Express.co.uk does not list a source; in the
official document (in Russian) I found only (Russian) citizens mentioned, curious why "disillusioned Brits" would be candidates.
It's definitely colder climate than most of the US, but not necessarily Canada; for example, in Habarovsk temperatures are similar to Ottawa.
Some of the listed regions actually constitute southmost Russia.
Kamchatka is not unlike mid-to-southern Alaska. Magadan may be in subarctic climate zone, but its latitude is a bit to the South of St Petersburg and Helsinki, and the climate is mild and only a little cooler.
None of these is Siberia, except Saha (that's where, in its capital Yakutsk, -40 is the average low temperature in December and January)
There have been other centralized efforts to stimulate development of Russian Far East; in Amur region, there has been recently a spaceport built, and the first rocket was launched just last month.