Immigrant Labour Market Integration

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Immigrant Labour Market Integration
Association of Universities and Colleges of
Canada Ottawa June 13, 2006 Patrick MacKenzie
Citizenship and
Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada
Immigration Canada
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As you know

• Canada will rely more on immigrants as a major
  source of population and labour force growth
• Immigration currently accounts for 70 of the net
  growth in the Canadian labour force and will
  account for all the net growth in the next 10
  years

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Some facts

• More than 235,824 new permanent residents were
  admitted to Canada in 2004
• 133,746 newcomers under the economic class
• 62,246 newcomers under the family class
• 32,685 refugees and other protected persons
• 6,945 people granted permanent resident status on
  humanitarian and compassionate grounds
• The 2006 immigration target is to admit from
  225,000 to 255,000 newcomers to Canada

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Who should we target?
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Objective

• Skilled immigrants have access to the Canadian
  labour market, consistent with their skills,
  knowledge and experience, as soon as possible
  after arrival
• Immigrants need to be informed as early as
  possible
• Pre-arrival activities are key but challenging

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Four major barriers to the integration of skilled
immigrants into the labour market

• Complex process for the recognition of
  credentials
• Inadequate language abilities
• Lack of Canadian work experience
• Discrimination

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The Enhanced Language Training (ELT) Initiative
focuses on two of the barriers faced by newcomers

• Language training
• Skilled newcomers need to achieve the higher
  levels of language proficiency required to fully
  participate in their community and work
  environment
• Bridge-to-Work
• Skilled newcomers need labour market orientation
  and opportunities to acquire some experience
  through job placements, internships, mentoring,
  or assistance in preparing for licensure exams

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ELT provides

• Language
• Language assessments
• Generic or occupation specific language training
  at Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7-10
• In small centres without the language training
  infrastructure, ELT language training covers the
  range of CLB 1-10

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ELT provides

• Bridge to Work
• Labour market preparation
• Specific interventions to fill gaps
• Additional job or academic training
• Business and social counselling
• Business mentoring
• Mentoring, networking
• Job experience through internships, practicums,
  job placements, etc.
• Licensure preparation

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Expected outcomes of ELT

• Short term
• Skilled newcomers will access and complete an ELT
  program and achieve higher levels of labour
  market preparation and language ability
• Intermediate term
• They will be entering and remaining in the labour
  market at levels commensurate with their skills
  and qualifications
• Long term goal
• The acceptance and engagement of newcomers in
  Canadian life and the benefits that Canadian
  society will gain from the contribution and
  participation of newcomers

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ELT proposes a new model for integration services
that

• is flexible and fosters innovative approaches
• Development projects e.g., assessments,
  occupation specific language training curriculum,
  etc.
• Delivery projects a variety of programs for
  skilled newcomers are tailored to the needs of
  the specific province or community. All projects
  must include language training and a
  bridge-to-work component
• Combined projects

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ELT proposes a new model for integration services
that

• is partnership-based and requires employer
  involvement
• Project proposals can be submitted by
  businesses, not-for-profit and community
  organizations, educational institutions,
  individuals, service providers, etc.
• Numerous employers involved in many different
  fields have participated by providing job
  placements, internships, mentoring, etc.

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Employers involvement is key.

• Some of the employers involved in ELT projects
• Wal-Mart Toronto District School Board
• Colt Engineering Ottawa Police Service
• Assiniboine Credit Union Berlitz
• Hôpital Montfort Centre Asticou
• Envirosystems Inc. Shoppers Drug Mart
• Calgary Health Region Foothills Hospital
  
• Capital Health Husky Energy Ltd.
• Hardcastle Design Ltd. Dalhousie University
• Laurentian Financial Services
• Etc.

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ELT proposes a new model for integration services
that

• seeks cost-sharing opportunities and maximizes
  the benefits to skilled immigrants
• ELT projects are often cost-shared with
  Provinces and Territories
• Service providers are encouraged to seek
  financial and complementary partnerships
• Tools, materials and lessons learned are shared
  nationally to improve outcomes for skilled
  immigrants

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Just 2 years after the launch of ELT

• Over 150 current or completed projects
• An estimated 5,000 immigrants have participated
• Language tests and curriculum guidelines have
  been developed
• Many employers are engaged
• Several newcomers have found employment
  commensurate with their skills

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A sample of ELT Projects targeting
internationally educated skilled newcomers

• Bredin Institute (Alberta)
• International Pharmacy Bridging Program
• Halifax Immigrant Learning Centre (Nova Scotia)
• Language curriculum and training program for
  internationally trained health professionals
• Centre for Skills Development and Training
  (Ontario)
• ELT for Electricians
• Graybridge Malkam (Ontario)
• ELT for Policing Career Program
• Success
• Towards an Integrated Assessment and Bridging
  Program in BCs Construction Industry
• Yukon College
• Breaking into employment

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Some testimonials

• From an ELT participant
• We worked on upgrading my English language
  skills and on adapting to Canadian workplace
  cultureI was able to get an excellent...work
  placement and then managed to get a new full-time
  job. I now feel confident that I can make it
  here"
• Ghayda Yousif (Centre for Skills Development
  and Training)
• From an employer
• Finding quality employees is always a
  challengewe decided to take on twograduates for
  thework placementthey have proven to be such
  a good fit...we've decided to hire both of them
  full time...Not only do they have the technical
  skills we need, their understanding of English
  and ability to easily fit into the culturemade
  the decision a real "no brainer". "
• Keith Kennedy, President, Kenpute Solutions
  Inc.