The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) says the Thunder Bay district will take part in a provincial immigration program aimed at helping employers address workforce shortages and attract skilled talent.
The region has secured participation in Ontario’s Regional Economic Development through Immigration, or REDI, initiative for 2026-2027. Delivered through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, the initiative is designed to help rural and northern communities attract and retain internationally trained workers.
As part of the program, the Thunder Bay District is expected to receive an allocation of 150 immigration nominations in 2027. The nominations can help eligible foreign workers obtain permanent residency while providing local employers with another avenue to recruit skilled employees.
“Being selected to participate in the REDI initiative is an important opportunity for Thunder Bay and the surrounding region. Access to skilled talent is essential to supporting business growth, attracting investment and strengthening our regional economy. Immigration plays an important role in addressing workforce challenges, and this initiative provides another valuable tool to help local employers access the talent they need while welcoming newcomers who will contribute to the long-term prosperity of our communities.”
Jamie Taylor, CEO, Thunder Bay CEDC
The REDI initiative is also expected to encourage collaboration among regional partners, increase awareness of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and support long-term economic development throughout the Thunder Bay district.
Employers and stakeholders interested in learning more or arranging a consultation can contact the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program at immigration.ontario@ontario.ca.
This is a rebroadcast of a previous episode. This week’s Insights Podcast focuses on a recent report prepared by David Campbell for the Public Policy Forum called “Help Wanted: Solving Atlantic Canada’s Growing Labour Challenge”. David is a Fellow with the Public Policy Forum as well as the co-host of the Insights Podcast. In our conversation, he notes that Atlantic Canada will need more than 440,000 new workers by 2035 to replace those retiring and fill new jobs created by economic growth. He points out that 20% of today’s workforce in the region are 55 years old or more and will most likely be out of the workforce by 2035. More critically, due to low birth rates and an older population, Atlantic Canada does not have the capacity to produce the workers needed for the future. In fact, the shortfall is nearly 270,000 workers that will have to be attracted to the region from elsewhere. It is a crisis that is already evident. We talk about what needs to happen to address this growing problem.
Newcomers to Thunder Bay now have a new resource to help them get settled in.
The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) has launched Welcome Home: A Guide to Thunder Bay Living, its first welcome guide developed specifically for people moving to the city.
The guide provides information on local services, shopping, arts and culture and other resources newcomers may need during their first days, weeks and months in Thunder Bay.
“Relocating to a new city is one of life’s biggest transitions, and it can be overwhelming,” said CEDC CEO Jamie Taylor. “Our goal is to make that experience less stressful by making it easier for newcomers to navigate local services, connect with the community, and settle into Thunder Bay.”
The guide is divided into four sections: Thunder Bay Overview, City & Services, Shopping and Art & Culture.
CEDC says the resource is intended for people relocating for work, education or other opportunities, as well as employers and organizations helping newcomers settle in the city.
Taylor is encouraging local employers to include the guide as part of their onboarding process for new employees.
The initiative is part of CEDC’s efforts to attract and retain workers by making it easier for newcomers and their families to establish themselves in Thunder Bay.
The guide is available digitally through the CEDC’s Go To Thunder Bay website, while printed copies are available through the organization.
A Fort Frances delegation is in Ottawa for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference.
The meeting includes talks with representatives from the Ministry of Energy and the Minister of Labour.
Mayor Andrew Hallikas says with the Energy Minister, they are lobbying for assistance in upgrading the town’s electrical infrastructure.
He says it is needed for new private power projects to connect to the provincial grid.
“In order to do this, our Fort Francis Power Corporation has to undergo complete refurbishment,” says Hallikas.
“We need to modernize much of our local grid, much of our system. We’ll be needing to put in new substations. We’ll need to put in high voltage lines to handle these large sources of power. We’ll need to put in new transformers. All of that infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, is going to require funding.”
Hallikas says the infrastructure is going to cost a great deal of money that can not be borne by local ratepayers.
