Ontario to see higher numbers of economic immigrants under federal agreement

Ontario is set to double the number of economic immigrants it welcomes to the province under an agreement with the federal government to boost the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

In an announcement Saturday, Ontario Labour and Immigration Minister Monte McNaughton said the province will have more than 18,000 spots under the program in 2025.

McNaughton called for the doubling in 2021 when the province was allowed to bring in 9,000 people under that program.

"Today's announcement is a significant win for the people of Ontario and will help us control our economic destiny by selecting more of the skilled immigrants we know are well-placed to succeed and build stronger communities for all of us," said McNaughton.

The new agreement will see Ontario go from 9,750 immigrants under the program in 2022 to welcoming 16,500 in 2023, more than 17,000 in 2024, and more than 18,000 in 2025.

The Ford government says people brought in through last year's allocation included 3,900 skilled trades workers, 2,200 software and IT workers, 1,000 truck drivers and more than 100 nurses and personal support workers.

McNaughton says the number of health-care workers in particular will change drastically.