Northern communities want a permanent foreign worker immigration program, sources say
As the health care field struggles to fill positions, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program has proven to be a lifeline, according to the Timmins and District Hospital.
Human resources manager Mike Resetar said the program has been an efficient way to address some of the hospital’s staffing shortages.
Mike Resetar, Human resources manager at Timmins and District Hospital. June 1/23 (Sergio Arangio/CTV Northern Ontario)
"We've been able to [hire] a number of roles […] with physicians, nursing positions, personal support workers, as well as support staff," Resetar said.
"The availability of these individuals looking for work is great."
Rasetar said the program is painless from his end and makes a foreign worker's Canadian dream easier to achieve.
Local program coordinator Bailey Campbell, with the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC), said there have been hundreds of success stories since its launch in 2019.
"Since the beginning of the pilot, we've recommended 352 candidates," Campbell said.
"That's 352 jobs in the community that are being filled by skilled foreign workers and, in addition, family members that are coming and accompanying them."
The pilot program was revised last year to broaden its reach, among other items and is set to expire in 2024.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau joined other northern politicians in calling on federal immigration minister Sean Fraser to make it permanent.
Boileau said there's more awareness of and interest in the program now, plus applicants are better able to take advantage, with COVID-19 travel restrictions dropped.
"We've actually been able to, through this program, attract talent into positions that were going unfilled for years and years and years, and things that are quite specialized," Boileau said.
"It would be such a shame to have to sunset the program by this year's end when we've really gotten into the groove of things."
The immigration minister's office issued a statement to CTV News, noting Fraser’s belief in the program and desire to fix any issues.
"The benefits of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot are undeniable," the statement reads.
"Minister Fraser has spoken with those directly impacted by this program and has heard how it not only meets crucial labour demands but is also strengthening communities. We will continue to work on this and will have more to share soon."
Campbell said it's a matter of identifying any other flaws and gaps and gathering input from employers, employees and prospective applicants.
The TEDC is gathering letters of support from stakeholders, she said, as well as signatures for an online petition.
Officials said the goal is to both address immediate job market demand and prepare for an eventual exodus of soon-to-be retirees.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.