The federal government announced Friday that Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Timmins, and their surrounding areas are part of the new Northern and Rural Immigration Pilot Project.

Starting in 2020, Ottawa will process immigration applications according to what these communities say their skills needs are.

And CTV News caught up with a man in North Bay, a newcomer to Canada, who is glad he made the move eight years ago.

Chrishna Sukhavasi arrived in Canada in 2011 from India.

He says if he hadn't moved here, he would have missed out on a number of opportunities.

“Canada got a lot of opportunities and there's no limit, the sky is the limit. I got my bank loan approvals and everything.” said Sukhavasi.

Since moving to North Bay, he has been able to start up his own business and he purchased a home.

He says when he heard about the latest pilot program, he knew it would be something everyone could benefit from.

“The more people you bring in, the more they make and the more they spend. Everybody gets part of it. The Government of Canada gets it; the City of North Bay gets it. They buy their houses, they spend their money.” said Sukhavasi.

Nipissing Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota says for years he has heard from employers the need for more workers.

“Employers have to come forward and identify what kind of skills they need and find someone in other countries, so that we can bring them back and fill the needs that Canadian employers and the Canadian economy needs.” said Rota.

The MP says he acknowledges there will be some people who won’t welcome the program, but he says northern economy needs it.

“We're bringing immigrants in, people in, they're people, who are coming and they're coming in to do a job. We need them as much as they need us. It's working together and that's what Canada is about.” said Rota.

“The best part of Canada is they accept the world. That makes Canada great.” said Sukhavasi.

Under the program, a maximum of 250 skilled workers a year would come to the region for three years, and it could be extended to five years.

As for Sukhavasi, he's hopeful the pilot program is something his family in India will be able to take advantage of.