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Report shows progress increasing access for foreign-trained
TORONTO, Jan. 31 /CNW/ - More internationally trained individuals are
accessing job support programs and are entering the workforce as the Ontario
government, professional regulatory bodies and employers work to improve
access and remove the barriers faced by foreign-trained professionals, Mary
Anne Chambers, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, said today.
"Since coming to office, the Ontario government has made it a priority to
improve access to employment opportunities for internationally trained
individuals," Chambers said. "We have made significant progress in this
addressing the barriers faced by the internationally trained and we will
continue to work with professional regulatory groups and employers to ensure
we take full advantage of the skills and talents of newcomers to Ontario."
The government today released a progress report, An Investment in
Prosperity: Welcoming Internationally-trained Individuals into Ontario's
Workforce, that gathers for the first time comprehensive information on
supports for the internationally trained.
The update shows progress in increasing access to the labour market for
foreign-trained individuals spearheaded by commitments of more than $26
million over three years by the Ontario government since January 2004, to:
- Provide information to prospective immigrants on Ontario's labour
force needs and criteria for certification before they arrive
- Expand access to higher-level job-specific language training
- Provide assessment services that evaluates the credentials and
compares them to those earned in Ontario
- Increase opportunities for more than 3,000 internationally trained
individuals to participate in bridge training this year
- Fund the Career Bridge program through which more than 40 employers
are currently providing internship opportunities to over 450 qualified
internationally trained individuals
The report highlights new bridge-training projects introduced by the
government, including projects for engineers, teachers, medical professionals,
nurses, and skilled workers. It will also help both the government and
professional regulatory bodies measure ongoing progress in removing barriers
for internationally trained individuals.
"In my sixteen years in Canada, never have I seen so many steps taken or
so much attention paid to the issue of access to professions and trades and so
many initiatives undertaken to address the issue of equitable and timely
integration of internationally trained individuals into their chosen careers,"
said Uzma Shakir, Executive Director of the Council of Agencies Serving South
Asians.
"We are hopeful that steady progress will continue and that government,
employers and other partners will build on this momentum to ensure that we can
make a difference in the lives of immigrants," Shakir added.
"Our goal is to ensure that access for internationally trained
individuals to regulated professions and skilled trades is open, fair and
transparent," Chambers said. "We owe it to the internationally trained and we
owe it to all Ontarians to ensure there are more opportunities for
internationally trained individuals to achieve their potential - for
themselves and their families - and to contribute to the economic growth of
the province."
Contacts: Wilma Davis
Rob Thompson Communications Branch
Minister's Office (416) 325-6730
(416) 326-1609 Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929
or 1-800-387-5514
TTY: 1-800-263-2892
Disponible en français
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
Fact Sheet
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Ministry of Citizenship
ONTARIO IMMIGRATION FACTS
- Immigrants contribute to Ontario's social and economic growth. It is
crucial to harness the skills and expertise of newcomers to ensure
they can contribute at their full potential.
- Ontario is Canada's largest immigrant-receiving province, receiving
over 57 per cent of all immigrants to Canada in the three-year period
2001-2003, followed by Quebec (16 per cent), B.C. (15 per cent),
Alberta (seven per cent) and Manitoba (two per cent). The remaining
provinces and territories together received 2 per cent of Canada's
immigrants.
- In 2003, Ontario welcomed 119,887 immigrants. Of these, an estimated
70 per cent of adult immigrants aged 18 and over, who arrived in 2003,
were skilled in a broad range of professions and trades and had at
least some post-secondary education or training.
- Immigrants account for 50 per cent of Canada's population growth, and
are a large and growing share of Ontario's labour force.
- From 2001 to 2003, over 48 per cent of Canada's immigrants, and almost
84 per cent of Ontario's immigrants, settled in the Greater Toronto
Area (GTA). The GTA is the "economic engine" of Canada.
- From 2001 to 2003, about 22,000 immigrants to Ontario settled annually
in non-GTA communities such as Hamilton, Ottawa, Windsor, London and
the Greater Niagara Region. This is almost the same number of
immigrants as all the other provinces and territories combined except
for B.C. and Quebec.
- Ontario has the most diverse population in Canada: 27 per cent of
Ontario residents are foreign-born; in the Toronto CMA (census
metropolitan area) 44 per cent are foreign-born.
- The Ontario government is in negotiations with the federal government
to develop a Canada-Ontario immigration agreement that will improve
outcomes for immigrants to Ontario and reflects the magnitude and
importance of immigration in the province.
Disponible en français
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
-30-
For further information: Rob Thompson, Minister's Office, (416) 326-1609; Wilma Davis, Communications Branch, (416) 325-6730; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892
Other news releases disseminated by this ministry