“We’re talking expenditures of millions of dollars locally,” says Hallikas.
“And that’s not something clearly that can be borne by property taxes. So we need a lot of help from the province.”
Hallikas says the province should be willing to provide support because it will contribute to the provincial grid.
With the Minister of Labour, Hallikas is pressing the point for changes to immigration laws that benefit small communities suffering worker shortages.
He says several communities in northwestern Ontario continue to face a shortage of workers because of declining and aging populations.
Many businesses have turned to foreign workers, but the federal government has put limits in place.
“In small rural northern communities like ours, we have a shortage of workers, and we desperately need these workers,” says Hallikas.
“I get calls from local businesses every day, pleading with me to do something to get our provincial government and our federal government to help out with changing immigration regulations because one size doesn’t fit all.”
Hallikas says they also want to see expanded regional immigration programs.
An immigration immigration pilot project was established, but all of the spots were allocated to Thunder Bay.
Two Saint John-area newcomers are recipients of a prestigious national immigrant award.
Former Saint John Newcomer Centre managing director Mohamed Bagha and comedian James Mullinger are among the 2026 Top 25 Canadian Immigrants.
Presented by Canadian Immigrant magazine, the award recognizes immigrants across Canada who have made a positive impact in their communities since arriving in the country, including advocates, volunteers and entrepreneurs.
Bagha and Mullinger were the only New Brunswick nominees on this year’s list. They were among 75 finalists shortlisted for the 18th edition of the awards.
Mullinger said he was surprised to learn he had made the list, adding that winning the award is a career milestone.
“It feels like a real full circle moment after 12 years of living here,” he said. “It definitely feels very special, and I really couldn’t be prouder.”
Originally from the U.K., Mullinger moved to New Brunswick in 2014 in search of a better life for his family.
He is best known in the region for his comedy career and media appearances, including CBC’s The Debaters and the documentary film City on Fire.
During his time in Canada, Mullinger has promoted the country and raised more than $200,000 for charities and non-profits.
In an interview with Acadia Broadcasting in early May, Mullinger said his motivation to give back stems from the warm welcome he received and the opportunities New Brunswick and Canada have provided him.
He said the recognition is the “icing on the cake” among the many highlights he has experienced since moving to Canada.
Mullinger said he is also proud that both he and Bagha received the honour, noting that New Brunswick, as a smaller province, can often be overlooked.
“I was so honoured to be on the shortlist with Mohamed, an icon not just of this community, but of the province,” he said.
According to the magazine’s website, the Top 25 winners were selected through a combination of judges’ scores and public voting. The judging panel includes past winners and leaders working in immigrant and ethnocultural communities.
Judges’ scores and public votes each account for 50 per cent of a nominee’s final score.
National recognition underscores N.B.’s welcoming community and growth opportunities
Mullinger said the award is also a testament to New Brunswick becoming a “shining light,” where people support and celebrate one another.
“Part of the reason I’m able to tour the country, and do big shows from coast to coast, is because of the support of New Brunswickers,” Mullinger said. “Any success that I have elsewhere is down to the kindness of New Brunswickers.”
Like Mullinger, Bagha believes the award highlights New Brunswick’s efforts to welcome newcomers and foster integration.
More importantly, he said, it demonstrates the opportunities available in the province, he said.
“There is lots of room for growth in this province, and there are hardly any hurdles,” he said. “If you work hard, you make those connections in the community, you really can create those opportunities for growth.”
Originally from Kenya, Bagha spent most of his professional career as managing director of the Saint John Newcomer Centre. He holds a master of interdisciplinary studies degree from the University of New Brunswick, with a focus on economic development and planning.
Mohamed Bagha is the former managing director of the Saint John Newcomer centre. PHOTO: MOHAMED BAGHA/SUBMITTED WITH PERMISSION.
He has received several awards for his contributions to the Saint John region, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. He has also been recognized as Changemaker of the Year and Most Inspiring Immigrant in the Maritimes.
