The Huron Chamber of Commerce is calling for support from local councils, businesses, and community leaders for our request to extend and expand the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) program.
REDI is a relatively new provincial initiative designed to help support regional economic development in smaller communities by improving access to immigration pathways for international workers. The program is currently active in just four communities across Ontario. As ongoing changes to the federal immigration system have disrupted many employers’ ability to retain workers, expanding REDI to communities like Huron County could provide important support—particularly for the hospitality sector, where labour challenges are especially acute.
This need is amplified by the reality that Huron County consistently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Ontario. With a very limited local labour pool, many employers simply cannot find enough workers to fill available positions, particularly in seasonal and service-oriented industries like hospitality.
Last week, the Chamber sent a formal letter to the Honourable David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, and the Honourable Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs and our local MPP, requesting that the REDI program be expanded and extended beyond its initial pilot stage. The letter was also copied to each lower-tier municipality across Huron County. We are hopeful that the local municipal councils will consider supporting this advocacy effort.
Also last week, the Chamber, alongside business leaders, made a delegation to Huron County Council, presenting our request and seeking the County’s support. Council referred the matter to staff, and a report is expected to come forward for Council’s consideration on May 7, 2025.
ADVOCACY UPDATE: As of May 28th, letters of support have been sent to the Ministers from the following municipal councils: Huron County, Municipality of Huron East, Municipality of South Huron, Town of Goderich
This advocacy initiative began earlier this year when a Chamber member in the hospitality sector raised concerns about how immigration program changes were affecting their ability to retain staff. Recognizing the broader implications for local employers, the Chamber quickly convened a Local Impact Briefing: a panel of four hospitality employers and an immigration expert designed to inform local politicians of the impact of policies outside their jurisdiction. As word of this initiative has spread, more employers from across Huron County have expressed interest. We encourage other business owners facing similar challenges to connect with us and lend their voice to this effort.
“This is exactly the kind of issue the Chamber is here to address,” said Colin Carmichael, Executive Director of the Huron Chamber of Commerce. “When members of our business community bring concerns forward, especially concerns that have county-wide implications, we take action. Our advocacy on the REDI program is rooted in what we are hearing directly from local employers—and our commitment is to work alongside them to find practical solutions.”
It’s important to note that the Chamber is not advocating for changes to the federal immigration system itself. Instead, we are focused on expanding a provincial program—already operating successfully within the existing federal framework—that helps smaller communities like ours access and retain international workers in support of regional economic growth.
Our goal is to help hospitality businesses across Huron County address workforce shortages and remain competitive, supporting not just our Chamber members, but the broader economic vitality of our communities.
We anticipate further advocacy efforts in the coming weeks and will continue to keep our members and stakeholders updated.
Are you facing workforce challenges?
If your business would benefit from the expansion of the REDI program to Huron County, we want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out our employer contact form. Your input helps strengthen our advocacy and demonstrates the need for expanded support in our region. [LINK TO FORM]