2009-05-13
12:36:29
A study examining immigration trends in Ontario says growth in the larger urban centres could have a devastating impact on northwestern Ontario.
The reports says while many of area communities would welcome new immigrants, only a small handful of the province's new citizens are settling in the Rainy River district.
Co-author John Shields of Ryerson University says encouraging immigrants to choose the district and other smaller communities to live could help stem the tide of declining populations.
"Many of these communities which are generally smaller, rural and northern communities, could in fact benefit greatly from more immigrants coming to their communities," says Shields. "Certainly it's not the only solution for them, but immigrants could offer a lot of human capital value to these communities."
Shields says all levels of government need to come up with strategies that help direct more immigrants the region.
