the CanadaVisa Team - 22 July, 2015
A primary concern for most newcomers to Canada is finding employment in their new cities and towns after their arrival. Across Canada, both government and privately-funded organizations recognize the importance of employer-based initiatives in helping new immigrants integrate into the Canadian workforce.
Last month, the Canadian government launched the ‘Employer’s Roadmap,’ an online resource for employers that provides them with information and advice about hiring internationally-trained workers.
“Employers are key partners in helping internationally trained workers find jobs in their areas of training, and this resource makes it easier for employers to assess their qualifications,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada Minister Jason Kenney.
Groups that help employers hire internationally trained workers exist at the provincial and regional levels as well.
In Ontario’s Greater Toronto Region, in particular, the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) works with employers and organizations to champion and develop projects that help immigrants settle into the Toronto-area workforce.
Since its inception in 2003, TRIEC has worked with employers to connect them with resources and initiatives that help them integrate immigrants into their businesses and the labour market in general. Its partners and projects include mentoring organizations, bridging programs, and public awareness campaigns.
According to Elizabeth McIsaac, TRIEC’s executive director, since 2003, TRIEC and its partner organizations:
Toronto is home to the largest concentration of both immigrants and corporate head offices, which makes it an attractive destination to newcomers. Almost half of newcomers to Canada choose to settle in the Greater Toronto Region each year, and programs such as those initiated or championed by TRIEC are crucial to their economic success in Canada.
