OINP - do I need to work in Ontario, or only live there?

[TheMaze]

A few months ago, I moved to Ontario (on a NAFTA visa) to work for a company. Unfortunately, I found out that the job I took isn't a good fit for me and am starting to job-hunt. One of the options I'm considering is working remotely for a US-based company (I'm a US citizen) while living in Ontario. My understanding is this would be legal if I was PR - and I also don't plan on doing this until I have PR (the job would have me initially training in Seattle for 6 months, and by the time that's done I should be eligible for a BOWP if I don't already have full PR).

My one concern is will OINP be upset if I decide to only live in Ontario, but not actually work for an Ontario-based company? The application guide uses the word "Reside" which would seem to imply to me this is fine, but it feels a bit like a grey area, so I was hoping for more opinions. Thanks!

 

[JALT]

I don't know about the legal side of whether you could or couldn't do that, but I would think ONIP would definitely be a bit upset. The idea of allowing immigration is to improve the economy of Ontario - i.e. you are helping drive an Ontario company, paying Ontario taxes and health contributions etc etc. If you live there but don't work there then what happens when you retire, will you start claiming subsidised health care etc in Ontario?.... that sort of thing they'll be thinking about when they decide whether or not to accept your application for nomination. That's why the points drop so much with age in Express Entry, because you have less working years left in you. Where you pay your taxes will be a part of it (i.e. whether you'll be self-employed and paying all your contributions here in Canada, for example), but they might still get upset about not getting the actual physical 'labour hours' out of you. To be honest, I don't actually have any idea... I would personally ask an immigration lawyer to be on the safe side.