Vancouver, March 20, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding that will allow the Government’s Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) to continue until 2010 and help immigrants join the labour market.
This project was first launched in 2007 by the Government of Canada and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, and due to its success, is being extended.
“Our government is taking action to ensure that Canada has the best‑educated, most-skilled and most flexible work force in the world,” said Minister Finley. “By investing an additional $3.8 million to help immigrants prepare for the Canadian labour market, we are improving newcomers’ transition to the Canadian work force and strengthening that work force.”
The CIIP, which is funded through Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition program, is designed to assist immigrants preparing to integrate into the Canadian labour market while they are still in their country of origin.
Today’s additional contribution brings the Government of Canada’s funding for the Canadian Immigration Integration Project to a total of $8.3 million.
Since 2007, the Project has been offering orientation sessions on Canadian foreign credential recognition processes in China, India and the Philippines. The CIIP has been developed by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.
“The Association of Canadian Community Colleges is pleased to be able to offer integration services with the support of Human Resources and Social Development Canada,” said Mr. Nejat Gorica, Vice-President, Business Development and Technical Cooperation, Association of Canadian Community Colleges. “Since launching this service overseas in January 2007, we have helped over 2,300 immigrants, and more immigrants are using this service every day.”
Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition program is improving the integration of internationally trained workers into the work force by funding and working with the provinces and territories, and key stakeholder organizations, such as professional bodies, trade associations and sector councils, to implement projects that facilitate the assessment and recognition of qualifications acquired in other countries.
In Canada and abroad, newcomers can also look to the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO), which helps internationally trained individuals find the information they need to get their credentials assessed and recognized more quickly. Established in 2007, the FCRO provides information, pathfinding and referral services to help internationally trained individuals use their skills in Canada. There are now 320 Service Canada Centres across Canada offering in-person services to newcomers.
Last fall, the Government of Canada also announced the expansion of the CIIP overseas orientation services to help immigrants from India and China. This expansion added services on a rotational basis in the states of Gujarat and Punjab, which are major sources of skilled immigrants from India. In China, rotational services have been added in Beijing and Shanghai so that services are available to more potential immigrants. Until now, the orientation sessions have been available in three cities in India, China and the Philippines.
Budget 2008 has proposed additional changes to modernize the immigration system to ensure that families are reunited faster, and that skilled and qualified workers arrive sooner to meet the needs of Canada’s labour market.
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Human Resources and Social Development Canada
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