Fort Frances backing demands for rural immigration program

Fort Frances and the District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) are offering their support to the establishing of a rural immigration program within the Kenora-Rainy River region.

Confederation College and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association are leading the effort to have a second Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP).

The program is designed to attract skilled workers from outside Canada to rural and remote communities and offer them an opportunity to obtain permanent residency in the country.

A pilot program was permitted for the Thunder Bay area, but it eliminates other communities in northwestern Ontario from participating.

Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas says it would help many businesses in his community.

“I’m in contact on a regular basis with local businesses such as Canadian Tire, La Place Rendezvous, Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Boston Pizza and others who desperately need these workers,” says Hallikas.

“If you’ve gone to these establishments, you know how much the workers add to the whole dining experience.

Support is being sought from municipalities, organizations, and others.

In a letter, Charene Gilles, Chief Administrative Officer for the DRRSB, states that an additional RCIP site would help stabilize the region’s workforce.

“We continue to experience an aging population and limited local labour pool,” writes Gilles.

“For DRRSB, it would strengthen our ability to recruit and retain critical employees, particularly in child care, and support continuity of services that are essential to district families, employers, and community sustainability.”