The province is looking to make it easier for businesses to attract top talent and skilled workers from around the world.

Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Todd Smith was in North Bay to announce changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.,

That includes an expansion of worker types.

He tells BayToday it’s all about addressing labour shortages that can’t be filled by Ontario workers.

One change involves the trucking industry.

“To allow for these trucking companies to find drivers that want to come from another country, we’ll help get them on the pathway to permanent residency and more importantly fill a labour shortage need in our community, in the north,” he says.

With additional long-term care beds being created, they’re also adding Personal Support Workers too.

Other changes to the program include lowering the threshold of investment for those looking to create jobs in Ontario.

Smith tells BayToday they’re putting Ontario on a level playing field with other provinces and territories.

“What it allows you to do, if you have a motel on the waterfront here in North Bay and you don’t have family members that want to take it over, but there are entrepreneurs in another country who would love to come to North Bay and purchase a motel, they can actually do it here instead of maybe going to Quebec or Manitoba or somewhere out west, where their net worth didn’t have to be quite as high as it would in Ontario,” he says.

(Photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday)

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