The mayors of northern Ontario’s major cities are voicing strong opposition to the federal government’s planned immigration reductions, emphasizing the crucial role newcomers play in sustaining their local economies. Leaders from Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, and Sudbury are particularly concerned about the fate of the successful rural and northern immigration pilot program, which helped fill skilled positions in various sectors. While Ottawa plans to decrease permanent resident targets from 500,000 to 365,000 by 2027, these mayors argue that northern regions require a specialized approach to immigration rather than a nationwide reduction strategy.