Now the growth manager for the City of Saint John, Bagha said he was shocked and humbled to learn he had won the award.
Bagha added that he was proud to see Mullinger’s name on the list alongside his own.
An awards ceremony will be held at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto on Wednesday.
Both Bagha and Mullinger said the award inspires them to continue contributing to the province and country.
The Municipality of Shelburne has a new tool to help greet newcomers to the community.
They’ve published their new Shelburne County Community Guidebook, designed to help new community members navigate and acclimate to life in Shelburne.
The guide features helpful information like emergency contact numbers, important documentation, guides to understanding each season in the area, banking and housing information and much more.
“There’s things every day that we don’t think about, but for someone who’s new here, they might not understand things like how our waste collection works, the different rules for recycling, simple things, opening up a bank account,” said Robin Smith, the Community Development Coordinator for the Municipality of Shelburne. “A lot of newcomers, especially within the healthcare community, that come to Nova Scotia are from different countries. So it’s nice that we included all the things that are needed to know.”
Smith mentioned other examples, like navigating the education system and childcare.
Funding for the project was secured through the Office of Healthcare Profession Recruitment Fund, a provincial grant to help communities attract and retain healthcare workers. The municipality received $51,500, but spent less than $20,000 on the guidebook.
Smith said they were able to use some of the remaining funds on other endeavours and community appreciation events for healthcare workers.
“We’re very appreciative of the support that we’ve received, it’s helped us be able to do the projects that we’ve been able to do,” said Smith. “It showcases Shelburne in such a great way, it highlights all the great things we have here… we could have kept going for pages and pages.”
The guidebook has taken months to complete according to Smith, and will be a working document that gets updated as information changes. Many of the pages within the book have QR codes that link to webpages, so that the updating process is easier.
Smith said she expects the guidebooks to be circulated within the coming weeks, although the online version is already available. Community centres, businesses and public meeting places in the community will be given physical copies for residents to pick up. Copies are also available at the municipal office at 414 Woodlawn Drive.
Earlier this month, the province of Ontario refused to participate in a federal initiative allowing rural companies to hire more foreign temporary workers during the summer.
Ontario immigration minister David Piccini cited youth unemployment and a focus on a domestic workforce as the reasons behind his refusal.
On Tuesday, Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas and Thunder Bay MP Marcus Powlowski penned a joint statement in opposition to the province’s decision.
“We read with dismay Minister Piccini’s remarks in deciding that Ontario would not participate in relaxing federal rules regarding temporary foreign workers,” the statement read. “Small communities in Northern Ontario—many of whom were consulted in the preparation of this statement—need workers […] Recent cuts to immigration have left smaller communities in Northern Ontario, such as Fort Frances, in a particularly difficult position. Over the past year, we have heard from numerous small businesses in Fort Frances, all of whom have indicated that without access to foreign workers, they would face serious challenges in maintaining operations.”
The statement accuses Piccini of prioritizing the interests of large urban centres over those of northern Ontario communities.
An April 2026 Northwest Labour Market Analysis Report concluded that northwestern Ontario is facing an aging population with constrained labour supply and a consistent demand from employers.
“Looking for a doctor, have an elderly relative in need of chronic care? Good luck to you,” the statement continues. “We desperately need more doctors, nurses, personal support workers, and paramedics. Efforts to provide affordable childcare—such as $10-a-day daycare—are also constrained by a lack of available workers. In Fort Frances, funding exists for more daycare spaces, but there are not enough staff to fill them.”
Powloski and Hallikas say immigration has not been enough to reverse population declines in rural Ontario communities. They note that since 2016, just 3.35 per cent of newcomers to Canada have settled in rural areas, despite those communities accounting for 15.3 per cent of the country’s population. They also cite an estimation from the Conference Board of Canada that the region will need about 8,100 new residents each year over the next two decades simply to maintain its current workforce.
