer. We are committed to ensuring that we are providing the very best services that meets the needs of those who are choosing to call North Bay home.”
Leeann Maille, chair of North Bay’s local immigration partnership and CEO of Yes Employment Services called it an exciting time.
“Our mandate is to identify the needs of our community, then mobilize our community partners to address social and systemic barriers that get in the way of the successful integration of newcomers into our community,” said Maille.
“As the area’s primary employment service provider, we see daily the affects of the skills gap that currently exists in our area. Even though we help employers fill 100’s and 1,000’s of jobs a year, there are still positions that go unfilled.”
She said a pilot like this will fill gaps, if the community wants to sustain and grow the city.
“We support those employers looking to integrate and to build mechanisms to make sure those economic immigrants that come in and fill those gaps thrive and are happy in their workplaces. We’re also committed to supporting the families of those individuals coming. They are spouses and children looking for employment.”
Carr says the plan is to attract the maximum allowable in the catchment area over the next five years.
“If somebody is offered a full-time position here in our region, we have to do due diligence of course with the family making sure they have the proper money to come with them. They have to have unencumbered funds. They have to be qualified for that position, and once that job is offered, we then send on their application to Immigration Canada for further review,” said Carr.
“We are in the second cohort. The first cohort is actually going to be signing their MOU very shortly. We’re going to be in the fall so that we have a little more detail in ours. We’re expecting the first permanent immigrants to come in the fall of 2020. That does not preclude an employer who already has somebody in mind, to bring them in on a work permit. However, we’ll fast track permanent residency by the fall of 2020.”
Rota is proud of his own roots.
“My grandfather came here to work on the railway in 1903. So, I’m the grandson of an immigrant. My mother came over in 1960. I’m the son of an immigrant. And my daughter was born in China. She is adopted. I’m the father of an immigrant. So, what does immigration mean to me? Everything.”
