TORONTO — The Ontario government is making changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to expand the health care workforce, increase the occupations eligible for the In-Demand Skills stream and protect newcomers from immigration fraud. These changes help address ongoing labour shortages in key sectors such as health care while also better protecting newcomers to the province.
“Newcomers play a crucial role in growing our economy and building a stronger and more inclusive Ontario for all of us,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By expanding the current pathways of this program, we are attracting more top-tier talent to Ontario and removing the barriers they face, while addressing the human resources challenges in health care.”
The province’s economic immigration program will now exempt nurses who are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario in designated classes from being required to provide a bachelor’s degree to qualify for the OINP Express Entry Human Capital Priorities and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams. This change will create additional pathways for internationally educated nurses, to receive a nomination through the program, enabling Ontario to better expand the health care workforce to meet the needs of Ontarians.
The OINP is also increasing the number of occupations eligible for the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream from 22 to 56, which is in response to the feedback received from previously held consultations on program eligibility. This will allow more skilled workers to qualify for the program.
Ontario is increasing the Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) that will be issued when fraud is found from employers, representatives, recruiters, or those who acquire a financial benefit from fraud. The minimum penalty will rise from $2,000 to $10,000. This will help prevent misuse of the program and protect newcomers from immigration fraud.
To further attract the skilled workers Ontario needs the most and ensure they can start working in their professions sooner, the province is the first in Canada to remove discriminatory barriers that prevent foreign-trained professionals from continuing their careers in fields they trained in, such as engineering, architecture and skilled trades.