October 16 2003 - A new program is being launched to increase
awareness among employers of the benefits of hiring, training and retaining internationally trained workers
living in Canada. "Right Before Your Eyes: Internationally
Trained Workers in Canada" is being launched by Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), in
collaboration with the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities (MTCU),
hosted by RBC Financial Group.
Part of "Business Results Through Hiring Internationally
Trained Workers," the program is the latest in CME's successful "Business Results" series.
This package is aimed at encouraging employers to tap the comparatively unexploited pool
of skilled workers with international training. It also provides employers with
resources that will ease the process of integration from the initial search
through language training. Materials will also include a series of case
studies from some of Canada's leading companies.
"We believe that this product
will help employers to realize the value of the internationally skilled
workforce living in Canada," said Ian Howcroft, vice president of the Ontario
division of CME. "These workers represent a critical element of the skills
shortage issue," he added.
The project's rationale comes from the growing volume of research
warning of the in Canada. Canada will need
an additional 1.5 million skilled workers by 2008 including 900,000 in Ontario alone.
At present, around 75% of workforce growth now comes from
immigration and this figure is expected to reach nearly 100% by
the end of the decade.
"Diversity is a core value of RBC Financial Group which is why we are
pleased to be a part of this important initiative by hosting its launch," said
Charlie Coffey, executive vice-president, Government and Community Affairs,
RBC Financial Group. "'Right Before Your Eyes' is a powerful call to action
and we encourage companies to embrace the talent, resources and expertise that
new Canadians can bring to their organizations."
Canada has a large and increasing pool of skilled immigrants who could do much
reduce the country's skills shortage but they face barriers in the job market. "Any effort to promote the hiring of
internationally trained workers that has the buy-in of the employer community,
is very important for the new Canadian population," says Debbie Douglas, the
Executive Director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
(OCASI). "OCASI views 'Right Before Your Eyes' as a significant tool for
employers and immigrants alike," she added.
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters is Canada's leading business network.
Its members represent 75 per cent of this country's manufacturing output and
90 per cent of merchandise exports. It has its national office in Ottawa, and
active divisional offices in all 10 provinces.