“This decision not only harms local businesses and the economy but also comes at a significant human cost,” the statement concludes. “We are aware of families in Fort Frances who have been forced to leave the community despite strong ties and a desire—shared by their employers—to remain. The question we hear repeatedly is: why can’t these people stay?”
A federal immigration initiative could ease seasonal worker shortages in Atlantic Canada, but business groups say more is needed
On May 4, Ottawa introduced the In-Canada Workers Program, a one-time initiative that will accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 workers in Canada to permanent residence in rural communities in 2026 and 2027.
According to a press release, the initiative stems from the federal government’s goal of bringing the immigration system to sustainable levels while focusing on areas where immigration has the greatest impact, including supporting rural and remote communities experiencing labour shortages in key economic sectors.
As part of the initiative, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is accelerating eligible applications from existing inventories of work permit holders who have applied for permanent residence and are already supporting labour and economic needs in smaller and rural communities.
Those eligible have also applied through the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, community immigration pilots, the caregiver pilots or the Agri-Food Pilot, and have been living in smaller communities in Canada for two years or more.
Atlantic Chamber of Commerce CEO Rhonda Tulk-Lane said that with Atlantic Canada having the fastest-aging workforce and rural communities in desperate need of labour, the chamber believes local businesses that struggle to attract workers could take advantage of the program.
“We are really pleased because I believe they heard us, that Atlantic Canada needs to be treated differently,” she said.
With summer approaching, Tulk-Lane said businesses in the aquaculture sector, such as fish processing plants — which often rely on temporary foreign workers to fulfill their seasonal labour needs — could benefit from the initiative.
However, she said that will depend on how fast processing times are.
“We are cautious because even though we’ve been advocating that they need to move faster, they need to be more efficient, it always remains to be seen if they are able to move people through their system fast enough,” she said.
Tulk-Lane said the chamber has been advocating to Ottawa that Atlantic Canada needs a different approach when it comes to workforce and immigration.
She added that the organization — which supports more than 90 chambers of commerce and boards of trade in the region — has recently renewed its advocacy efforts as the federal government decided to further reduce the overall number of temporary residents in the country, setting a goal of five per cent by 2027, and stabilize permanent resident admissions under one per cent of the population beyond 2027.
Tulk-Lane said that with further reductions in immigration, labour shortages in industries such as health care, manufacturing, fish processing, aquaculture, and tourism and hospitality have reached a crisis point in the region.
She added that companies in these sectors are particularly struggling to recruit workers for entry-level positions due to the region’s small population.
“When you look at the numbers, we don’t have the same amount of younger people, we are ageing faster. So we have to replace these people and the fastest way to do it’s through immigration,” she said.
Tulk-Lane acknowledged the importance of having the necessary resources to support immigration to the region — such as housing, transportation and health care — but argued that, given the region’s demographic realities, immigration strategies should look different for Atlantic Canada.
According to a 2021 report by the Atlantic Economic Council, by 2040 seniors will comprise 29 per cent of the population in the region, and about 25,000 small businesses will be looking for a new owner in the next two decades.
Tulk-Lane said that the chamber, along with other organizations across the region, are joining together to continue advocating on this issue.
“We are not seeing winners or losers, but we are actually looking at ourselves as a region, and when one province wins, it’s a win for all,” she said.
On March 26, Bill C-12 received royal assent and became law. The bill brought major changes to Canada’s immigration and asylum systems.
According to the Newcomer Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay, these changes carry serious risks to immigrants. Specifically, any immigrant who arrived in Canada after June 24, 2020 and lived the country for a year or more will no longer be able to claim refugee status.
“Because of this bill, a number of our clients have been put in a very difficult situation where maybe they came to Canada three or four years ago, and now something has changed in their home country,” said Robert St. Aubin, a Thunder Bay Newcomer Legal Clinic refugee and immigration lawyer.
“We have clients who face real, real, risk if they go home, and the refugee process is something that is completely not open to them.”
