Provenzano's immigration scheme goes to City Council

Sault mayor wants federal and provincial governments to help launch a pilot project to expedite immigration to Northern Ontario

North Bay Mayor Al McDonald, Timmins' Steve Black, Thunder Bay's Keith Hobbs and Sudbury's Brian Bigger all joined Provenzano's call for more immigration after hearing a presentation from the Sault mayor last week about demographic and immigration trends. Stock image shows immigrants arriving in North America.

Mayor Christian Provenzano's push for more immigrants in the north, launched at last week's Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors conference, is on the agenda for Monday's meeting of City Council.

The following resolution will be introduced by Ward 4 Councillor Rick Niro and Ward 5's Marchy Bruni.

The meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

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Immigration Pilot Project

Mover: Councillor R. Niro
Seconder: Councillor M. Bruni

Whereas provincial population projections released by the Ontario Ministry of Finance indicate Ontario’s population is expected to grow between 2016 and 2041, but Northern Ontario is projected to see an overall decrease from 797,000 in 2016 to 782,000; and

Whereas the report identifies migration as the most important factor contributing to population growth for Ontario as a whole; and

Whereas census results (25 per cent sample data) indicate Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Timmins received 2,285 immigrants between the period of 2011 to 2016, while Ontario received 472,170 immigrants during the same period; and

Whereas the Atlantic Immigration Pilot sees the Federal Government and four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) partner to help employers in the region hire job candidates who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents by expediting the immigration process; and

Whereas census results (25 per cent sample data) indicate the four Atlantic provinces received 12,075 more immigrants between 2011 and 2016 in comparison to the 2006 to 2010 period, while Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Timmins experienced a net increase of 205 immigrants during the same period; and

Whereas the Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors are calling for remedial action from federal and provincial governments to address the unbalanced immigration situation in Ontario;

Now therefore be it resolved that the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s City Council call on the federal and provincial governments to partner to implement a similar program to the Atlantic immigration pilot in Northern Ontario as a means to expedite immigration to the North and address demographic challenges.

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