The province of Ontario, the most populate province in Canada, is set to introduce an Immigration Act that would, if passed, assist the province in working with the federal government to capitalize on the economic benefits of immigration.

The legislation is seen by the provincial government as a precursor to changes in its Provincial Nominee Program, which is expected to see increases in the federal government's allocation of economic immigrants to Ontario, as well as other provinces.

The proposed Ontario Immigration Act would:

• Facilitate Ontario's work with the federal government on the recruitment, selection and admission of skilled immigrants.
• Strengthen the province's ongoing efforts to reduce fraud by protecting the integrity of its immigrant selection program and improve accountability.
• Increase transparency and the sharing of information with Ontario’s immigration partners.

“This proposed legislation is about making Ontario’s economy stronger through immigration,” said Ontario’s Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and International Trade, Michael Chan. “Immigrants bring with them connections to international economies, which is why the Premier reassigned International Trade to the immigration ministry. It’s important that we recognize not only the value of a diverse workforce but also the advantages of having an Ontario economy that is globally connected.”