A refugee claim is a formal request for protection made by individuals who cannot return to their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm. These fears could be due to factors such as race, religion, nationality, sexuality, or political activism.
Wars, coups, or regime changes can drastically alter living conditions in a person’s home country, and St. Aubin says that at‑risk immigrants who have lived in Canada for more than a year should be allowed to claim refugee status to avoid being sent back to an increasingly dangerous political environment.
St. Aubin also shared a hypothetical example of an LGBTQ+ Lakehead student who came to Thunder Bay from a country that criminalizes homosexuality. After completing their studies, word travels back to their home country that they have found a partner of the same sex and they face persecution. Because they have lived in Canada for over a year after June 2020, they now cannot claim refugee status and face significant risk of being sent back against their will.
“The fact that this person would be barred from making a refugee claim because they’ve been in Canada for more than one year is, I think, a little silly.” he said.
These individuals can apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) as a last‑resort attempt to avoid deportation, but approval rates are low and the process is only available once removal from Canada is imminent.
“A Pre-Removal Risk Assessment is sort of like a refugee claim done exclusively on paper, where essentially you’re allowed to make one last claim for protection,” St. Aubin said. “If you have only access to a PRRA, not only are the timelines really tight for that, you have less time to prepare the type of application, and it’s done exclusively on paper and there’s usually no obligation for an immigration officer to flag any concerns to you. So they usually have a much higher refusal rate than a refugee claim.”
The primary goal for St. Aubin and most newcomer advocates across Canada is to repeal this law and allow at-risk migrants to apply for refugee status even when they have been in Canada longer than a year. A short-term fix that St. Aubin presents are “carve-outs” (exceptions) for particularly dangerous situations.
“We would prefer to see the bill change or get removed entirely, but if that’s not going to happen, carve-outs for certain groups and countries would be preferable to what we have right now, which is just a blanket ban on everybody,” St. Aubin said.
“You can make a nonsense claim about fearing persecution from a place like Spain, and maybe that’s made-up because you just want to stay in Canada. But if you’re a woman from Afghanistan, you’re going to face persecution if you go back to Afghanistan, right? Both of these people are treated exactly the same.”
St. Aubin says he’s heard rumors that lobbyists will succeed in granting these exceptions to Bill C-12, but nothing has been passed yet.
“I’m not involved with that, and I don’t know what’s going to happen with that, but I would be very surprised if that litigation isn’t filed soon.”
Minnesota faces an uphill climb in boosting its population to maintain a strong labour force and meet other needs.
Formal census counts happen every 10 years, but in between the reports, experts monitor trends and compare them with past population swings.
Susan Brower, state demographer for Minnesota, says after decades of steady growth, the state’s population is levelling off.
Slowdowns are happening across the U.S., but she notes it is especially felt in the Midwest and Northeast regions.
Brower attributes the shift to what is known as “natural change.”
“We have a higher share of deaths, more mortality in those higher age groups, and we have falling birth rates at the same time,” explains Brower.
Unlike some of its Midwestern neighbours, Brower points out Minnesota is not quite at the point where there are more deaths than births, but the state is projected to cross the threshold by the end of the 2030s.
Demographers warn the pressure from the shift is beginning to show, with more strain on health care systems and government budgets.
There is an effect on the labour force, too, and Brower argues boosting international migration could ease that pressure.
It is unknown how much the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown will stall progress in aiding Minnesota’s workforce needs with foreign-born workers.
Brower adds Minnesota has seen a recent boost in people moving here from other states, but reiterates looking toward other countries holds more promise than anything else.
“In terms of growth of the workforce, international migration is the most plausible mechanism to start to see more growth in the near future,” underscores Brower.
She notes even with some exceptions, the pattern of people leaving Midwestern states is too much to overcome in the short term.
When speaking at an event hosted by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, Brower contended the latest numbers should compel policymakers to support educational opportunities for working adults and parents.
The research indicated there should be an emphasis on essential industries like health care.
